Spain (Part 2, 1854-1905) (Part 1, 1850-1853 here)

1854 Issue 2c, 1r, 5r and 6r
1861 & 1864 Issue 19c
1865 Imperforate Issue 4c, 12c inverted frame, 19c and 1r
1865 Perforated Issue 19c and 1r
1866 Issue 19c; 1867 Issue 19c; 1868 Issue 19c
1870 Issue 19c, 1e 600m, 2e
1872-1873 Issues 4p and 10p
1873 Issue 4p and 10p; 1874 4p and 10p; 1875 4p and 10p
1878 Issue 20c, 40c, 4p and 10p
1905 Issue Don Quixote

Sperati made more reproduction of Spanish stamps that for any other country. although some were complete fabrications, for many of teh reproductions he washed stamps and retained genuine cancels. See the mounted pages for specific information on the various issues.

page thumbnails:

Frajola Spain mounted collection pages, 600 dpi (as pdf here)
Frajola Spain & Colonies card proofs pdf file here

(on thin greyish paper)

1. there are two breaks in the thin line below "CORREOS," one below the second "O" and the other under the extreme left point of the star at the end of the word

2. there is an indentation on the left side of the "F" of "FRANCO" just below the upper serif

3.the head of the "C" following the numeral is broken

4. the top of the final "S" is broken

(on thin yellowish paper)

1. There is a gash in the right side of the first "O" of "CORREOS"

2. there are two white spots in the upright of the second "R" of "CORREOS"

3. there is a projection from the knee of the "S" of "CORREOS" that extends upwards towards the upper serif of the letter

4. there is a break in the head of the "F" of "FRANCO" where the horizontal stroke joins the upright

(in indigo on thin paper or in pale blue on thick bluish paper)

1. there is a gash on the left side of the upright of the second "R" of "CORREOS"

2. there is a nick in the upper frame line over the numeral "8" of the year

3. the tip of the upper left serif of the "R" of "FRANCO'' is broken off and appears as a dot between the head of this letter and the preceding "F"

(in indigo on thin paper or in pale blue on thick bluish paper)

1. there is a minute dot below the upright of the first "R" and a dot between the upright and the tail of the second "R" of "CORREOS"

2. there is a spot of color on the top right of the numeral "8" of the year date

3. between the bottom of the crown and the top of the shield there is a break with a dot in the middle

(in indigo on thin paper)

1. the upper left serif of the first "R" of "CORREOS" is broken away from the letter and there is a spot of color above this letter adjoining the outer frame line

2. the upper left serifs of the letters "FR" of "FRANCO" are broken away

3. there is a break on the inner frame line immediately above the "A" of "FRANCO"

4. the upper left serif of the letter "R" of "RL" is broked

(in pale blue on thick bluish paper)

1. there is a white spot in the back of the "C" of "CORREOS"

2. there is a minute break at the foot of the first "O" of "CORREOS"

3. there is a break in the left thick frame line surrounding the upper left quarter of the shield

4. there is a gash in the right side of the horizontal stroke of the "N" of "FRANCO"

(in pale blue on thick bluish paper)

1. the tip of the upper left serif of the "R" of "FRANCO'' is broken off and appears as a dot between the head of this letter and the preceding "F"

2. the thin frame line over "RL" is broken in at least three places

3. the upper left ornament has the point broken so that it appears as a hook

4. there is an extra dot in the lower right ornament between the upper leaf and the center piece

1. there is a break or indentation in the left side of the second "O" of "CORREOS"

2. there is a clot of color in the center of the back of the "C" of "CERT"

3. there is a dot of color adjoining the right side of the "D" of "DO"

4. there is a line in the shading below the lower right Castle

1. there are white spots in the upright and in the loop of the first "R" of "CORREOS"

2. there is a spot of color in the center of the right side of the numeral "l"

3. there is a small projection from the outer frame line immediately above the numeral "4"

