the 1877 provisionals of - honduras...

The 1877 Provisionals of Honduras by Richard A. Washburn

Introduction The 1877 provisional, hand-stamped, surcharges on the first issue

stamps of Honduras (Scott nos. 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11 to 29), 23 in all, (Stanley Gibbons nos. 13, 19, and 30), three only, are still as baffling to most philatelists as they were when issued 113 years ago. This article will sunimarize facts and theories gleaned from previous writings, as well as introduce new information in an attempt to clarify misconceptions and/or opinions regarding the legitimacy of the various surcharges listed in the catalogs.

To fully appreciate the 1877 surcharges, we retrace the events that brought them to being and their eventual demonitization after only 16 months use.

The basic stamps used for these provisionals were issued in two colors, each with a value of two "realeS' (25 ctvs). We believe the two colors were used to facilitate fiscal record-keeping during a period when both copper and silver coins were circulated and the postal authorities kept separate accounts fc;>r each.

The fie!lh-rose colored stamps were probably used in the town where the government could enforce the use of the copper coinage e.g. Comayagua, Tegucigalpa, Ga.rdas, Santa Rosa de Copan, Trujillo. The green ones were used in areas away from central government control where the copper coin was repudiated and silver prevailed. Genuinely-used rose stamps are found more frequently than the green ones.

The official government newspaper ''La Ga.ceta" mentions the first issue stamps as being available for public use at the end of 1865. They were, in reality, unmarked provisionals from the very beginning. The two "realeS' face value corresponded to an outdated internal single weight letter rate

Collectors Club Philatelist July-August 1991 241

N w N w w m

Fig. 1. Scott no. 2 Panama Transit.

that had been lowered to one "real" soon after the stamps were printed; when the issue arrived from Europe (probably Belgium) via the Honduran consul in London, the authorities put them on sale for one "real" (12111 ctvs) each. .

A complete and most interesting account of the first issues of Honduras was written by the late Irving J. Green, and published in the Collectors Club Philatelist in 1968- 1969.1

The stamps were scantily used for about ten yearS; from December 1865 to March 187Z Only two covers and two cover fronts (one of which has been altered) have been reported. Genuinely-used first issues with epoch postal transit/receiver markings and/or postal cancellations indicating origin exist, but are most uncommon (Fig. 1). The majority of the stamps were pencanceled with either a single or an elongated cross covering three stamps (3 "realeS') that correspond with the postal rate of Panama. There mail was transferred to appropriate vessels for delivery to a port of entry in the coun-try of destination.

·

Background The provisionals were an interim issue, part of a badly needed postal

reform enacted by the newly elected ( 1876) President Marco Aurelio Soto who appointed General Tomas Estrada Palma (later Cuba's first president) as director. Later, in 1878, Jose Antonio L6pez was named postmaster general. 2 The surcharged stamps were valid from April 1877 until August 1, 1878 (16 months approximately)3 and to date there are no known covers.

One reason to create a separate issue, for use only until the new "Morazan Bust" definitives ordered from the National Bank Note Co. of New York arrived, was a complete disarray of general treasury accounting in the postal department. For example, towards the end of 1875 and 1876, the fust issue stamps were frequently used to pay employee wages. It was therefore necessary to quickly demonetize the first issues and start anew.

An executive order dated March 3 1, 1877, and published in th.e official newspaper La Gaceta on April 6, 1877, reads as follows: (translation)

Taking into consideration that the postage stamps of the Republic of all the values actually in stock. have been employed during various epochs in paying -the salaries of employees, etc., and for that reason, and others too many to enumerate, the postal income has remained nominal, and therefore has not increased sufficiently to satisfy the necessary requirements for the urgent needs of the Postal Administration. Therefore, the Provisional President decrees: that the postal values as stated in the Postal Guide of March 3 1, 1877, are declared without franking value; and when the Departmental Administrators receive their allotment of the surcharged stamps now valid, they will return all the unsurcharged ones to the Director General, and only the provisional stamps will be

1. Honduras Postal History of Spanish Honduras to 18?7 And Its First fustage Stamps of 1866 Collectors Club Philatelist Vol. 44 No. 4, July 1965 (Part 1) to Vol. 46 No. 5, September 1967 (Part 14).

