Watermarks of the 1/2c value

Here are the three types. The major way to tell the rare straight rays printing from the wavy rays printings is that the RA is vertical for the former and horizontal for the latter.

Wavy rays of 1936 (1E1), grainy.





Wavy rays of 1939 (1E3), diffused.There may have been more than one 1E3 used, but I am still trying to figure these out.





Straight rays (2D), diffused.

The 1943 CL1B 1 peso and 2 pesos on cover

These stamps can be spotted easily on cover because of the high contrast of the bright/highly reflective white paper they were printed on.

Here are two selections from covers in the Continental Grain Correspondence,

Continental Grain Correspondence 1 Peso covers page





and a superb find: the extremely rare 2 pesos clay from 1943. Never mind that it is on a 5 pesos cover-that alone would make this cover rare, but the 2pCL1B is the find here, and not the 5 pesos, which is most likely a 5p1E4.

The very rare 2 pesos on cover (quite a find!!!)

Spotting 2D specimens in your collection

The 20cLC is the best stamp to use to figure out the rare 2D paper. For years I was unable to even find this paper in my stamps because it is so thick and opaque to the transparency scan technique I had used. When I started back scanning on a black, filter-darkened background it became easier to spot these. Also, I lucked out and came across the large block of 20cLC I have shown before-that was a big break.

Here is the 2C. The design seems cloudy because the 2C paper is fluffy and makes the ink go sideways when the stamp is printed-like printing on a fluffy napkin.



and here is the 2D, notice that the background in the center is much lighter and that the design is well defined.

BE PERFIN

These two specimens are dated.

1pCL1B from 1944.





40c1L2 from 1955.

Peculiar PERFINs

CQ applied multiple times per stamp.



CQ applied in mirror image on a block of four.



NBI doubled.

20cSC1L1 plate variety

This PERFIN 20cSC1L1 specimen shows a slightly squeezed-in top edge from the left side.

50cNGR plate variety

This PERFIN 50cNGR specimen shows an indent to the left outer frame.

Acid wash to the 30c plate NGR

This 30cNGR specimen (a PERFIN) shows evidence of acid washing to the plate.

Comparison of the 1E4 and 2D papers

This comparison shows that these two papers are different.



The two 1E4 specimens are 5 pesos and the two 2D specimens are 20cLC (Large Format Cattle).

Here are larger images for the 2D specimens.

Challenges to the current scheme

Rein is right that with our latest studies, especially his insightful look at the 1E3s, 1E4, and 2D, my scheme is showing inconsistent coverage. I have not had the time to determine times of use for the three 1E3s, but Rein's commemoratives work points to some of this usage. Because of my narrow focus (I am having problems completing the study and therefore have opted out of anything outside the series), all I can say is the following:

1. The 1E3s were used in quick succession on the 25c due to a rate change that made this stamp very common in 1942-43-44. Exactly when they were used, I have yet to determine. I don't have any qualms with giving the 1E3b a new number. I will suggest not to use 1E5, because there is a very rare small RA watermark I find on the 25c and 50c that I refer to as 1E5-its just like the 1E4 but with small RA and its a different paper altogether. Alternatively, we could make the 1E3b the only 1E3, and give new numbers to the 1E3a and 1E3c, which are scarcer. The 1E3a in particular is uncommon to very rare, depending on the value.

Conclusion: I propose we promote 1E3b to 1E3, and renumber 1E3a and 1E3c respectively as 1E6 and 1E7.

2. The 1E4 may look like the 2D, but these are two separate papers. The way to determine this difference is to compare the 5c 'Servicio Oficial' 2D and the 20c Large Format Cattle 2D with any of the 1E4s. The 2D paper is somewhat thick, cream, and opaque, while the 1E4 feels like a napkin and is bright white and thin. This block is a great example:



The 20cLC was issued in 1942, by which time all 1E4 stamps had been printed/exhausted.

Paper Chronology

The chronology of first issue is fairly straight forward for most of the papers:

1E1: October 1935



1E2: 1937

1E3: 1939 and thereafter. I took a first look at this paper and learned from Rein that there are three separate papers.



1E4: 1940



1E5....I am not sure, it is very rare

CL1A: 1939
CL1B: 1943, although the 40c on this paper was used in 1948.

2D: 1943



2C: 1949



NGR: 1945
NOP: 1948, although the 20 pesos on this paper was used in the mid to late 1950s.

CL2A: 1949/50
CL2B: 1952

1L1: 1951
1L2: 1952
1L3: 1955/56
1L4....I am not sure, it is very rare
1L5: late 1950s
1L6: late 1950s

CL3 for the 25c Servicio Oficial, late 1950s

Most, if not all of these papers are found in use during the year I list and at most the next year thereafter. There are several exceptions of selected values that were printed on a paper later than other values, such as the 40cCL1B and the 20PNOP.

50c Departmental Official forgeries

Rein has kindly provided images of forged 50c Departmental Officials, M.G. and M.O.P. I show here the genuine stamp followed by the forgery. The forged stamps are 1E3, while genuine stamps are 1E1.

M.G.:









M.O.P.:

A backscan of the 2D paper

This is a 2c stamp. My study of the 2C and 2D papers is still in its infancy.

1E4 small format values for the Beginner's Collection

Some of the 'cents' values were printed on this paper in 1940. Interestingly, the 2 1/2 c stamp, which received almost no postal use, is found on this paper as well as the 1E3 paper!







The 5c from booklets was printed on the 1E4.

1E3 'cents' for the Beginner's Collection

The 1E3 paper is difficult to type because, as previously mentioned here, and thanks to the work of Rein, a member of the Australian Stampboards Forum; there are three types of 1E3 papers. For some of the 'cents' values, the color change is enough evidence to know that the paper is 1E3.







The 15c Small Format Cattle changed to a lighter blue in 1939.



The 20c Martin Guemes changed to a darker blue in 1939.