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.

There is a common question that beginner philatelist ask: what is the stamp’s printing or production process? We’ll take on this subject from a different angle: Stamp test as a design and production process.

The stamp test process starts when there’s an agreement or government decree. The selected provider starts to design the stamp(s). Below are a few examples.

1863 First Issue hand-drawn watercolor essay of the basic design with blank value tablets. Stamp size on India mounted on card measuring 39x44mm. The color being the shade chosen for the 1/2r value. Extraordinary detail in the drawing, very fine. Certainly unique and absolutely gorgeous.

Cocos Island, production file. Containing an enlarged original model of vignette on thick card measuring 320x177mm. 10c model with hand painted frame. Most initialed and approved, plus a few notes, fine-very fine; ex-American Bank Note Company archives.

National Exhibition, production file. Hand painted model; ex-American Bank Note Company archives.

The design is approved and the printer starts with die proofs. They can be of either centers, frames or complete stamps and sends them to be approved.

Large die vignette essay with retouched state with with inscriptions at bottom.

Health Day air post, production file. With enlarged photographic and hand painted model for 10c with alternative 1.35Col value tablet adjacent.

When the die proof is approved by the respective government, the printer starts printing complete sheets (plate proofs). Usually in different colors to determine which one will be the final one.

Trial color plate proof sheetlet of nine. This impression was taken from the original die at a later date. It was prepared for Waterlow & Sons sample books. Very few intact sets of sheetlet remain today.

After these are approved, the stamps are printed for circulation.

The post Stamp test, design and production process appeared first on Costa Rica Stamps.

Quick trivia: How many medio real stamps were printed? R/5,750,000…yes, almost 6 million! Now, 3 million stamps are -or were- Scott 1 and 2.75 million of Scott 1a.

But why there are 2 types of medio real? the history says that because of the quantity of stamps being printed, the plate started cracking. at the beginning the crack was visible only on the position 1 of the plate, then it advanced to the position 11 and then to the 21st. At this point the government decided to order another plate. It had slight variances and that’s why we now have Scott 1a.

Returning to the broken plate, it’s usual to find unused copies, but once in a while, used copies come by. It’s right to say that used copies are not super rare, but they’re not easy neither.

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 – First Issue: medio real (Scott 1) with broken plate…USED! appeared first on Costa Rica Stamps.

It is true that the stamp Scott 1 (medio real stamp)doesn’t have an error like the vertical pair imperforated horizontaly (Scott 1b), but we can find other interesting errors. For example double perforations. They’re not as difficult as the Scott 1b, but they’re very elusive.

What’s really interesting about this errors is that they’re human made -the first issue perforations were made manually- that (in my opinion) gives more authenticity to the piece.

The post Costa Rica Stamps – First issue, medio real (Scott 1) double perforations appeared first on Costa Rica Stamps.

Every country’s first issue always attracts lots of attention from collectors. Well, Costa Rica’s first issue is not the exception. A really nice design and engraving makes this issue a real gem. It’s try that it’s easy -and relatively cheap – to get it, but the postal history is another story.

Also, there is the most known error in this issue: the double transfer on the 4 reales.

It’s easy to identify: located on the “Republica de Costa Rica” legend on the top. There are some traces of a double transfer on the stars and the “cuatro reales” legend.

If this jewel comes across your way…grab it while you can before someone else does it!

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 – Double transfer on the first issue’s 4 reales appeared first on Costa Rica Stamps.