2. Guia del Coleccionista de sellos de Correos, Feb. 1879, Valparaiso, Chile, p. 10. 3. On June 22, 1878, a resolution announcing the arrival of the "Morazan" stamps and the

orde.rto return the surchmged stamps to the Treasury was prepared by the Revenue Department for publication in La Gaceta.


valid for postage in the Republic until the new issue ordered by the government from the United States is delivered here. (Signed) Provisional President Soto.

The Postal Guide The Postal Guide (Guia Postal) referred to in the aforementioned decree

was printed in April 1877 (Tipogrofi.a Nacional-Calle del Thlegrofo) in Comayagua, then the capital city.

This pamphlet of 23 pages contains the revised postal regulations, routings, rates and the guidelines for surcharging both colors of the first issue stamps with new values. 4

It specifies that the green stamps (Scott no. 1) will be surcharged in red ink "medio rea!' (1/z real) and in black ink "un real' (1 real) and that the red (actually rose) stamps should be surcharged in blue ink "dus realel/' (2 reales). These are the three authorized surcharges. No mention is made of the type print to be used other than specifying that the value should be written out (letro de molde).

-.

4. Complete translation found in the Collectors Club Philatelist Vol. 46 No.5, September 1967.

Collectors Club Philatelist July-August 1991 Z43

Fig. 2. Framed surcharges, genuine

Scott nos. 3, 7, 6.

At the time the Postal Guide was printed in April1877, the central government of Honduras was located in the city of Comayagua. Some four months later, in August of 1877, the government offices moved to Tegucigalpa. 5

Two Types of Surcharges This change in location undoubtedly caused confusion in the govern

ment printing works, and might effectively explain why the individually hand-stamped surcharges are known in two distinct types-for one the value is framed (the Comayagua type) and on the other the value is unframed (the Tegucigalpa type).

An important point here is that there was only one General Treasury accounting office that controlled the receipt and disposition of all fiscal paper, including revenue and postage stamps. This General Treasury issued and distributed stamped paper and postage stamps to the various departmental treasury/customs agencies throughout the country. (Honduras has 18 departments that correspond to our states.) These local agencies in turn

sold the stamps at a five percent discount to the post offices. The only government entity authorized to release stamps for surcharg

ing and then record or account for the revalidation is the General Treasury. The fact that there were two main postal administrations, as mentioned in the new postal regulations, one in Comayagua and one in Tegucigalpa, only meant separate control over postal matters in their corresponding locales. Both administrations received their postage stamps from the same source.

The existence of two types of surcharges might be explained, as previ-

5. Breve Historia de Honduros-Barahone, Ruben p. 140.


ously stated, by initially using a framed type (when the printing was done in Comayagua) (Fig. 2) and then, subsequent to the move to Tegucigalpa, the single line unframed type (Figs. 3, 4).

Please note that the framed surcharges are difficult to decipher and this might well be one of the reasons that led to a "type" alteration to make the value easier to read.

"It is said" that the actual hand stamps were carved from the thorn of the local "jobo tree."6

No quantities are mentioned in the Postal Guide. Genuine framed type surcharges are few when compared to unframed types. Used unframed types are most often canceled with a killer consisting of seven thick parallel bars that seem to form a circle with a diameter of 25mm and a 2mm space between each bar. It is struck in black or dark blue.

There is also a single-line circular dated cancellation in black or blue ink. It measures 30mm in diameter. Within the circle at the top and conforming to it are the words in capital letters "ADMINISTRACION de' and at the bottom the name of the city. In the circle's center, the word "CORREDS" then the date/year is abbreviated in three lines (Fig. 5).

Note that the stamps with the bar cancellations have part of an ·� PANAMN circular transit marking and a British FB (Foreign Branch) receiver.

Catalog Deletions As previously stated, Stanley Gibbons lists only three of these sur

charges. These are Scott nos. 12, 13 and 24. The unframed types that comply with the specific ink/color combinations on the first issue stamps are

6. Agurcia, Oxcart No. 70, March 1978, Pg. 5.


Fig. 3. Unframed surcharges, genuine. Scott no. 23 upper

pairs.

