Colombia Album Pages (Cubiertas)

Author: Dario Diez
Purpose: To show a comprehensive study of positions in the printing stone of all issues of The United States of Colombia insured letter stamps "cubiertas"- from 1865 to 1884 - limited to national issues, from their precursors to rare and unusual usages, facsimiles, philatelic forgeries and illegal usages. Each printing stone is reconstructed and a composite drawing of the constant transfer flaws that identify each cubierta within the sheet, is presented for each issue,

history; Postal Services law of April 29, 1865, created a new system of insured letter stamps, unique to Colombia, to be used by the public to send money and valuables. The stamp paid both the basic postage rate and the insurance fee, complying also as registration and proof of delivery receipt. They are commonly called 'cubiertas' because they were affixed to the back of the cover to seal it after the contents was verified.

The law set a limit of $100 pesos in cash or valuables - no limit on checks or other monetary instruments - but many times this limit was surpassed as registered in some cubiertas. Excess weight of that of a single letter was paid with postal stamps attached to the envelope or in some cases, very rare, to the cubierta itself.

Cubiertas were not sold to the public as stamps did. The sender bring the unsealed addressed envelope to the post office where an official verify the contents, fulfill all data in the cubierta and seal the envelope with it. Upon receipt the addressee has to open the envelope in the presence of a post officer, confirm the contents and acknowledge receipt signing the cubierta. Generally, the cubierto was cut or torn off from cover -reason why there are so few surviving covers and the poor condition of many "cubiertas"- and sent back to the origin post office where it was archived as proof of delivery.

Items of exceptional Importance are framed in red.

CUBIERTAS ARE THE FIRST STAMPS IN THE WORLD WITH FIVE COLORS