International Postage Meter Stamp Catalog/Colombia

Colombia

• The first meter was used in the country in 1931.
• Nearly all Colombian meter stamps contain a license number (with prefix LIC or L.C.) rather than a meter number. Later meters, especially the Pitney Bowes, displayed both. A few stamps are found with identical license and meter numbers.
• Some stamps are designed specifically for airmail with "AEREO" inside the frank (Types A4, A5, A9, etc) and others for surface mail use with "COMUNICACIONES" inside the frank (Types A1-A3). The airmail stamps are printed in red while the surface stamps are printed in blue. Occasionally the two types of stamps are found on the same mail piece.
• The stamps are grouped by appearance and usage:

A - Frank with simulated perforation outer border

B - Frank with only partial or no exterior border

C - Frank with straight-line border

PO - Special stamp for Post Office use

---

GROUP A: Frank with simulated perforation border

A1. Universal “Model O” (Francotyp “C” under license) (MV), 1931. [$5]

“COMUNICACIONES” at top and “COLOMBIA” at bottom.

Wide spacing between frank and TM. With S# at top between TM and frank.

Without M# but with L# with “LIC.” prefix below TM.

L#s 2-11 known used. L# 12 known as a proof only.

TM: BIC

V/F: 000

A2. Universal “Model O” (Francotyp “C” under license) (MV), 1940. [$5]

Very similar to Type A1 but spacing between TM and frank narrow.

Without S#. L# with “LIC.” prefix below TM.

L#s 12-16 seen.

TM: DC or BIC

V/F: 00

A3. Hasler “F88” (MV), 1931.

Similar to Type A2, but value figures different and with vertical surcharge reading down at left.

L# with “L.C.” prefix in bottom of TM.

A. “SOBRETASA” separated from V/F by two lines

B. “EXTRA-RAPIDO”, no lines [$5]

C. “EXTRA-RAPIDO” separated from the value figures by two lines

TM: DC

V/F: 0.oo 0,oo

A4. Hasler “F88” (MV), 1941.

As Type A3, but with “SOBREPORTE AEREO” at top and without surcharge.

L# with “L.C.” prefix in bottom of TM.

TM: DC

V/F: 000

a. With spelling error “AERO” for AEREO (LC 305) [$20]

A5. Hasler “F88” (MV).

As Type A3 but with “CORREOS” at top.

L# with “Lic.” prefix below frank.

A. With “Sobreporte / AEREO” vertical reading down at left

B. With “AEREO” vertical reading up at left

TM: DC

V/F: 0000 0,oo

a. License number at bottom of TM, “HASLER” below frank

A6. Hasler “F88” (MV).

Similar to Type A5 but larger and with coat of arms left of F/V.

With “HASLER” below frank at left and L# with “L.C.” prefix at right.

A. Large coat of arms

B. Small coat of arms

TM: DC

V/F: 0,oo 00,oo

A7. Universal “MultiValue” (MV).

Upright frank with “COMUNICACIONES” in top panel and “PESOS” below F/V.

L# with “LIC” prefix in sides of TM.

TM: DC

V/F: 0oo

a. With “UPF” (for ‘Universal Postal Frankers’) below frank, with or without M#

A8. Universal “MultiValue” (MV).

As Type A7 but with “CORREO/ AEREO” in top panel.

TM: DC

V/F: 0oo 00oo

a. With “UPF” and M# below frank

A8.1. Universal “Simplex” (LV). [$10]

Frank as Type A7 but smaller.

TM: DC

Values: 0.18 and 0.35 reported

A8.2. Universal “Simplex” (LV). [$15]

Frank as Type A8.1 but with “CORREO/ AEREO” in top panel.

TM: DC

Values: 0.60 seen

A9. Hasler “F88” (MV), 1964. [$5]

Unusual split frank with “NACIONAL” vertical in one half and “AEREO” vertical in the other.

With “HASLER” below each frank half.

L# with “LC” prefix in bottom of TM.

A. “NACIONAL” at left, “AEREO” at right. V/F: | 0.oo

B. “NACIONAL” at right, “AEREO” at left. V/F: 0.oo |

TM: SC

A10. Pitney Bowes “Automax” (MV). [$5]

Nearly square frank with panels at top, bottom and sides.