Fig. 4. Unframed surcharges, genuine, "un

real."

Unframed surcharge, genuine, Scott no. 4,

"medic real:'

detailed in the Postal Guide. T heir criterion is based on a scholarly article written by H.R. Holmes and read before the Royal Philatelic Society in London, January 20, 1955.7 His conclusions prompted the Stanley Gibbons catalog staff to delete all but three of their former listing of 26 varieties (1976 edition).

We can agree that the three unframed surcharges, which conform to the Postal Guide, are those most often found used, but there is no proof whatsoever that the conforming framed types were not used. I have, in fact, seen three; one a Scott no. 6 with a PF Certificate8 in a collection in Tegucigalpa and two in a collection at the British Library in London. This was pointed out in a letter to Stanley Gibbons reproduced below:

Stanley Gibbons Publications, Ltd. 391 Strand London, WC 2R oLX Att. Miss P. Basley Catalogue Dept.

Quepos, Costa Rica July 14, 1982

7. H.R. Holmes, FRPS.L., "The 1877 Provisional Issue of the Republic of Honduras,n London Philatelist. Vol. 64, 1955, pp. 86-93.

8. P. F. Certificate No. 32335-2/2/70.


Refer: Your letter of 10 March 1980 - Honduras

Dear Miss Easley,

You state in your letter that if I ever found any evidence of legitimate use of the "Comayagua" surcharges Nos. 3, 7, and 10 to advise, and that perhaps the editors might reconsider the decision in 1980, to delete these from the catalogue.

On Tuesday, June 8 , 1982, 1 visited the British Library, Philatelic Section, with the Superintendent R. F.S. West, to see the Honduras part of the Tap ling collection. Both Mr. West and I looked at the Comayagua surcharges and found two in used condition.

I must again reiterate my thesis that the framed type surcharges formerly Nos. 3, 7, and 10, which conform to the government decree of March, 1877, and possibly No. 9 should again be listed.

Probably, the most logical explanation as to the scarcity of the "Comayagua" type surcharges comes from the news bit published in the Guia del Collectionista

de Sellas de Correos published in Valparaiso, Chile, in June, 1882. The cor

respondent fdr this publication was possibly Jose Antonio L6pez-General Director of POsts in Honduras in 1878-79, (refer the February, 1879, (No. 14) issue of the same "Guia:· The statement in Spanish referring to the framed type surcharge (SG10), reads: ... "Fue usado cuando Ia Direcci6n de Correos functionaba aun en Comayagua (funciona ahora en Thgucigalpa) :·This means that this type surcharge was made right after the March 31, 1877 decree authorized their use, most likely under the watchful eye of the government Treasury and Postal authorities while they were still located in Comayagua.

According to the historical records, all the government offices moved from Comayagua to Tegucigalpa in August of 1877, or just four months after the Guia Postal, giving the terms of the postal decree of March 31, 1877 was published


Fig. 5. Scott no. 23 with Tegucigalpa cds. Left "FB"no. 13, right

"GB" no.14.

Scott no. 13, "un real" genuine.

by Tipografia Nacional, Calle del Thlegrafo, Comayagua, in April of 1877.

I believe then, that the "Comayagua" or framed type surcharges were made and distributed to the postal agencies only during the April to July period 1877, from the Comayagua, Directorate of Posts and for general use. It \'VOuld seem logical to assume that the authorities would want to produce whot looked to be an artistic way of applying the surcharge, by putting a wavey [sic] frame about the value. As it turned out, the framed surcharges were not very legible, and for this reason, the wavey (sic] frame design was recalled and replaced by a sim, pier unframed type design. Mr. Ignacio Agurcia mentions another possibility in his article (Oxcart No. 70, March 1978); the traditional rivalry between these two cities, Comayagua being the stronghold of the conservatives and heirs of the colonial aristocrats, and Thgucigalpa, that of the liberal reformists, would dictate not to use a Comayagua surcharge, once the authorities moved to Thgucigalpa in August of 1877. Unframed surcharged types were then made there and distributed for general use, between August 1877, and July 1878. This means

the substituted framed "remainders" were called in and kept in the Treasury vaults until the issue was demonetized in August, 1878. None of these were disposed of (probably sold) until the early 1880s. This is why the philatelic press did not receive the information of their existence until about 1881-82.

