Argentina 1935-51 Definitives

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Two 5 pesos 'Servicio Oficial' plate varieties

I have several used specimens of each of these varieties. All 5 pesos 'SO' stamps are NGR paper.

The first plate variety has a speck of grayish green background top right of the palm tree.





The second plate variety has a break in the outer line of the denomination box, and a frame scratch pointing out of the design bottom center.

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A variable plate variety on the 5 pesos 'Servicio Oficial'

This plate variety of the 5PNGR-SO has a distinctive break to the horizontal line below the letters 'BLI' of 'REPUBLICA,' and may be from one of the cliche used to make the plate.

I find two types so far, one with small gap to the top outer line, and another with an additional top inner horizontal line break.

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Two minor plate varieties of the 2PNGR-SO

I do not find these repeated yet, and are therefore candidates pending verification.

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Two types of the 2P1L-SO

The first type is a 1L paper similar in texture to the 1L1, but a separate paper, which I refer to for now as the 1L6.

This specimen shows slight doubling of the center, a somewhat common printing variety that could be attributed to at least two printing deviations:

1. Tumbling of the plate causing a shadow image as the center was printed.

2. True double printing when the first center image was deemed to be too light and was overprinted with a second, darker run.





Here are two scans of the watermark.





The second type is a 1L Zarate, the 1L5, which upon close examination looks to be a group of two or more papers of which their study I am postponing for later.

This remarkable specimen has the frame slightly double printed. The two possible reasons listed above apply to this stamp.







Here are the backs showing an almost completely illegible watermark.

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Major plate varieties of the 2P1L-SO

I have previously documented these plate varieties on the regular stamp.

Long scratch in the center.





Dot in center middle top.

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Early papers of the 1P1Ex-SO

Here are additional examples of the three early papers for the 1P1Ex-SO.

Here is the 1E1, with a typically crisp impression.



The 1E2 stamp is very rare.



The 1E3 stamp shows some wear to the plates, especially the background.



Here are the watermarks side-by-side. From left to right: 1E1, 1E2, and 1E3.



The 1E4 is the most common of the four papers by a wide margin (my estimate is 10 to 1 where the 1 incorporates 1E1, 1E2, and 1E3 combined).

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Later papers of the 1P-SO

The late papers show printings ending near 1950.

The secoond clay paper, from 1943, the CL1B.



The 1945-47 printings on the unwatermarked NGR printing, printed in four variants:

1. Upper Left, clear perforations/thin paper, 12 mm overprint.
2. Upper Right, missed perforations/medium to thick paper, 12 mm overprint.
3. Lower Left, clear perforations/thin paper, 11 mm overprint.
4. Lower Right, missed perforations/medium to thick paper, 11 mm overprint.



The final printing of the 1 peso 'Servicio Oficial' is on the second, clear so-called Straight Rays paper, the 2C. Here are back scans of the 1P2C-SO with vertical and horizontal watermark.

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The 40c 'Servicio Oficial'

This stamp requires no introduction for those who collect it. It is very rare. It is printed the 1L6 paper, the bright white and very porous paper also found on the 2 pesos stamp from the 1950s.

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n early cover bearing the 10c Rivadavia Brown

Tenorio mentions that the first, and rare printing in offset of this stamp was issued March 16, 1939; and that the first typographed printing was issued November 4, 1939. The following cover is from June 1939 and bears two typographed stamps. I have previously shown other typographed specimens postmarked before the issue date mentioned by Tenorio.



This cover has a dated company stamp on the back.



Here are details of the stamps, showing the traits of typographed stamps: extra ink outside the design, and outside the upper right corner.

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Acid wash of the 50c and 2 pesos plates in 1952

For a long time I have been aware that these two plates were cleaned with an acid bath during the CL2B printing of 1952. From looking at several specimens, it is likely that more than one bath took place, especially for the 2 pesos. At this point in the study, I will focus on the difference between the acid-washed printing and the early printings (1936/37). Here is a 50c1E2-SO from 1937.



Here is a 50cCL2B-SO from 1952.



This comparison of the top left corner shows the widening of features that occurs after an acid bath.





This comparison shows the left 50 before and after the acid bath.





Here is the 2P from one of the 1E printings, most likely the 1E1 of 1936.



Here is the 2PCL2B of 1952.



Notice the widening of ARGENTINA...





...and of FRUTICULTURA.

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Horizontal and Vertical 2P2s


I have examined a block of four of the 2P2 with horizontal watermark and cream paper, and two blocks on white paper with horizontal and vertical watermarks. While the 2P2 with horizontal watermark on cream paper resembles the 2p2D, the diffused paper, I have not found this stamp used between 1943 and 1947, which is the period of usage for this paper.

Here is the 2P2 with horizontal watermark. It does look like the 2P2D.









Here are the two white paper blocks. These blocks are the 2P2C paper.

First block, vertical watermark







Second block, horizontal watermark









Here is a comparison of the 2P2D candidate block and one of the 2P2C blocks, both with horizontal watermark.

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late varieties on three 2P2 blocks

Here are the plate varieties I find on these blocks.

First block of four



Lower left stamp





Lower right stamp





Upper right stamp







Upper left stamp



Second block of four



Lower left stamp



Third block of four



Lower right stamp

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Second day of issue 1935 cover

I have just received this cover, dated October 2, 1935. It is a philatelic cover.



Here is the back of the cover...



...and here is a detail of the postmark.



These stamps were issued October 1, 1935.

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A miss-perfed block of the 25c1E3

This block has a duplicate row of perforations between the second and third row.



Here are details of the watermark for future study.









This block has several minor plate varieties.

Second row, third stamp



Second row, fifth stamp



Third row, second stamp



Third row, fourth stamp



There is one plate variety on this block that is a candidate master die plate variety. These plates were composed in groups of ten cliches as two rows of five stamps each.

First row, third stamp



Third row, third stamp

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The 2p1E3b

I have examined a selection of 1E3 2 pesos stamps, and do not find the other two 1E paper types. Here is a selection of 2 pesos 1E3b back scans.

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Colors of the 2p1L6

The 2 pesos in 1936 was a high value paying registration air mail rates. By the mid 1950s, the 2 pesos was a letter rate air mail definitive. The 1L6 paper was used on the stamps of this issue that were still in use in 1956/57. The paper is porous and has a grid similar to that of the 1E1 and the 1E3a. This stamp was printed in large quantities. I find a wide range of colors and plate wear.

Light blue, probably from worn out plates.



Hazy printing.



Normal colors.





Dark blue center.



Very dark blue center with some over-inking.

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The 2p1L6 Watermark

Here are examples of the 1L6 watermark from back scans. The thickness of the paper varies. I only find a vertical watermark.

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The 2p1E3b 'cream' frame

This is a scarce printing. This is a puzzling stamp. It shares colors with the CL2B 2 pesos of 1952, but is printed on a paper that was used before 1945. I have yet to establish the period of use. The postmarks I find are consistent with use during the mid 1950s.





Here is the watermark.

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2p1Ls with shifted center

This variety is uncommon, but not rare. This sample includes some stamps more shifted than others.

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2p1L plate wear

Plate wear for this stamp shows up as general wear, or as over-inked regions. Here is an example of each.