Issued on November 19, 1893 commemorating the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the island by Christopher Columbus. Used that day only by Royal decree.
Lithography of Don Pedro Blanco Viala and printed in Puerto Rico
20,000 copies were printed on 1,000 sheets of 20 stamps (4 rows of 5) perf 12. The law said that the remaining stamps should be destroyed but there is no record of it.
Possibly all the copies were sold, since the stamp caused such a commotion in the country that on the same day of issue they were already offered with a surcharge.
Much of the envelopes circulated are in the name of people involved with the issue and also exist with favour postmarks.
Although the rules apparently stated that only 2 stamps would be available per person with any remainders to be destroyed and only to be used for local mail, this was probably not adhered to.
It was only the third commemorative stamp of the world and the only issue under Spanish domination that does not have the effigy of the king of Spain.
Color trials exist in carmine, pink, red (above), brown, yellow, orange, dark violet, violet, purple, indigo, hot blue, slate blue and green.
Genuine Stamp & Features
1. The top letters are 1.9mm X 19mm, forgeries are larger
2. The horizon lines become progressively closer together
3. The square frame of the ornament is very close to the main frame. In forgeries it is sometimes farther away and more distinct
4. 8 lines to the top of the galleon
5. This figure has a medallion on his forehead
6. This figure has a buttoned shirt
7. The head of this figure is bounded by 3 lines
8. The hand touches the railing. In some forgeries it does not or is broken
9. The opening of the 3 is very narrow but much larger with most forgeries. Note the thickness of the 3 and the left 3 is slightly taller than the right one.
10. The perfs are 12, forgeries are 11.5
11. The mast is generally weak and very faint on some. The forgeries generally have a thick mast or none
12. The corner is typically broken.
13. Note the shape of the rear windows, 2 half circles together.
14. The rudder is straight.
15. This figure appears to be looking down.
16. NOTE the shape and wing angle of the bird, it is generally wrong in the forgeries.
This stamp has ben well plated and can easily help determine genuine stamps. The stamps were in small sheets of 20 stamps.
Forgeries
Most authors describe 3 forgeries but I have noted 5 of them.
Four of them are fairly obvious and one I would consider as dangerous.
The “Types” are my designation and do not correspond to any other catalogs.
NOTE – If you do come across a forgery, don’t consider it as of no value. The forgeries list for about 25% of the genuine and used ones with genuine cancels sell for at least 50% of genuine used originals.
Forgery Type I
This is a very common forgery and probably from Fournier
1. Dot is larger than in the genuine.
2. The square frame of the ornament is farther away from the main frame.
3. Mast is very distinct.
4. Lines are not as progressively closer as with the genuine.
5. Only 7 lines are visible.
6. The windows are in the shape of a figure 8.
7. The 3 is very thin.
8. The rudder is curved
9. The waterline forms a distinct curve.
10. The head is completely filled in.
11. The head of this figure is leaning back.
12. Only 2 lines bound the head.
13. Figure is looking straight ahead.
14. Hand appears cut off.
15. Corner does not have a prominent break.
16. Perf is 11.5.
17. Opening is much wider than the genuine.
Bird is very different and only partial.
Forgery Type II
This is the most dangerous forgery and I have seen this one in the better auctions.
1. There are more breaks in the horizon lines.
2. No medallion on forehead but samples seen have a dark spot on the left side of the face.
3. The tops of the hills are heavily outlined.
4. Figure has a dark band across the face.
5. Added lines and features.
6. On samples found, the 1 and 9 are close and touching
7. Objects look like houses on the shore.
8. The front of the boat is slightly curved.
Samples found tend to have a lighter colour.
Forgery Type III
Given the overall crudeness, Torres comes to mind as the forger
1. Corner elements are poorly drawn.
2. The windows are indistinct.
3. Frame line touches inner frame all corner lines tend
to be thick.
4. The landscape is heavily shaded.
5. The 1 has a blunt top and tapered bottom.
6. The letters are not well copied especially all the E’s that are lacking middle bar serifs.
The bird is misshapen.
1. Corner elements are poorly drawn.
2. The windows are indistinct.
3. Frame line touches inner frame all corner lines tend
to be thick.
4. The landscape is heavily shaded.
5. The 1 has a blunt top and tapered bottom.
6. The letters are not well copied especially all the E’s that are lacking middle bar serifs.
The bird is misshapen.
Forgery Type IV
Overall many errors and quite crude. Very Uncommon
1. Corner element leaves are much wider than the original.
2. No corner breaks.
3. Background has many breaks.
4. Missing mast?
5. Single window instead of 2
6. The 3 is slightly inclined.
7. Outer frames touch inner one and the lines are thick and distinct.
8. Tall S. Other letters are uneven in height.
9. 3 is very open.
10. No arms.
11. Head shaped very different than original.
12. Rudder handle not distinct.
Bird has very curved wings
Forgery Type V
I did not come across any mention of imperfs so this forgery is unknown.
1. The letters are very thick and the wrong font.
2. The boat has a very wide railing
3. The corner elements are multi leaved.
4. The widows and shape of the boat are very wrong.
5. The horizon lines are all the same distance apart
The bird is different.
Reprints?
I do not have clear information on this topic.
There is mention of an apparent reprint perhaps for private purposes.
The following is apparently a reprint but I cannot confirm this.
Overall it does look like the genuine with denser colors and more details
Cancellations
Fake postmarks are common
In many cases the dates are wrong since the stamp was only valid on November 19, 1893
References
Estudio del sello conmemorativo del cuarto centenario del descubrimiento de Puerto Rico, 1493-1893 - Dávila, Ovidio.
Billig’s Handbook #6
Catalogo Philateco del Puerto Rico - Storer
The Postal History of Puerto Rico - Preston 1950
Klaseboer Forgery Cd 2019
Various websites and auctions
Estudio del sello conmemorativo del cuarto centenario del descubrimiento de Puerto Rico, 1493-1893 - Dávila, Ovidio.
Billig’s Handbook #6
Catalogo Philateco del Puerto Rico - Storer
The Postal History of Puerto Rico - Preston 1950
Klaseboer Forgery Cd 2019
Various websites and auctions
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