4. the bottom right serif of the "R" of "CERT" is broken away from the upright and the upper left serif of the "T" of "CERT" is broken away from the upright

1. the frame line over "R" of "CUARTOS" has a minute break and is retouched (thickened) over the "RT"

2. there is another minute break in the frame line below and between "TO"

3. the left side of the lower right corner square inclines inwards at the top of the square

4. the 12th and 13th pearls that form the border at top are broken on the upper side while 10 of the pearls in the right frame are broken on the inside

1. the outer frame line at left is broken near the bottom

2. there is a defect in the thick curved line at bottom immediately below the "O" of "CTOS"

3. the upper curved line over "CORREOS" is broken over the first "R"

4. the first "O" of "CORREOS" has a defect at upper left

1. there are two white spots above the first "A" of "ESPANA," another below the right leg of the letter and a fourth between the "AN" and two in the crutch of the "N"

2. there are two white spots in the center of both "O"s of "CORREOS" and one between the legs of the second "R"

3. the outer frame line is broken at top

4. there is a distinctive break in the horizontal lines of shading just S.W. of the chin

1. the frame line over "ESPANA" is unbroken whereas in the genuine there is often a break over the lion

2. between the frame line and the background below there is a spot of color over the "S" and another over the "P" of ESPANA"

3. there is a spot of color in the curved white space over the "P" of "ESPANA"

Frame A characteristics:

1. there are colored spots in the back of the "C" of "CORREOS" and in the head and belly of the "S"

2. there are two colored spots in the curved white space below "CORREOS," one (minute) below the "C," the other below the "O"

Head A characteristics:

1. the horizontal lines immediately opposite the tip of the nose are merged at the left

2. there is a dot at the right of the third line of shading from the top

Head B characteristics:

1. the fourth and seventh horizontal lines of shading between the chignon and the neck are broken

2. the ends of the frame line at the lower right side are irregular giving the impression of four steps (on some copies this been touched out)

Frame B characteristics:

1. the inner frame line over "ESPANA" is broken in the center

2. there are two white spots between the "ES" of "ESPANA"

3. there are white spots in the background of the panel containing "CORREOS," one before the "C," one over the "RE" and a colored projection into the knee of the "S"

imperforate

perforated

1. the panel containing "ESPANA" contains the following spots: one between the two lower horizontal strokes of the "E," one each side of the head of the "S," a raised hypen after the "S"

2. the panel containing "CORREOS" contains the following white spots: to the top left and bottom left of the "C," in the lower part of the center of the "O" which has a tail at the lower right like a "Q

3. when not over-inked, there are several breaks in the outer frame line at right, towards the top and towards the bottom

1. there is a dot at the right between the ends of the sixth and seventh lines of shading from the top

2. the right chimney does not join the tower in the top left corner

3. the top left serif is broken off the "R" of "CUARTOS," and there are defects at 3 and 7 o'clock in the "O"

4. there is a break in the lower curve of the floral ornament in the bottom right corner

1. in the rose printing there are clear breaks in the left frame line near the top, and in the middle of the top frame

2. there are two distinctive defects in the background of "CORREOS," above the second "R" (not clear on the rose) and below the second "O"

3. there is a dot below the top frame line above the "E'' of "DE"

4. there are three distinctive defects in the background of "ESPANA," at the bottom left of the "E," from the head of the first "A" and generally around the "N," between the legs of which there is a white spot

5. the foot of the "C" of "CUARTOS" is thick and there is a slanting projection at the bottom right which makes it look rather like a "G"

(see above characteristics 2 through 5)

1. the frame in the top left corner is damaged

2. there are white spots between the "D" and "E," between the legs of the second "A" of "ESPANA," between the "1" and the "9" and to the top right of the "A" of "CUARTOS"

3. the bottom frame line is broken close to the right corner

1. there is a small dot outside the design at left near the top

2. there are flaws in "COMUNlCAClONES:" white spots in the upper left and lower right of the first "N,'' a break on the inside of the right leg of the "A" just above the horizontal stroke, and a small break in the foot of the "S"

