Spain Catacombs Semi-Postal Complete Set

[Craig]

Here is the complete set of Spain's 1928 catacombs restoration issue, both the Santiago and Toledo issues (Scott #B74-105).

Note: I've created this separate thread, so as not to step on Ozie's post on the same subject.

The Santiago Issue

[Craig]

The Toledo Issue

[Gordon Lee]

Greetings Mr. Craig
.
Maybe you can answer a question that I have spent the last 45 minutes trying to find on the entertainet internet: Why two different issues?
.
I know these stamp were mandated to replace postage between 23 December 1928 and 6 January 1929 in Spain, but surely the postal authorities/printer/s had enough lead time to produce enough stock that they did not need to split the work. This fact is apparent because there are the same number of stamps still in circulation in both used and unused condition.
.
In my devious mind I imagine a government official making a sweetheart deal with his printer buddy in either Toledo or Santiago printing plant. I just wonder what was their 'official' reasoning.
.
Respectfully,

Gordon Lee

PS. Plus, Scott's footnote sez the "proceeds from their sale were given to fund to restore the catacombs of Saint Damasus and Saint Praetextatus at Rome." The problem I have is that I can find no Saint Damasus catacomb listed in Italy.

[Craig]

Mr. Gordon, I had the same question and spent a couple of hours searching for more information on the separate printings before putting the pages together, with no luck. If I had cogent information, I woukd have made up an introductory page. But I'm sure there was some sort of political thing going on. There must be something recorded somewhere, perhaps in the Spanish language.

Did not know that about the St. Damascus catacomb.

[sdsimon]

Oct 23, 2014 22:08:12 GMT -5 Gordon Lee said:

Greetings Mr. Craig
.
Maybe you can answer a question that I have spent the last 45 minutes trying to find on the entertainet internet: Why two different issues?
.
I know these stamp were mandated to replace postage between 23 December 1928 and 6 January 1929 in Spain, but surely the postal authorities/printer/s had enough lead time to produce enough stock that they did not need to split the work. This fact is apparent because there are the same number of stamps still in circulation in both used and unused condition.
.
In my devious mind I imagine a government official making a sweetheart deal with his printer buddy in either Toledo or Santiago printing plant. I just wonder what was their 'official' reasoning.
.
Respectfully,

Gordon Lee

PS. Plus, Scott's footnote sez the "proceeds from their sale were given to fund to restore the catacombs of Saint Damasus and Saint Praetextatus at Rome." The problem I have is that I can find no Saint Damasus catacomb listed in Italy.

Both sets were printed by Waterlow & Sons, Ltd. of London.

[sdsimon]

footnote: these were engraved by J.A.C. Harrison of Waterlow, also known for his engraving of the British KGV Downey Head issues.

[paris]

Nice to know new information here