Stamps of Uruguay

Stamps of Uruguay, chronologically sorted by the Scott and Michel catalogues. Forgeries of the issues to 1866 are included.

Map showing Chili, La Plata and Uruguay in 1853

Coat of arms of Uruguay

Private issues

Uruguayan monument 'La Diligencia' (The Stagecoach) in the departament of Montevideo

1856-1857 Diligencias

The postal services organised by the stagecoach companies, issued on 1 October 1856 the so-called Diligencia (stagecoach stamp). There were three values:

• 60 centésimos blue, for single page letters (modified in October 1857)
• 80 centésimos green, for two-page letters
• 1 real red, for three-page letters.

• 
  80c green corner 'Ferrer' block of 15, 1856 issue, unused
• 
  Pair of the DILIGENCIA issue, type II issued in 1857, 60 c, from a cover to SALTO. Michel N°4

Forged 1856-1857 stamps

• 
  Forged 1856 80c green by Fournier
• 
  Forged 1856 1R red by Fournier

1858 Soles Cifras Dobles

A new series was printed in March 1858 by Luciano Mège in Montevideo. This set came also in 3 values:

• 120 centésimos blue
• 180 centésimos green
• 240 centésimos red

• 
  1858 180c green Sol de Montevideo issue, Lee type 22
• 
  1858 240c red Sol de Montevideo issue

Forged 1858 stamps

• 
  Forged 1858 120c blue by Sperati
• 
  Forged 1858 120c blue and fake cancel by Fournier
• 
  Forged 1858 240c red and fake cancel by Fournier
• 
  Forged 1858 240c red by Fournier
• 
  Forged 1858 240c red by Sperati

Government issues

In 1859 the government approved postal stamps:

• Purple: single weight letter – 60 cents
• Yellow: double weight letter – 80 cents
• Pink: triple weight letter – 100 cents

For the foreign mail service (refers only to Argentina and Brazil):

• Light blue: single weight letter – 120 cents
• Green: double weight letter – 180 cents
• Scarlet: triple weight letter – 240 cents.

They were lithographed by Mège & Willems, active in Montevideo, and were issued on 26 June 1859.

June 1859 Soles

'Thin' numerals definitive issue. Values 60 to 240 centésimos, valid until 1-1-1861.

• 
  80 c dark yellow. Unused without gum. Michel N°9a.
• 
  80 c orange, used 24 August 1859 in Montevideo
• 
  100 c brown-rose, frame cancelled CERTIFICADO
• 
  180 c green, unused
• 
  180 c dark yellow-green, oval cancelled 18-10-1859. Michel N°12b

Forged 1859 stamps

• 
  Forged 1859 60c yellow-brown by Fournier
• 
  Forged 1859 60c yellow-brown by Fournier, complete sheet of 16
• 
  Forged 1859 120c blue by Sperati

1860-1862 Soles

'Thick' numerals definitive issue (without 240 c). Lithographed by Luciano Mège & Willems in Montevideo.

• 
  First 60 c, issued 31-12-1859, fine print, grey-lilac. Yvert N°12A, Michel N°14bII
• 
  60 c brown-lilac, January 1861 issue, unused
• 
  60 c brown-lilac, issue 1861, oval cancelled.
• 
  80 c yellow, 1861 issue, blue cancelled in COLONIA
• 
  100 c pink, issue March 1861, used. Michel N°16a
• 
  120c blue, 1860 issue, used 8 July 1862 in MONTEVIDEO

Forged 1860-1862 stamps

• 
  Forged 60c yellow brown, 'DOLORES' postmark, by Fournier
• 
  Forged 1861 100c red, by Fournier
• 
  100c pink, Geneva forgery
• 
  240c brick-red, Geneva forgery

1864 Escuditos

The change in the currency to the silver peso system in 1862 urged for a new issue which appeared in April 13, 1864. Printed by Luciano Mege & Willems, Montevideo.

• 
  6 centesimos red, 1864 issue, used by mute cancel from Montevideo, placed on the trip to Buenos Aires, Diaz type 7
• 
  8 centesimos green, 1864 issue, used by blue circular cancel
• 
  12 centesimos blue, 1864 issue, used by mute cancel from Montevideo, placed on the trip to Buenos Aires, Diaz type 5

1866

January 1, 1866 Escuditos Sobrecargados

Changes in the postal rates were responsible for the first surcharged stamps, the escudito issue of 1864 (escuditos sobrecargados). This provisional issue appeared on 1 January 1866, when the new rates went into effect, but were soon superseded by the new definitive stamps.

