Old postal stamps from Argentina are among the rarest stamps in the world. They are not prized for their beauty, since many of them are crudely made and there is little consistency between them which is, of course, what makes them rare and valuable.
The rarity of the stamps is related to the history of Argentina following their civil war in the 1850s. Instead of a centralized government, Argentina was broken into mostly independent provinces which produced their own stamps. Due to a shortage of metal and paper, currency of low values was difficult to get and stamps were not simply used as postage, but as money.
Provincial Stamps
The earliest Argentine stamps were issued by the provinces of Corrientes, Cordoba and Buenos Aires.
The Corrientes are the rarest and most valuable of these provincial stamps. The dies were engraved by hand and there were quite noticeable differences between them. The stamps were printed on brightly colored paper using the typography process and were a copy of an early French stamp featuring the head of the Roman goddess, Ceres.
The original stamp was issued in 1856 with a value of one real. In 1860 the value was increased to 3 reals and the one real denomination was inked out by hand and revalued. There were also two, three and five centavo stamps issued during this period, with the 5 centavo stamp being the rarest.
Early Stamps for the Republic of Argentina
The Republic of Argentina issued its first stamps in 1858, just 10 years after gaining independence from Spain. These early stamps were used to facilitate communication and commerce within the country and to other parts of the world.
The first stamps of Argentina were simple in design, featuring the country’s coat of arms with the denomination value in the center. The stamps were printed in a variety of colors, with the most common being blue, green, and red.
In 1862, the design was changed to include an image of the sun with a human face, known as the Sun of May, which is a prominent symbol in Argentine culture. The sun was placed in the center of the stamp with the denomination value in the corners.
Over the years, several other designs were introduced, including stamps depicting national heroes and important events in Argentine history. For example, in 1910, a stamp was issued to commemorate the centennial of the May Revolution, a key event in Argentine history that led to independence from Spain.
Many of these early stamps were printed in limited quantities, making them highly sought after by collectors today. In fact, some of the rarest stamps in the world come from Argentina, including the 1858 “In Ps” stamps, which were only printed in a quantity of 50 and are worth millions of dollars today.
Overall, the early stamps of the Republic of Argentina played an important role in the country’s development and continue to be an important part of its cultural and historical heritage.
Tierra del Fuego Local Argentina Stamps
Tierra del Fuego is a remote region of Argentina located in the southernmost part of the country, known for its rugged landscapes and unique wildlife. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the region issued its own local stamps, which have since become highly sought after by collectors.
The Tierra del Fuego local stamps were issued between 1891 and 1902, during a time when the region was experiencing a boom in economic growth and development. The stamps were designed to be used for local mail within the region, as well as for international mail that passed through Tierra del Fuego on its way to other parts of the world.
The stamps featured a variety of designs, including images of local wildlife, such as penguins and sea lions, as well as scenes of the region’s rugged landscapes and natural beauty. Some stamps also featured the coat of arms of Tierra del Fuego, which included an image of a ship sailing through rough seas.
One of the most famous Tierra del Fuego local stamps is the “The Lady of the Shallot” stamp, which features an image of the character from the Tennyson poem of the same name. The stamp was printed in a limited quantity and is highly sought after by collectors today.
Overall, the Tierra del Fuego local stamps are an important part of Argentina’s postal history and offer a fascinating glimpse into the region’s unique culture and natural beauty.
Read more: A Brief History of Argentina
Mid Twentieth Century Changes
President Juan Peron nationalized and centralized the postal and telegraph services of Argentina in 1946.
The Enco Tel became the only body with the authority to issue Argentine postal stamps. After the fall of the last Argentine military dictatorship in 1983, the stamps of the country underwent a radical change and began featuring more sophisticated designs including botanical and zoological themes.
Valuing rare Argentina stamps can be difficult and the best source is probably the Scott catalog which is available at most local libraries. Online philatelist blogs and websites may offer additional information on rare South American stamps.