“CORREOS DE” in top panel and a vertical line in each side panel.

Small M# with “P.B.” prefix breaks bottom frame line.

L# with “LC” prefix in bottom of TM.

TM: DC

V/F: =0.oo

A11. Hasler “Mailmaster” (MV).

Horizontal rectangle with straight-line border within simulated perforation outer border.

With “CORREOS DE” at top. Value figures with “$” prefix.

L# in bottom of TM or below TM plain or boxed.

A. Frank variable, 35-37 mm, in width

B. Frank 37mm wide with “PESOS” vertical left of dollar sign

TM: DC

V/F: .00= 0.000= 000.00 00.000.= 00000.oo 0,000.oo

NOTE: The “$” character is variable in size.

---

GROUP B: Frank without exterior frame

B1. Pitney Bowes “R” (MV), 1953.

Horizontal frank with “CORREOS” above TM and “COLOMBIA” above value box.

Condor in center with “DE” above.

M# with “P.B.” prefix below condor.

L#, if present, in bottom of TM.

TM: SC

V/F: ≋00 : ≋000 ≋00oo

a. Post Office stamp, with “C” and ”N” at sides of TM

b. Provisional stamp sold over the counter as mint postage at various post offices during periods of stamp shortages caused by rapid inflation between 1981 and 1985. The stamps are always on tape, never dated, and denominated in round numbers, 50, 100, etc.

B2. Pitney Bowes “DM” (LV-21), 1956.

Similar to Type B1 but much smaller.

M# without prefix.

TM: SC

Values: 01 to 21 0.10 to 2.00

a. Post Office stamp, with “C” and ”N” at sides of TM

B3. Pitney Bowes “5000” (MV).

Very similar to type B1, but wider value box.

A. Value figures of variable thickness

B. Value figures of uniform thickness

TM: SC

V/F: 0000 ≋0.00 000oo

B4. Pitney Bowes ”6500” (MV).

Very similar to Type B3 but with “CORREOS DE/ COLOMBIA” and value box wider, variable in width from 21 to 26 mm.

A. Value figures of variable thickness

B. Value figures of uniform thickness

TM: DC, SC

V/F: ≋000oo 0.000oo 0000.oo 0,000.oo

B5. Pitney Bowes-GB “5000” (MV).

Similar to Type B3 but larger with DC TM.

A. Value box 18 mm wide

B. Value box 21 mm wide

C. Value box 23 mm wide

V/F: ≋0.00 ≋00.oo ≋.000oo

B6. Pitney Bowes “6300” (MV).

Similar to earlier Pitney Bowes types but value figures on same level as date figures rather than lower as on Types B1-B5.

M# at bottom below value figures.

Without complete frame line around value box.

M# known with "P.B." and "PBE" prefixes.

TM: DC

V/F: ≋0.00 ≋00.oo ≋000oo ≋.000.oo

B7. Pitney Bowes-GB “A/B900” (MV).

"COLOMBIA" and the value figures are larger than on Type B6.

No frame line at top, frame line at bottom below the meter number.

No inner frame line around value box.

M# seen with "PBE" prefix.

TM: DC

V/F: ≋0000.oo

---

GROUP C: Frank straight-line border

C1. Postalia (MV).

Upright frank with “CORREO AEREO/ COLOMBIA” at top and coat of arms at bottom right.

Value figures at left with “PESOS” at right center.

With or without M# between TM and frank.

L# with “LC” prefix at bottom of TM.

A. “CORREO AEREO” 23 mm wide (as shown)

B. “CORREO AEREO” smaller, approximately 18 mm wide

TM: SC, DC

V/F: 0000 00.00 ≋0.00 0000oo

---

GROUP PO: Stamps generated only by machines used in Post Offices

PO1. Francotyp “Taxograph” (MV).

Horizontal rectangle with simulated perforation outer border and straight-line inner border, broken at left by vertical M# with “T” prefix.

“CORREOS DE” at top.

TM is rectangle with rounded corners with large “R” for Registration breaking right frame line.

R# between TM and frank.

With postal slug, such as “RECOMENDADO” below TM.

V/F: $ 00.oo

---

Return to main catalog ⇒ International Postage Meter Stamp Catalog

Return to top ⇒ Colombia