The fact that a genuine framed surcharge "dos reales" in blue, but mistakenly done on the green stamp, was surcharged with a genuine "un real" (unframed "Tegucigalpa" Type) in black as per decree specifications in my mind indicates the government Treasury agency responsible for the control of the sheets of stamps had these recalled or unsuitable framed surcharges in existence (on inventory). The "dos reales" in blue is a light impression, the value almost indistinguishable, and very well could have been confused with the normal unsurcharged green stamps, or the resurcharge "unreal" in black considered ultimate value. This double surcharge is in the Thpling collection (formerly SG 30a, Scott 13b). an indication of legitimacy, given the year the gentleman stopped collecting.

Another reason to believe the two typos of surcharges were made in 1877, is that the red sealing wax, and black India type inks, and the distinctive shade of grayish ultramarine ink used in the three known, and agreed genuine, unframed types SG Nos. 13, 19, 30, are basically the same inks used in the framed type surcharges you now deem no longer worthy of listing as of 1980, even though Mr. H.R. Holmes' article was written 25 years prior to your action.

-

We hope you will discuss this with your editors, and perh!!PS mention my arguments to Mr. H.R. Holmes to see if he believes the three framed type MComayagua" surcharges worthy of listing.

Sincerely,

R.A. Washburn

cc: Federaci6n Filatelica de Ia Republica de Honduras Aptdo. 1465, Thgucigalpa.

Ignacio Agurcia, Aptdo. 241-Tegucigalpa Mr. R.F.S. West, British Library-Philatelic Section, London Mr. Bernard Davies. London

Possible Errors If we consider that Comayagua was only the seat of government for some

four months (April-July 1877) during the period that these stamps were


valid, then it is not surprising that mint (not to mention used) copies of the framed surcharge are scarce.

Admittedly, some of the varieties still listed by the major catalogs are unauthorized printings done after the stamps were demonetized. There are, however, a few possible errors mentioned in the philatelic press as early as 1879. Those early deviations from the instructions put forth in the Postal Guide probably occurred by using black ink inst�ad of blue, vice versa, or the green stamp instead of the rose.

Varieties that could be considered for legitimacy are as follows: dos reales in black (blackish blue) instead of the blue/ultramarine shade

actually used, Scott nos. 9 and 16. dos reales in blue on the green stamp instead of the rose framed type

(Scott no. 5). This same stamp subsequently re-surcharged with unreal framed type in black. This double surcharge, formerly catalogued as Scott no. 13b has been since deleted, but I believe this stamp is a genuine error. It was probably kept in the General Treasury until the issue was demonetized. One way to help substantiate my theory would be to determine which of the two surcharges was applied first. So far, this has not been possible in spite of a close-up photograph (Figs. 6, 7). One thing is for certain, both surcharges are legitimate.

The Holmes article does mention, as did the L.W. Fulcher paper presented to the RPS of London on December 14, 1922, an unframed type variety that was known as early as 1879, and therefore deserves consideration as a legitimate error. It is Scott no. 14 un real in black on dos reales rose (instead of the green) stamp. 9

9. p. 90. The third stamp to be included here is the "un rear in black on 2 reales black on rose (instead of 2 reales black on green): this is known used, and I have seen two copies canceled with the "oval of parallel bars" obliteration in blue, one of which I possess.


Fig. 6. Former Scott no. 136, double surcharge, genuine.

Fig. 7. "Dos reales" framed type in blue on green. Scott no. 5 with unframed type "un real� Scott no. 13 added. Both sur

charges genuine.

A "por uri' or "por un real' surcharge, still listed by some catalogs, is definitely suspect and should be deleted. I have never seen a copy, nor have any of the former students of this issue. Mention of this surcharge was made in the February and March 1878 issues of the Guia de Coleccionista de Sellas de Correa, but in the May 1878 issue it said: (translation)

In our numbers 2 and 3 we referred to the marking printed on the 2 reales stamp; we now have pleasure in reproducing the 2 reales stamp with the marking "media real." In February we stated that this stamp would be marked "por un;" this was an error which we now rectify, it should be "un real."

