Guatemala: Stamps

The earliest stamps are these two stamps from the 1886-95 set depicting the national emblem of Guatemala.Initially a lithographed set of these was issued in July of 1886 and then later the same design was issued as a smaller engraved set with a more limited number of denominations which are the 1886-95 stamps. There was also a 1900-02 set, also engraved but in different colors.

Below are Scott nos. 43 and 44, the 1 centavo and 2 centavo denominations.



I had some trouble distinguishing these stamps, which are engraved, from the earlier lithographed set so I used the foil test. I set the foil on top of the design of the two stamps and rubbed an eraser over the foil and determined that the design was imprinted on the foil though barely visible. You can just see the raised outline of the horseshoe/oval of the national emblem imprinted on the foil below. So, to me, this meant these are from the engraved set of 1886-95. If anybody thinks differently, please let me know.

Next in the catalogue is Sc. 132, issued Jan. 1, 1907. It depicts the Guatemalan Declaration of Independence and is another attractive bi-color design. As I have mentioned before on other threads, I find myself heading down rabbit holes to learn more about the stamps I am looking at and Guatemala is no exception. It is worth looking at the Guatemala page on Wikipedia here.

In 1919 Guatemala issued an attractive set of 3 stamps,one of which was reissued in 1924 and printed by Perkins & Bacon and 2 were re-issued in 1926 by Waterlow & Sons. This particular stamp depicts a Mayan stele at Quirigua. Mayan hieroglyphs and history happen to be a particular interest of mine. As a hobby I have started learning how to read and write Mayan hieroglyphs and have been reading quite a bit about Mayan archaeology and history.

The Scott no. for this stamp is 172. There is a reasonably clear postmark of March 23, 1921? The last digit of the year is questionable.

Yes, you are right brightonpete. I missed that this stamp was issued on September 1, 1921. Looking at it under a higher magnification it looks like a blurred no. 3. So it is possible that it was postmarked in 1923 which makes more sense.

In 1922, 1924, 1926 and 1929 various definitive sets were issued by non-Guatemalan printers. Some new designs were issued or designs from previous definitive series were reprinted and incorporated into these sets. Scott no. 202 below left, was issued in 1922 and printed by Waterlow & Sons. Scott no. 211, below right, was issued in 1924 and printed by Perkins Bacon & Co. Both were new designs as of 1922 but from 1924 on, older designs in monocolor from the 1902 series, the 1919 series and 1921 series were incorporated into these new printings.



The Centenary Palace depicted in the left 12 1/2 centavo stamp no longer exists. The President depicted several posts back, Manuel Estrada Cabrera, laid the first stone in this palace but the palace was not, apparently, a durable structure. Here is some information I found from Wikipedia as follows:

"In celebration of the first century of independence in 1919, President Manuel Estrada Cabrera placed the first stone for a future palace next to the Plaza de Armas. The Italian architect Guido Albani was charged with designing the palace, but it never came to pass due to the collapse of the government soon thereafter. Two years later, in 1921, President Carlos Herrera, with the Centenary very close, ordered the Palacio del Centenario to be built in only three months time with a small budget and few resources. It became popularly known as the Palacio de Cartón (Cardboard Palace). However, in 1925 it was destroyed by a fire."

Additional information regarding the National Palace at Antigua can be found here: Palacio de los Capitanes Generales This structure is depicted in the 25 centavo stamp on the right and still exists today although some of the facade of the building was destroyed in an earthquake in 1976.

Scott no. 222, 50c red, depicting the National Post Office and Scott no. 224, depicting President Justo Rufino Barrios were both printed by Waterlow & Sons and issued in 1926.





Justo Rufino Barrios was a liberal politician who was president of Guatemala from 1873 to 1885. More information about him is available here. 



By Brigham, W. T. - Schribner's Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 6, Public Domain, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6723853

Scott 258 was issued on April 8, 1932, was issued in a 3 centavo denomination in carmine rose and depicts a Mayan Stele at Quirigua. There happened to be two copies in the album so I am showing both.



A later re-issue of this same design occurred in 1942 and is inscribed 1942. Scott states the re-issued stamps were also 3 centavo denominations and in the colors of green and deep blue. Of the two, only the green one was included in the album. The Scott nos. for the re-issues are 302 and 303.



The stele depicted on this stamp is actually one of many stelae at the site of Quirigua and is known as Stele D.  Here is a photo of the stele taken from the Wikipedia page about Quiringua. Stela D dates to 766, during the reign of K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat. It is distinguished by the relatively rare, extravagant, full-figure anthropomorphic versions of Maya hieroglyphics on the upper parts of its sides, which are particularly well preserved. Quirigua


By Photo by Infrogmation of New Orleans (talk) 21:55, 21 April 2020 (UTC) - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1025907

There is a design similarity between a number of these small issues of definitives and commemoratives between 1935 and 1939 that makes you almost want to look on them as part of an extended set but they are not portrayed that way in the Scott Catalogue so it is possible that they were not issued with this intention. Regardless, I include here Sc.no. 278 which was issued in 1936, along with another map stamp of Guatemala. This stamp depicts the buildings of the Guatemalan Bureau of Printing.

hrdoktorx , thank you for re-telling your story. I did a quick internet search and found this story of the quetzal re-told on several websites. I had not heard it before. A Mayan Legend: The Resplendent Quetzal

I have more than a passing interest in Guatemala. As a hobby/self-improvement objective I am learning Mayan hieroglyphs and have an ongoing interest in Mayan archaeology. One of multiple other interests that sometimes keep me from working on stamps.

Nice thread for a non collector of Guatemala but I have a few in one binder I am showing and some may have already been

René

I have been collecting Guatemala stamps covers and postcards since 1998 when i joined the I.S.G.C.  My all time favorite set is the Waterlow 1902 set  Scott 114-123. I may own a percentage of the 10 cent orange and blue stamp and its various surcharges and overprints.

A power rtack (basically an extended extension cord with 9 outlets) failed, so i was forced to unplug and move everything on my desktop to get at it, see that, while it can likely be fixed ( the switch) I got 2 power strips in order to get  everything back up and working... In thye process I discovered a large number of assorted stamps, under and behind....among them this, of which I know very little about as I really do not collect any ofthe Americas

stainlessb - looks like it is Scott No. 300 (No. 235 perforated diagonally through the center). Issued Aug 16, 1941. CV 0.35/0.25. CV of unsevered pair is 0.80.

Dan

sharing my mnh stamps from guatemala

GUATEMALA; 1880s classic Liberty issue fine Mint 1/2 real (medio real)

note the different shades.