3. there are flaws in "CUARTOS:"  a dot on the right leg of the "A," the tail of the "R" is almost broken away from the loop, and there is a break in the head of the "S"

1. the left out frameline stops short of meeting the top line

2. there is a small dot to the left of first "A" in "ESPANA" near the top

3. the first "R" of "CORREOS" has a dot to the right and the second "R" has a diagonal white scratches extending upward to the right from the lower part of both legs

1. the loss of white space between the horizontal lines of shading is very noticeable

2. the curved frameline at top is broken twice, at left and near center

3. the thick inner curved frame lines do not meet at the top left corner and there is another break to the right in the top line

1. there is a projection from the top frame line outside the right corner

2. the outer frame at left is broken opposite the nose

3. the "M" of "COMUNICACIONES" is broken near the top of' the diagonal stroke, the left side of the "U" is broken near the top, the head of the second "C" is split and there are four breaks in the second "N"

4. the "C" in "ESCUDOS'' has two cracks in the base and a hollow end

(only seen as a proof)

1. the background surrounding the initials "E.J." below the neck is solid

2. the right diagonal of the "M" in "COMUNICACIONES" is broken in half and the end of the second "C" is bifurcated

3. the head of the first "S" of "ESCUDOS" is broken and there are breaks in the upper left and head of the "D'' (ix)

4. there is a break in the right inner frame near the foot

1. there is a distinctive flaw in the shading immediately under the chin

2. the "U" of "COMUNlCACIONES" has a cursive break on the right

3. the "U" of "CUATRO" has a vertical flaw down the left side and a similar weakness in the "T"

4. below the "P" of "PESETAS" there are two small strokes of color and two small dots below the first "E"

1. the "U" of "COMUNlCACIONES" has a cursive break on the right

2. the "D" of "DlEZ" is shaved off and there is a weakness in the top, there is a also white spot in the upright of the "E"

3. in "PESETAS" there is a white spot in the loop of the "P" and the top is concave

4. there is a break in the first "E" of the same word, the second "E" has two white spots in the head of the "T" and one in the upright and the final "S" is badly drawn and has a barbed tail

reported in Sperati I from negative only, this tem is an exposure trail from Sperati archive

1. the "U" of "COMUNlCACIONES" has a cursive break on the right has a cursive break on the right

2. there is a major break in top frameline at left side

3. both of the "O"s of "COMUNlCACIONES" have several white spots

1. there are dots of color joining the two frames above "MUNI" of "COMUNlCACIONES"

2. the line over "4 PESETAS" is weak and broken

3. there is a flaw in the foot of the "4"

4. the left side of the "A" in "PESETAS" is just broken from the right

1. there is a nick in the upper side of the bottom frame in the left corner

2. there are two small breaks in the head of the second "O" in "COMUNICACIONES"

3. there are flaws in the background of "ESPANA" on the right, a white dot before the top of the "E," a vertical dash behind the nape of the "S," an extensive flaw between "PA" and a dot between "NA"

1. there are are spots of color above the right of the first "N," over the "A" and the second "I" between the top frame and above "COMUNICACIONES"

2. there are the following flaws in the background behind "ESPANA:" at the left a white spot between "SP," white spots in the head and below the last "A"

3. there is a colored spot just below the serif of the "l" and a white spot in the tail of the first "S" of "PESETAS"

1. there are flaws in the circular frame over the first "N" and "ACI" of "COMUNICACIONES"

2. there are the following flaws in "COMUNICACIONES:" the "A" is broken at the right, the second "l" is broken at the top, and the second "N" has a heavy flaw at the right

3.  there are many flaws in "ESPANA," the most distinctive being the "E" (which has a break at the left and flaws in both upper and lower serifs) and the "P" (in which there are five white spots)

1. there are two flaws in "COMUNICACIONES," the first "N" is broken where the diagonal joins the right stroke and the head of the "E" is broken from the upright

