Are you that kind of philatelic enthusiast that likes to surf the web looking for pics of stamps from time to time?

Well, here I am to help you! I know that looking at stamps can be hypnotizing. I know that once you start, you’ll leave your computer until you saw the last one.

I’ve been a Costa Rica stamp collector for over 20 years. And i’m pretty sure I never get tired of looking at stamps.

That’s why Estampillascr’s Facebook page has more than 1,500 pics of stamps…Costa Rica stamps. It doesn’t matter what you are looking for, we have plenty! We divided them in several sections, so it would be easier for you to browse them.

You can browse our albums of surface mail stamps, air mail stamps, semi postal stamps, Christmas stamps and proofs. If you like cancellations on stamps, there’s an album too. Also we have albums for postal history and postcards. At last but not least the “errors” albums will take your breath away.

If by any chance you don’t find the stamp you were looking for, don’t panic! Just let me know and I will help you finding it.

Also, you can view the rarest and most expensive Costa Rica stamps from the Frederick R. Mayer collection auction.

The post Costa Rica: pics of stamps – lots of pictures appeared first on Costa Rica Stamps.

It’s the dream of every stamp collector to own the world’s rarest postage stamps. For most of us it is indeed just a dream. 9 years ago, the philatelic world had the chance to witness the auction of the biggest Costa Rica stamp collection.

In October 22nd, 2008 Spink Shreves Galleries sold at an unreserved  auction, one of the greatest single country collections ever formed. There is no question that the collection of postage stamps and postal history of Costa Rica is the most comprehensive and valuable ever formed. This collection was assembled over a lifetime by the renowned philatelist Frederick R. Mayer. Its scope and depth are simply remarkable. Replete with virtually every recorded major rarity in all categories. Often with multiple examples of each.

Costa Rican philately were extensively covered in Mayer Collection in all areas. It included stampless covers, stamp issues both on and off cover. It also included the finest and most comprehensive selection of 1863 First Issue covers ever offered at auction. Essays and proofs, air mail related material, postal stationery and revenues and much more. The appearance of this spectacular collection was truly a once-in-a-life opportunity for collectors of Latin American stamps.

I’m excited to present you the rarest and most expensive items sold in this auction.

The post World’s rarest postage stamps. Greatest Costa Rica items from the Frederick R. Mayer Collection appeared first on Costa Rica Stamps.

Have you ever watched the movie Inception? A dream inside a dream…

We’ll, here you can see an inverted surcharge inception: an inverted “Correos” in a block of 6 with inverted surcharge. Sounds weird, I know, but let me explain it:
In this issue there are stamps with inverted surcharge because the pane was upside down when the plate came down. Also there are stamps with only the “Correos” inverted because it happened in just one position in the plate (position 46).
This block of 6 has 3 characteristics that make it special and fairly rare:

1. It has the less common perforation for this stamp (14×14).
2. The surcharges in this block are inverted.
3. And last and most important is that the inverted “Correos” error is present. As you can see in the position 3 of this block, the inverted “Correos” error inside the inverted surcharge looks as if it wasn’t inverted.

Is it genuine? Yes, of course!
Just look at the stain between the “o” and the “r” of the inverted “Correos”.
Beautiful!

For this kind of studies, we recommend the following tools:

• Stamp Magnifying Microscope: Celestron 5 MP Handheld Digital Microscope 
• Stamp Magnifying Lamp Desk Clamp-Mount 90 SMD LED Adjustable Spring-Arm

The post Costa Rica Stamps – Scott 98 Perf. 14×14, block of 6 with inverted surcharge and “Correos” inverted appeared first on Costa Rica Stamps.

The 1910 issue is known for being a very “clean” issue. There are not known design errors in the more than 40,000,000 stamps that were printed. Fortunately, errors like folded paper are known to happen in this issue.

But there were errors in the printing process -and not many-. Some imperforated stamps are known, but the highlights are the folded paper errors when the stamps were being printed.

Here we have an example of the 10 Cts. What happened is that the paper was folded when printing the stamps and when the paper was unfolded, a part of the stamp didn’t have ink on it.

Want to buy the best philatelic supplies? Remember to visit the ultimate stamp collecting supplies list.

Make sure to review our tips for stamp collecting in the XXI century.

To keep your stamps and postcards safe from stains and getting damaged we recommend Lighthouse stock books.

Stamp Magnifying Microscope: Celestron 5 MP Handheld Digital Microscope 

Stamp Magnifying Lamp Desk Clamp-Mount 90 SMD LED Adjustable Spring-Arm

Make sure to view these amazing full stamp pane protective storage bags.

Manual perforation measurement gauge which has a really low price.

Electronic perforation measurement gauge, that has a higher price but is easier to measure perforations.

The post Costa Rica Stamps – 1910’s 10 Cts with folded paper appeared first on Costa Rica Stamps.

This is the first of a series of posts describing the imperforated pairs of the late XIX and early XX century.

This time, we have an incredible vertical pair imperforated in between of the 20 Cts from the 1901 issue.

It´s being said that this error happened between 2 rows only. So, this means that only 10 of these happened.

Now, do you think that errors that only 10 exist are worth $1.000? Of course not! In my opinion the Scott catalog is under rating many Costa Rican stamps. A great example are the imperforated pairs from the late 1800’s through the early 1900’s. Fortunately, the market is taking action and setting the right prices.

The post Costa Rica Stamps – Scott 49a, imperforated pair: a real gem! appeared first on Costa Rica Stamps.