Issued May 1 1858.
Originally with small numerals
Lithographed and printed by Carlos Riviére y Cía., from Rosario, on double sheets of 12 horizontal rows of 9 stamps = 108 stamps per half sheet.
On plain white, thin or medium paper, without perforations.
Issued January 1860.
With large numerals.
Printed on plain sheets of 12 horizontal rows of 8 stamps = 96 stamps.
Smooth, white, thin or medium paper, without perforations.
Initially they were in limited quantities and in great demand by collectors (words forgers love) especially used ones.
However, in 1891 remainder of both issues were found in the Customs warehouse and were opportunistically sold by an employee to stamp dealers.
The quantities sold were roughly the following
small numerals
5 cent..... 250,000
10 cents ...40,000
15 cents....20,000
large numerals
5 cent......30,000
10 cents....4.000
15 cents....4,000
NOTE -The large numeral 10 & 15 cents were not placed in circulation, so beware of cancelled ones.
Genuine sets of small & large numerals
Note the differences in the "sun man" and the location or absence of the periods.
Despite their low values, many forgeries exist of these stamps.
They range from quite good to very crude.
My inventory is limited so it will be best to show the constant identification marks and some samples
NOTE the features with a,b etc. are not different stamps they all appear on the same one
5C Small Numeral Types
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| Type 1a,b,c & 2 |
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| Type 3a,b & 4a,b |
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| Type 5a,b & 6a,b |
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| Type 7a,b,c |
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| Type 8a,b,c,d |
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| Type 9a,b,c,d |
Examples
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| Left to right: Small Numerals Types 3, 7 & 8 |
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| Genuine bloc |
5C Large Numeral Types
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| Types 1,2,3,4 |
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| Types 5a, b & 6 |
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| Types 7,8,9,10 |
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| Types 11,12,13 |
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| Types 14, 15 & 16a,b |
Examples
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| Left to right: Large Numerals Types 7, 9 & 12 |
10C Small Numeral Types
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| Type 1 & 2 & 3a,b |
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| Type 4a,b & 5 |
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| Type 6a,b.c & 7 |
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| Type 8a,b & 9a,b |
Examples
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| Type 2, 6a,b,c & 7 |
10C Large Numeral Types
Examples
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| Type 1a,b, 2a,b & 11 |
15C Small Numeral Types
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| Type 1a,b & 2 & 3 |
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| Type 4a,b & 5 |
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| Type 8a,b & 9a,b |
Not shown
Type 6:L Stain at the base of the pike.
Type 7: "1" of 15 large and thick, with a dot in the middle.
Examples
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| Type 1a,b, 6 & 9a,b |
15C Large Numeral Types
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| Type 2 & 5a,b |
Not shown:
Type 1. Attached point to the left and below the "V" of Centav.
Type 3. The frame line is cut on "TI" of Argentina + small line on the right arm.
Type 4. Dot stuck on the second branch of the "V" of Centav
Type 6. Point on the Centav point. + dot glued on the 2nd branch of the "V" of Centav.
Type 7. Two points on the right arm.
Type 8. Point under the left arm near the oval.
Examples
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| Type 5a,b, 7 & 8 |
Forgeries
Fournier
Bear in mind that although these appear in his stock, it does not mean he created them as he sold forgeries from many sources. However, the 4X4 configuration of the sheets may be a good indicator that Fournier created them.
Full sheets from the Geneva Collection
Torres
It appears that Torres had a penchant for these as I encountered MANY
Note the various typical cancels he uses
The rays do not all point at the "Sun Man"
The cap appears more like a flower
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| Torres Assortment |
Striped Cap
The rays do not all point at the "Sun Man"
The cap is striped layers
Hooked Cap
Aside from some heavily cancelled and damaged stamps this is the only decent sample with a pronounced hook in the cap
Reversed Hands
Odd facial features
The cap has an odd shape