2. the serif of the upper right "I" is broken, there is an indentation in the head of the "P" and the head of the second "E" in "PESETAS" is very irregular

3. the year date has flaws include: two nicks in the left of the"1," the "8" is broken at the top and in the center, there are white spots in the head of the "7" and there is a white spot in the head of the "4"

(image of 1875 issue backprints here)

1. there is a white spot in the left frame 4.25 mm. above the lower corner square

2. there is a white spot in the upper left corner of the top right corner square

3. there is a break in a line of shading on the neck 8 mm. from the bottom of the stamp and 9 mm. from the right

1. there is a triangular flaw in the shading just underneath the tip of the nose

2. in "COMUNICACIONES" there is a crack on the inner top right of the first "O," a white dot in the center of the "M" and a white spot in the lower diagonal of the first "N"

3. the most prominent flaws in "PESETAS" are the break in the head of the "P," the white spot in the bulge of the loop, the bite out of the back of the first "E," the broken bottom to the first "S," the missing lower left serif and the broken head of the second "E"

1. there is a nick in the top frame over "CA"

2. the "U" is broken at the top left

3. the horizontal line of shading that terminates immediately below the "I" in "JULIA" is short

4. there is a white spot in the top left of the "N" of "CENT," a flaw in the oval frame above "PE" and a distinctive break in the center of the first "E" of "PESETA"

1. there are four flaws in "COMUNICACIONES:" a dot in the cup of the first "C," a break on the right of the first "N," a break in the head of the third "C" and of the "E"

2.  there is a break in the thicker vertical line between the oval and the left frame 7.5 mm. from the top

3. there is a flaw in the line over "P" of "PESETA" and another in the bottom frame below "S"

reported in Sperati I from negative only

1. there is a break in the bottom of the third "C" of "COMUNICACIONES"

2. there is a white spot on the top of the hair under the first "I"

3. there is a dot on top of the fancy frame just below "NE"

4. in the oval frame at left there is a nick 8.5 mm. from the top of the stamp and a dot on the inner side 13 mm. from the top

1. this reproduction shows the secret mark of the 40 centimos (open bottoms to the legs of the "M") instead of that of the 4 pesetas (open bottom to the right leg of the "A" in "COMUNICACfONES")

2. there is a white spot in the hair 4 mm. from the left and 7 mm. from the top of the stamp

3. there are breaks in the ornamental frame, 4 mm. from the left and 3 mm. from the bottom, and 2 mm. from the right and 5.25 mm. from the bottom

1.there is a white spot under the moustache

2. there are two large spots of color, one inside the oval 6.5 mm. from the top and 3 mm. from the right of the stamp, the other outside the oval 4.5 mm. from the left and 3.5 mm. from the bottom of the stamp

3. there is a white spot in the oval frame immediately under the "U" of "COMUNICACIONES"

4. in most examples, the white of the eye is missing

reported in Sperati I from proof only

1. there are several flaws in ''COMUNICACIONES:" a break in the cup of the first "C," a break on the inside right of the "M" and a spot of color in the right of the "U"

2. there is a white flaw in the oval frame under the "A"

3. there are spots of color behind the head (8.75 mm. from the top, 3.25 mm. from left) and in front of the nose between the shading and thick oval frame

4. the line above the value is broken just right of the oval

Examples of forged postmarks dated 1905 (see plate 84 ) suggest that Sperati made reproductions of this issue but no examples have been reported

Cancels are: "ESTAFETA ESlT- MADRlD/12 MAY.05"
and " .... 10. MAY. 05"

Large circular datestamps: "ESTAFETA DEL NORO ...... /MADRID/I0.MAY 05" and "MA(DRI)D 1/ 9-MAY. 1905"

additional information from Sperati I: Plates 68 to 84 and the Spain Text
additional information from Sperati II: Plate D and the Spain Text

Richard Frajola (May 27, 2020)