January 10, 1866 Cifras

A new set was issued 10 January 1866. Lithographed by Messrs. Maclure, Macdonald and Co., of London.

• 
  5 centesimos blue, 1866 issue, used by bar cancellation
• 
  5 centesimos blue vertical pair, 1866 issue, used by framed 'CERTIFICADO'
• 
  15 centesimos yellow, 1866 issue, used by framed 'CERTIF(ICADO)'

August 21, 1866 Cifras

Values 5 to 20 C, perforated.

• 
  10 C green, used
• 
  20 C rosa, used

October 1, 1866 Cifras

1c stamp issued, due to the introduction of this rate for newspapers.

• 
  1 centesimo black, unused

Forged 1866 stamps

• 
  Forged 1866 10c green

1877-1879 Cifras con Ornamento

On 8 January 1877 a set of stamps was issued which had been engraved on steel by the American Bank Note Co., of New York, rouletted 8. It omitted the 15c value, but added a 50 c and 1 Peso. However, because of an error in the coat of arms, the 1 Peso value was not issued until 1 May 1879.

• 
  1 centesimo red brown, unused
• 
  1c red-brown. Cancel with 'T' in triangle, postage due (Tasa). Michel N°37
• 
  5c green, unused
• 
  5c green. Blue postmark '3' in ovals of Villa Soriano. Michel N°38
• 
  10c vermilion unused. Michel N°39
• 
  10c vermilion. Postmark "A" of Montevideo in oval bars. Michel N°39
• 
  20c bister unused. Michel N°40
• 
  20c bister, used 21-10-1877
• 
  20c yellow-brown. Blue postmark '3' in ovals of Villa Soriano. Michel N°40
• 
  20c bistre brown, used 19 NOVIE 85 (19-11-1885)in Montevideo, bisected on fragment
• 
  50c black, unused. Michel N°41
• 
  50c black, used. Michel N°41
• 
  1 Peso blue, unused (issue quantity 10,000)
• 
  1 Peso blue, used (issue quantity 10,000)

1880

In 1880 the 1c stamp became exhausted and on 10 November a 1 centesimo brown lithographed copy was issued. Rouletted 6, 12 or (partly) imperforate.

• 
  Unused, rouletted 6
• 
  Used, Rouletted 6
• 
  Unused block of four, rouletted 6
• 
  Unused block of four, rouletted 6
• 
  Unused block of four, imperforate
• 
  Unused block of four, rouletted 12.5
• 
  Unused block of eight, vertically imperforate

1881

Due to a new postal rate for letters to Paraguay, Chile and Brazil, a stamp of 7c was issued on 25 August 1881, depicting Joaquín Suárez.

• 
  7c blue, unused.
• 
  7c blue, unused block of four.
• 
  7c blue, unused imperforate block of four.

1882

Two stamps for newspaper postage next appeared, the 1c on 15 May 1882 for local use, and the 2c on 1 July for foreign use.

• 
  1c green unused, position nr. 62
• 
  1c green, unused imperforate block of four, position nrs. 3, 4, 13 and 14.
• 
  2c rose, position nr. 76
• 
  2c rose, unused block of four, position nrs. 5, 6, 15 and 16.
• 
  2c rose, unused imperforate block of four, position nrs. 81, 82, 91 and 92.

1883

March–April 1883

Coat of arms, 1 and 2 c. Maximo Santos (1836-1889) and José Gervasio Artigas (1764-1850) on 5 and 10 c. Lithographed by Mège & Aubriot.

• 
  1 centesimo green. Cancelled FUERA DE HORA (too late delivered). Michel N°47
• 
  1c green, unused block of four
• 
  1c green, unused imperforate block of four
• 
  1c green, unused partly imperforate block of four
• 
  2c red, unused
• 
  2c red, unused block of four
• 
  2c red, unused imperforate block of four
• 
  5c blue, unused block of four. Maximo Santos
• 
  5c blue, unused block of four
• 
  5c blue, unused imperforate block of four
• 
  5c blue, unused partly imperforate block of four
• 
  5c blue, unused partly imperforate block of four
• 
  10c brown, unused. José Gervasio Artigas
• 
  10c brown, José Gervasio Artigas. bisected for use as 5 c. Postmark 'A 110' of Montevideo
• 
  10c brown, unused block of four
• 
  10c brown, unused imperforate block of four
• 
  10c brown, unused partly imperforate block of four
• 
  10c brown, unused double perforated block of four

September 24, 1883

In the latter part of 1883 the 5c stamps ran out, and the 5c of 1876 was overprinted 1883 Provisorio.

