San Tomas LA Guaira Private Postage

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La Guaira (La Wayra?)

La Guaira is the capital city of the Venezuelan state of Vargas and the country's main port. It was founded in 1577 as an outlet for Caracas, 30 kilometres (19 mi) to the southeast

The Caracas–La Guaira highway is a highway that connects Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, to its principal port city of La Guaira, capital of the Vargas state.

Does it mean that the steam boat mail service was part of the Venezuelan postal service? Or that the company's HQ was only located here, but sailed under another country?

There's lots of info on this in the SG South America catalogue.

This service started in 1863 when Captain Robert Todd acquired the right from the Venezuelan government to carry mail between Caracas, La Guiara, Puerto Cabello and St Thomas.

He sold this concession and his ship to Blohm, Nolting & Co. of Curacao. They carried on the service and issued the first few sets of stamps starting in 1864.

In 1866 they in turn sold the concession to another Curacao company, J. A. Jesurun en Zoon. At first they used the same stock of stamps but then issued stamps in the final design which has their JAJ&Z initials in the centre.

The concession was sold again in 1870 to Cameron, Macauley & Co. of St Thomas but no new stamps were issued.

The service ended in 1873 because of competition from the British Post Offices in Venezuela.

Thank you for the enlighting info.
So, that's why SG listed these stamps under Venezuela.
I understand that I'm holding 2 stamps from J.A.Jesurun and two from Blohm & Nolting.
Fascinating story.

Thank you here too, Great Information.

The name is similar to the Spanish "La Aguera" a settlement off Mauritania.
I had them mixed when I first took up collecting.

So maybe I missed it but did Scott Catalog have a listing for the 1/2 and 2 value?

There's a nice article on Robert Todd's service and the stamps here:

http://www.mostlyclassics.net/phila...alStamps.pdf

Wow, this forum has everything!

I found these 2 in a small group of Venezuelan stamps I just received. My googling led me straight back to this thread in this forum, and then to the article linked by Bobby De La Rue,

Interesting stuff. I'm suspicious of the red, medio real stamp however.

Jay Smiths website also has some good examples, for reference, for most of these issues.
http://www.jaysmith.com/Lists/Danis...Cabello.html

*BUMP*

Both of spain 1850s stamps are genuine. The Finland-like sawtooth roulette is the immediate test, so both are from the 1864 Waterlow printing. Other tests match the genuine. The dots cancel on the 1/2r is not a normal cancel. The partial cds at upper left looks legitimate, but the dots are an incidental marking, perhaps a French ship killer.

As noted these are genuine - no forgeries are known of the ZiG-Zag Roulette. There are several of the regular perf

The issue is determining which stone (I, II, III) these come from.
The 1/2 appears to be stone II where the Q in PAQUETTE is an O with no tail. Stone I has a tail. Stone II should also have a dot in the foresail.

Now if these are stone II
The 1/2 comes in pale red (Used stamps are uncommon)
It also comes in red which is rare in unused and used


The 2 reales may have a tail on the Q making it a Stone I possibly yellow green - difficult to tell from image
It is probably like the 1/2 with no tail then it is a Stone II - both are about the same CV with not much difference for used

Some listings indicate a paper and size difference between Stone I & II

The stone III are worn impressions and VERY rare used.
1881 reprints in light colors are also noted

Thank you both for the additional information and confirmation of authenticity.


SForgCa - Love your avatar photo! First postal forgery known. The unique specimen was recently sold at auction I believe. Never heard what it sold for though.

spain_1850
1850 unique forgery avatar sold for $75,000
As you know ALL early Spanish stamps were forged and command good values with those collectors