I conclude, therefore, that there are, at best, six surcharges, Scott nos. 3, 6, 7, 13, 23 and 24 (three of the framed type and three of the unframed type) that correspond with the Postal Guide directive, and possibly the above mentioned varieties listed by Scott as nos. 5, 9, 14, and 16 that deserve listing, a total of ten compared to the present 23.

Known On Piece Items Most of the papers cited lack illustrations depicting the genuine sur

charges from the numerous fakes that exist. I thought it appropriate not only to write about the recent rediscoveries but to include photographs of the six basic surcharges, the counterfeits most often found, the four authentic on piece items recorded to date, and some of the individual stamps with epoch postmarks and/or transit markings that validate them as genuine.

The on piece items, (Figs. 8 and 9), are ex-Caspary. One has a November 12, 1877 circulate date stamp from Santa Rosa, (de Copan) a town in western Honduras. On the reverse face of this piece is a British transit marking in red dated DE 31 77. The rate for a single weight letter was then four "realeS' (two 2 reales surcharged Scott no. 23, Stanley Gibbons no. 30.) This paid the fee to Col6n, Panama. The usual routing was through Amapala on the Pacific coast, by steamer to Panama City thence via the railroad to Col6n, where the Honduras postal agent there saw to its being placed aboard the proper vessel.

Fig. 9 shows a similar piece with a British "T" due marking. This item has a small circular marking on the back of one ''Jean Givibimi." So far, efforts to trace this gentleman have been unsuccessful and any help in identifying the man will be most appreciated.

T}ie third on piece item was exhibited in September, 1986 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. It is a torn cover fragment showing use of the 1 and 2 "realm/' surcharges. It was exhibited by Dr. Paul Vinelli. The piece is canceled by a circular "Agenda Postal de Honduras-Panama" and is indistinctly dated July 1878 (Fig. 10).

The only other on piece item that I have seen appeared as lot 218 in the Stanley Gibbons "Central American Stamps and Covers" auction that took place in New York, March 17, 1981. It is a strip of two 1/2 reales on 2 reales black on green, red surcharge (Scott no. 24; Stanley Gibbons no. 19), tied by blue grid cancels (Fig. 11).

There is another item that was mentioned in an article written for STAMP COlLECTING (U.K.) in January, 1972, by Mr. N.W. Barrett. He states that a strip of seven on piece of the "media rear in red on green (unframed



Fig. 8.

Fig. 9.

Fig. 10.

Fig. 11.

Figs. 12-13. Two fake 1877 Covers-Dated in

May (above) and October (below). Pho

tographs courtesy of The Philatelic Faun·

dation.

type), was sold by Robson Lowe at one of their recent auctions for £110. These stamps were canceled by the previously mentioned oval bar killer.

Counterfeit Covers The fact that no authentic covers of this issue have been found prompted

the unscrupulous to fabricate several for the unwary. The covers shown in Figs. 12-16 are known as the Krebs Brothers fakes. I first saw photocopies of these in 1975, when my mentor and fellow Honduras collector, Mr. Irving Green, sent them as reference. The Krebs Brothers were stamp dealers located at 81 Nassau Street , New York, NY in the late 1880s and it is said they sold the covers as genuine. Obviously they are not, as even the surcharged stamps on them are crude imitations. The Philatelic Foundation, N.Y. reference collection has several examples of these counterfeit covers. They are, however, most uncommon, and are sought by people who specialize in fakes and forgeries.

. ..

.._ ....

�-�IX.#� ., .

Collectors CJub Philatelist July-August 1991 252

Fig. 16.

Fig. 17. Krebs fake on

piece.

Fig. 10. Oc Thuin fake

sw·charges. L:::::::::====..l ... ___________ _.l._ ____ ..._.

Collectors Club Philnteli�1 July-August 1!191 254

mentioned type surcharges, but the straight line "COMAYAGUN cancellation as well.