• 
  5c green, 1883, overprinted 1883 Provisorio

1884

January 15, 1884

1 Cent stamps ran out, and the 10c of 1877 was surcharged Provisorio – 1 centesimo – 1884. It was issued on 15 January 1884.

• 
  1c orange red, 1884, surcharged Provisorio – 1 centesimo – 1884.
• 
  Bottom of sheet with the printer. Mi52
• 
  1c orange red, 1884 block of four, surcharged Provisorio – 1 centesimo – 1884.

May 1, 1884

The new stamps (values 1 C to 25 C) engraved by the American Bank Note Company were issued on 1 May 1884. Rouletted 8.

• 
  1 centesimo olive, used with A and bars. Michel N°55c
• 
  2c brick red, cancelled in 1886. Michel N°56
• 
  10c olive brown, unused. Michel N°60
• 
  10c brown, frame cancelled FUERA DE HORA. Maximo Santos. Michel N°60
• 
  20c lilac, used in 1887. Michel N°61

December 19, 1884

The 5c of the ABNC series was not issued until 19 December. This stamp was printed in violet instead of blue, the government refused them, sending them back to New York with an order for the blue. The violet stamps were returned by the ABNC and issued on 1 December 1886.

• 
  5c prussian blue, 1884, used
• 
  5 c, slate-blue (usual shade), frame cancel CORREO del SALTO ULTIMA HORA on fragment. Michel 57a.
• 
  5 c blue, used with oval of bars. Michel N°57b
• 
  5c violet, issued 1-12-1886, unused
• 
  5c violet, issued 1-12-1886. Postmark "1" in oval bars. Michel N°58.

October 17, 1887 local issue

Litho M. Godel, Montevideo.

• 
  10 Centesimos, grey-blue. Mi63.

1888

On 1 January 1888 the American Bank Note Company stamps appeared in changed colors, and the 10c in a new design.

• 
  2c rose, unused
• 
  5c ultramarine, frame used, Michel N°66.
• 
  20c bistre brown, unused

1889

The 5c stamp ran out in October 1889, and on 14 October the 5c violet was issued for general use with the overprint Provisorio. An inverted A for a V is known (pos. 91). Red surcharges are trial prints.

• 
  5c violet, 1886 block of four, overprinted in 1889 Provisorio

December 1889 - 1890

Definitive values 1 C to 1 P, engraved by Waterlow.

• 
  2 centesimos, carmine, frame cancelled TRANSI(TO) PAYSAND(U) Michel N°73
• 
  50 c, blue, mute cancelled. Mi79
• 
  1 Peso lilac, unused, Mi80
• 
  1 Peso, violet, cancelled MONTEVIDEO 13 JULIO 92.

1891

The 5c stamps ran out, and the 5c violet of 1886 was overprinted in red Provisorio – 1891. It was issued (56 670 stamps) on August 19, 1891. Valid to July 19, 1892.

• 
  5c violet 1891 Provisorio 1891 overprint, used
• 
  5c violet 1891 strip of three, middle stamp with Provisorio 1391 instead of Provisorio 1891 overprint error (position 28)

1892

January 18, 1892

The 1c and 5c ran out, the former being supplied from the 1c of 1888 overprinted Provisorio – 1892 and the 20c surcharging UN – Centésimo – Provisorio – 1892, and the latter by surcharging the 7c of the current issue CINCO – Centésimos – Provisorio – 1892.

• 
  1c green of 1888 overprinted Provisorio 1892
• 
  1c black surcharge on 20c orange issue of 1889-1901, unused
• 
  1c black inverted surcharge, unused
• 
  5c red surcharge on 7c bistre brown, Mi84
• 
  CINCO red overprint on 7 c brown, cancelled B.. within bars of Salto. Michel N°84

March 9, 1892

A supply of definitive stamps arrived from London (Waterlow and Sons), in new designs, and the surcharges ceased. The 1c and 2c were issued 9 March 1892, the 5c on 19 April and the 10c on 15 December.

