The Era of Surcharges

1881 – 1888

Postage Stamps	Revenue Stamps	Telegraph Stamps	Summary
Scott #s 89 - 111	Scott #s 112 -131	Scott #s 132 - 136	Home

Scott 112	Scott 113	Scott 114	Scott 115	Scott 116	Scott 118	Scott 119
Scott 120	Scott 121	Scott 122	Scott 123	Scott 123a	Scott 124	Scott 125
Scott 126	Scott 127	Scott 127A	Scott 127B	Scott 128	Scott 129	Scott 129A
Scott 129B	Scott 130	Scott 131

Scott # 113

January 1881

2-4/8c Black Surcharge on 10c Bistre

Surcharged on 10c bistre Derecho Judicial Fiscal issue of 1878

Five Surcharge Types Known

#113 (VII)

#113 (VIIa)

#113 (VIIb)

#113 (VIIc)

#113 (VIId)

Description of Surcharge Types

It is important to note that the measurements (sizes and angles) detailed in the table below are intended as a guide and may vary due to thickness of ink on some of the surcharges, as well as the angle at which the surcharge may have been applied.

Tall, Medium or Short ‘2’

Angle of ‘4’ Against Fraction Bar

Type 1 – Diagonal stroke of ‘4’ not parallel to fraction bar (Types VII, VIIb, VIIc and VIId).

Type 2 – Diagonal stroke of ‘4’ is parallel to the fraction bar. Downward stroke of ‘4’ is at an angle of approximately 45º to the fraction bar (Type VIIa).

Small or Large ‘CMS’

Type	B of HAB. Broad, Medium, or Narrow	ILIT of HABILITADO Above/Even or Below the other letters	CORREOS	2 is Short, Medium or Tall	4 of 4/8 at 45º Angle to Fraction Bar *	CMS Small, Medium or Large	Other
VII	B	A/E	Letters even-sized and well-spaced	T & Wide h=3mm w=1.6mm	No Type 1	S h=2mm w=6mm	Common
VIIa	B	A/E	CO smaller than the rest of CORREOS	T & Wide h=3mm w=1.6mm	Yes Type 2	M h=2.2mm w=6.6mm	Common
VIIb	M	B	Letters even-sized and well-spaced	T & Narrow h=3mm w=1.4mm	No Type 1	M h=2.2mm w=6.6mm	Scarce
VIIc	N	A/E IL Closer than other types	Letters even-sized and well-spaced	S & Narrow h=2.4mm w=1.4mm	No Type 1	M h=2.2mm w=6.6mm	C of CMS broad Scarce
VIId	M	B	Letters even-sized and well-spaced	M & Narrow h=2.6mm w=1.4mm	No Type 1	L h=2.4mm w=6.6mm	Common

* If the 4 is not at 45º, it is either parallel to the fraction bar or less than 45º. This is a tough descriptor to determine.

‘2’ Relative to First ‘O’ in ‘CORREOS’

One further differentiator is the position of the top of the ‘2’, where in Types VII, VIIa and VIIb, this extends to the right of the first ‘O’ in ‘CORREOS’. Types VIIc and VIId has the top of ‘2’ to the left of the first ‘O’.

Additional Comments

A total of 200,000 stamps were surcharged

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