Distinguishing the Originals

The ''Thgucigalpa" or Unframed Type 1. The genuine "medio real' value on the green stamp was done with

a heavy orange red ink slightly oily in texture resembling sealing wax. The stamps were individually hand-stamped and the impressions vary from heavy with some blotching, to very light where the value is almost imperceptible.

2. The "un real' values were done on the green stamp using a thick black ink with a slight sheen to it. Some examples show an upstroke on the "li' of"un."

3. The blue ink used for "dos reales' surcharge is more variable in color. It runs in shades from violet blue to a bluish-gray. In many cases it is almost indecipherable. The "s' of dos is similar to an upright oval, so that the "oS' appears as "oo."

4. A majority of the used unframed types have a small check or tick mark over the right-hand star. This supposedly was some sort of control marking made by the owner of an estanco in Tegucigalpa when he sold the stamps. An estanco is a place that handles Government monopolized goods, in this case postage stamps. The tiny check mark was done in brownish ink. It is also possible that some of these surcharges were marked before they were sold, thus accounting for the seemingly legitimate "tick" marking found on the remainders.

It soon became an earmark of a genuine surcharge. All of the government remainders sold in the 1880s did not have this marking. Thus we assume that eventually check marks were coveniently placed over the righthand star, at times even with purple ink. as a means of authentication.


Fig. 19. De Thuin fake.

Fig. 20. Framed fakes.

Tegucigalpa was the major city in 1877, and most of the used examples came from here. The other towns, however, did use these stamps, and there are genuinely used copies that do not have the "tick" marking.

5. Most of these surcharges are positioned horizontally and are in the center or slightly above center.

The "Comayagua" or framed types 1. The same type red to orange-red ink used for the unframed type

revalued "medio real." The letters are slightly larger and they are enclosed in a wavy, single-lined, somewhat distorted rectangular frame 20 mm long by 9 mm high. It is a blotchy surcharge.

2. The "unreal' surcharge was done on the green stamp with an oily black ink that tends to stain the paper. The rectangular frame is similar to the frame of the "medio real' described above.

3. The "dos reales' surcharge in blue ink on the rose stamp has a more delicate single wavy lined frame that appears slightly broken. The blue ink used for this value is dull and appears blotted. The letters in both words are blurred. This surcharge is also known with a dull black ink.

4. The framed type surcharges do not have "tick" marks, and as stated previously are quite rare used.

Easily Identified Counterfeits There are a number of counterfeits that do not approximate the appear

ance of the originals, and I thought it appropriate to also include photographs of these (Fig. 20).


Conclusion Suffice it to say that these provisionals were a legitimate issue in use

for only 16 months and further study is warranted. Someone who could access the Treasury Department archives in Tegucigalpa might discover information regarding quantities used. Also the number of demonetized


Pig. 21. Unframed fakes.

Fig. 22. Typical fakes, Scott no. 24.

Fig. 23. Counterfeit surcharges of R. De

Thuin.

Coun/crfo// 5urchorgcs bp h/aoul Ch de Thuin

remainders returned to the treasury from the postal authorities as per instructions issued in late June, 1878; and then the quantity sold as remainders in the early 1880s.

I hope the catalog editors at Stanley Gibbons will reconsider their position and relist the framed (Comayagua) type swcharges that comply with the official instructions in the Postal Guide of 1877. Perhaps they too should visit the British Library and look at the used copies in the Tapling Collection.

Hopefully the Scott catalog people will now update their illustrations ofbo.th the first issue and of the two types of 1877 surcharges. The current ones -closely approximate the counterfeits and are of no help to the collecto'r for identification of the genuine. A brief explanation along with proper illustrations would be most helpful. Further deletions are also necessary to have only 10 of the present 23 varieties now listed between nos. 3 and 29.

I certainly would be interested in knowing whatever happened to the strip of 7 "media rear surcharges "on-piece" that was sold by Robson Lowe in the early '70s. A photograph of this item would be most welcome.

Perhaps the information presented will pique collector curiosity and from somewhere will appear a serendipitous find of another "on-piece" item or possibly even a genuine cover. l,Quien sabe?

INDEX: HONDURAS, SCOTT' NOS. 3-29


the 1877 provisionals of - honduras...

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