Argentina 1935-51 Definitives

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The most elusive 5p plate variety

The upper right stamp in this block has a scratch in the background that is very difficult to find.



The give-away is this outer edge break.



Here is a detail of the scratch.



In this comparison, I have blocked out the area around the scratch.

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Plate variety candidate for the 5p1L2

The lower right stamp in this block has an indentation to the trunk of the palm.



Here is a detail. I do not find a second specimen in my sample.



and various 5p1L2 plate varieties

The lower left stamp in this block is the 'long scratch across palm plate variety.'





This plate has two plate varieties.



Here is a detail of the upper left stamp.



Here is a detail of the upper right stamp.

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A 5p1L2 block showing repeated plate varieties

With this block we can postulate that the plate was made up in pair of rows and that some plate varieties come from the master dies. This pattern is found on other stamps of this series (the 10c Rivadavia Red and the 50c, for example).



The right side stamp in the first row has the same scratch...



.. as the right side stamp in the third row



The left side stamp in the second row is a common plate variety.

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The 1L2 watermark

These two examples are 5 pesos stamps.

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The 1p2D

The 1 peso value, like the 20c Large Format Cattle stamp (the 20cLC) was printed on the diffused (2D)and clear (2C) straight rays papers. This block was printed on the 2D paper.



Here is the back showing the watermark.



The lower right stamp has a plate scratch probably caused by placing the die into the printing cylinder.

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Two 20 pesos blocks

The appeal of these high value blocks is unmistakable. Such a high face value was most likely paid for a post office box receipt.

This block is a 20p1E4.





This block is a 20pNGR.





The upper right stamp has a small indentation below the '20.'

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A few 40c early postmarks

This first specimen is 1E1.







This stamp has a plate flaw likely from when the plate was assembled.

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Early 40c (1E1 and 1E3a)

These early printings show almost no plate wear.





This stamp has some plate wear around "REPUB" of "REPUBLICA."







Here is a clearly printed stamp dated 1940.



Here are two specimens from a dirty and slightly worn out plate.

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Selection of 40c1E

This first specimen has bright colors.



These two specimens are a lighter shade.





These 40c1E2s have been postmarked in March and April of 1938.

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The two clay 40c printings

The first printing, from 1943, is on the second clay paper, the CL1B. The RA is vertical. The paper is of medium thickness and poorly perforated.









The second printing is on lighter colors and from 1952. The paper is thinner, the CL2B. The RA is horizontal.













Here is a comparison. The top two stamps are CL1B, and the bottom two are CL2B.

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A selection of 40cNGR

This stamp was printed in at least two shades of purples. This first specimen is reddish purple.











Here is a dated 40cNGR.



This comparison shows a range of shades for this stamp.

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A few 40cNGR plate varieties

These plate flaws need to be confirmed as plate varieties.

















These two stamps show a plate variety I have shown previously.

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The two major shades of the 40c2C

The first shade is purple.







The second shade is reddish purple.







Here is a detail of these two shades compared.

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A small selection of the 40c1L6

These stamps were used in 1956 and 1957 and show some generalized plate wear.

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Reference description of the 1E1 paper



Paper with asymmetrical grain.
Direction of the watermark is parallel to direction of paper roll and perpendicular to the 25c image.
Procured from England.
First used October 1, 1935.