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 was common during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s that important people from the government embossed their stationery. This was usually made using an embossing die made of either iron, copper or bronze.

I was lucky enough to find 2 fantastic pieces of history: the embossing dies for Bernardo Soto and Tomás Guardia. Both of them presidents of Costa Rica during the 1800’s.

The first embossing die belonged to Bernardo Soto. Born in 1854. President in 2 terms from 1885 to 1888. In which decreed the creation of the Asilo Chapuí, the national lotery, the national museum and the national library.

It consists in a round iron die (with a screw on the back). On the front it has Costa Rica’s coat of arms and it reads: Bernardo Soto below it. On the back there’s a legend that reads: “STERN 47. Passage Panoramas”. All this point that this was made by Stern Graveur in Paris. Also it has an engraved number “1141” on the back pin.

The other embossing die belonged to Tomas Guardia, president in 2 terms. From 1870 to 1876 and from 1877 to 1882. During his terms approved a new constitution, abolished death penalty and started the railway to the Atlantic.

The die consists of a rectangular iron piece that on the front has Costa Rica’s coat of arms and it reads: General Tomas Guardia below it. Also it’s numbered “9296” on one side.

The post Bernardo Soto and Tomas Guardia’s Correspondence Embossing Die 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.

Let’s head back to 1875. By this time -and after several printings- the plate of the medio real cracked to the point that it wasn’t able to be used anymore. So, another plate was made to continue printing, but there were some differences in the plate -really easy to see- from the previous one…Scott 1a was born! For Unknown reasons -and thank God- the quality inspection process wasn’t that good and we’re fortunate to have one of the top 3 rarest stamps in Costa Rica’s philatelic history.

Yes, Scott 1b which consists in a vertical pair imperforated horizontaly. Only 36 of these have been reported to exist. And guess what? here you have it!

The post Costa Rica Stamps – Scott 1b, the rarest Costa Rica stamp from the XIX century! 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.