• 
  1c green, 1892 issue, with postmark commemorating 4th centenary of Columbus
• 
  2c rose
• 
  5c blue

1894

A new supply of the first series of stamps engraved by Waterlow and Sons was received on June 2 1894, but in changed colors and with two high values (2 and 3 Pesos) added.

• 
  1c dull blue, Mi90
• 
  2c red brown, Mi91
• 
  5c rose, Mi92
• 
  7c green, unused. Mi92
• 
  10c orange, Mi93
• 
  10c orange, cancelled MONTEVIDEO 9 APRIL 95. Mi93
• 
  20c brown, unused. Mi94
• 
  25c vermilion, unused. Mi95
• 
  50c lilac, unused. Mi96
• 
  1p light blue, unused. Mi97
• 
  2p carmine, unused. Mi98
• 
  3p dull violet, unused. Mi99

1895-1896

Engraved by Waterlow. Values 1 C to 3 P.

• 
  5 centesimos issue 1895. Postmark "Q-1" in oval bars. Mi102

July 18, 1896

A set of three stamps, 1, 5 and 10c was issued. Depicting President Joaquín Suárez, 10c his statue.

• 
  1c unused.
• 
  1c unused, top imperforate.
• 
  5c unused.
• 
  5c unused, vertically imperforate.
• 
  10c unused.
• 
  10c unused, vertically imperforate.

1897

In March 1897, Aparicio Saravia led a revolutionary force against the Uruguayan government. At the end of this civil war, stamps overprinted PAZ 1897 and a palm are issued, valid only for 3 days end of September.

1899-1901

Engraved by Waterlow. Values 5 milésimos to 1 Peso.

• 
  5 milésimos issue 1900, Statue of Artigas in San José. Mi141
• 
  1 centésimo green issue 1899. Mi142
• 
  2 c orange issue 1899, used with boxed 'RECOM(ENDADA)' (registered). Mi143
• 
  10 c issue 1899, Allegory of Electricity. Used by boxed '(RECOMEN)DADA' (registered), Mi146
• 
  2 c Eros, vermilion issue 1901, used with 1 in bars. Mi150a
• 
  2 c Eros, brown-red. Mi150b
• 
  5 c blue, issue 1900, cancelled. Mi151a
• 
  50 c issue 1901, Mercure. Mi155

20th-century issues

1904-1906

Similar designs, but lithographed by the Montevideo School of Arts.

• 
  5m 1904, used in 1905. Statue of Artigas. Mi157a (orange)
• 
  2c red-orange, used in 1907. Mi159
• 
  10c 1905, used. Female shepherd. Mi161
• 
  5c 1906. Bull. Mi167

1908-1909

Commemorative issues.

• 
  2 C issue 1908. Independence declaration on 25 August 1825. Military ship 'Montevideo'. Mi172.

1909-1910

Regular issue November 1910 (5m to 1p), designed by Blanco and engraved in London (Waterlow & Sons).

• 
  8c provisorio red overprint on 10 C issue 1901. Mi176
• 
  5m purple, Artigas. Mi183
• 
  1p, allegory. Mi191

1910-1911

Engraved in Buenos Aires by the South American Bank Note Co..

• 
  5c blue issue 1910. 100 years independence movement. Mi179.
• 
  5c carmine and black, issue 1911. First postal congress in South America. Mi192.

Official stamps

Official mail is mail sent from, or by an authorized department of government, governmental agency or international organization, and usually has an indication that it is official.

1880-82

Regular 1887-1889 issue with 'OFICIAL' overprint.

• 
  1c red brown
• 
  1c red brown, block of four
• 
  1c red brown, block of four, double overprint
• 
  1c red brown, block of four, inverted overprint
• 
  1c red brown, block of four, normal and inverted overprint
• 
  1c brown (1881)
• 
  5c green, block of four
• 
  5c green, block of four, inverted overprint

1890-1900

'OFICIAL' overprint

• 
  1890 1p lilac, regular 1889 issue with 'OFICIAL' overprint
• 
  1891 5c violet 1891 with 'Provisorio 1891' overprint, with additional 'OFICIAL' overprint
• 
  1895-1900 1c bister, regular issue with 'OFICIAL' overprint

Revenue stamps

1871

• 
  50c documents revenue, used
• 
  80c documents revenue, used