España - Spain Series Básicas D. Juan Carlos I

First issue (15 July 1976)

The first instalment of six stamps as per the ministerial order of 14 June 1976 was issued on 15 July of that same year. The stamps show a three-quarter portrait of the King in military uniform facing left. The prevailing postal tariffs were those that came into force on 1 December 1974. For many years, the concept of ‘inland’ mail extended to countries and territories that had a historic tie to Spain.



1,50 PTA, carmine-red
‘Inland’ postcards and printed matters up to 20 grammes: Spain, Andorra, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal and Colonies, Philippines, member countries of the U.P.A.E. (Postal Union of the Americas and Spain), except the United States of America, and French towns in the border regions.

In addition to prepaying this ‘inland’ rate for postcards and printed matters, it also prepaid the airmail supplement on postcards and letters up to 5 grammes to Gibraltar, and Portugal, including Madeira and the Azores, as well as on letters over 20 grammes to the ‘Rest of Europe,’ including Cyprus and the Asian part of Turkey*, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunis.

At the 1929 UPU congress in London, a category of other objects (AO = autres objets) than letters and postcards had been introduced. The airmail supplement on other objects sent to Europe, including Cyprus and the Asian part of Turkey, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunis was 1.50 pta for each 25 grammes.

* Rest of Europe: other countries besides Gibraltar and Portugal, including Madeira and the Azores, than the Federal Republic of Germany, including the ‘western’ sectors of Berlin, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland, Finland, France, Eire, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom, Sweden, and Switzerland.

2 PTA, orient blue
This stamp, primarily, served as make-up value. It covered the tariff for trade samples, per 50 grammes, sent to countries with which there are no special treaties. The minimum tariff, however, was 8 pta.

3 PTA, emerald-green
‘Inland’ standard letters up to 20 grammes: Spain, Andorra, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal and Colonies, Philippines, member countries of the U.P.A.E. (Postal Union of the Americas and Spain), except the United States of America, and French towns in the border regions.

5 PTA, dark red
Registration fee, and insurance fee for each 500 pesetas of declared value for ‘inland’ mail, excluding the Americas and Portugal and colonies.

7 PTA, olive green
‘Inland’ non-standard letters up to 20 grammes: Spain, Andorra, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal and Colonies, Philippines, member countries of the U.P.A.E. (Postal Union of the Americas and Spain), except the United States of America, and French towns in the border regions.

The stamp also prepaid ‘international’ carriage of standard postcards to countries other than those covered by special treaties**, or member countries of CEPT (Conference of European Postal and Telecommunications administrations). It, further, prepaid carriage of ‘international’ non-standard printed matters up to 20 grammes to countries not covered by special treaties.

In addition, it paid the airmail supplement on postcards, letters up to 5 grammes, and other objects per 25 grammes to America, excluding Greenland, Hawaiian Islands, Africa, excluding Algeria, Morocco, and Tunis, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Bhutan, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordania, Kuwait, Lebanon, Maldives, Nepal, Persian Gulf States, Pakistan, Qatar, Syria, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), and Yemen.

** The ‘inland’ letter rate also applied to countries and territories ‘within the sphere of influence’ of Spain.

12 PTA, yellowish brown
‘International’ non-standard letters up to 20 grammes to countries not covered by special treaties, other than member countries of CEPT.

Issue: Serie básica Rey Juan Carlos I (first series)
Edifil nrs.: 2344 - 2349
Date of issue: 15 July 1976
Values: 1,50 pta (carmine-red), 2 pta (orient blue), 3 pta (emerald-green), 5 pta (dark red), 7 pta (olive-green), and 12 pta (yellowish brown)
Stamp size: 24.9 mm. x 28.8 mm.
Paper: Ordinary
Perforation gauge: 12¾ x 13¼
Printing process: photogravure
Printer: F.N.M.T.