The main objective of this guide is to clearly identify the differences between three commonly misidentified stamps in almost every Uruguay collection.

As an introduction we must explain that previous stamp issues , Scott 1 to 3, Carrier issues , also known as Diligencias , were meant to be used ONLY and EXCLUSIVELY by the Lapido Stagecoach lines, and Scott # 4 to 6 , Double Numeral Suns , only for the Montevideo – Buenos Aires cross-river boat postal service. The printing contract for the Suns issue was awarded to Lucien Mege & Co. of Montevideo, after his its successful experience printing the 1856 Diligencias and later Double Numerals Suns mentioned earlier .

Fig. A – Diligencia and Double Numeral sun

The 60 cents s tamps were the first Uruguay post office general usage stamps issued to pay the 1/4th oz. Letter rate within the R epublic following the June 11, 1859 Post Office Decree organizing the new postal rates, currency usage establishing the currency to be used, submultiples and stamp issues .

We must clearly distinguish between 3 issues, Scott #7, Scott #13d and Scott #13. We must explain that the 13d was an intermediate issue between #7 and #13 being a late philatelic discovery the number was added between the existing catalog numerations as 12A in Y&T and 13d in Scott but it clearly deserves a separate number being a properly different issue.

 

Scott #7 Main Characteristics

Printed in 1859 these issues represent the pinnacle of Lucien Mege craftsmanship as a lithographer.

•  Basic Colour: grey with variations: dark grey, violet gray

•  Separation line between the stamps -- this is a key i dentification characteristic totally missing in the 13d and 13 suns (Fig. 1)

Fig. 1 – A small block of Scott #7, clearly showing the separation line between
the stamps, only present on this issue.

•  Fine Print with sharp details, thin alphabet numbers. (Fig. 2)

  Fig. 2 – thin alphabet numeral as it appears on #7 (arrow) shown
side by side with samples of #13d and #13

•  Outer frame broken under the lower left flower ornament (Fig. 3)

  Fig. 3 – Broken frame, key unique characteristic of the #7

•  Thin sun rays, with sharp details easily recognizable one from the other (Fig. 4)

Fig. 4

•  Thin to medium good quality white paper

•  Thin white gum (if present)

The existence of large blocks of this issue has been documented, such as the 69-stamp block (listed in Corinphila – October 30, 1982 ), but no full sheets have survived. This was a highly popular and widely used issue, and it sold until 1860, year in which the stock was depleted and the new 13d stamp was ordered to be issued from the Lucien Mege firm

Fully plateable with 20 different types. The original sheet comprised 204 stamps (17 rows, 12 columns) and the basic types were arranged in columns two stamps wide as shown in the following diagram.

 

1	2	1	2	1	2	1	2	1	2	1	2
3	4	3	4	3	4	3	4	3	4	3	4
5	6	5	6	5	6	5	6	5	6	5	6
7	8	7	8	7	8	7	8	7	8	7	8
9	10	9	10	9	10	9	10	9	10	9	10
11	12	11	12	11	12	11	12	11	12	11	12
13	14	13	14	13	14	13	14	13	14	13	14
15	16	15	16	15	16	15	16	15	16	15	16
17	18	17	18	17	18	17	18	17	18	17	18
19	20	19	20	19	20	19	20	19	20	19	20
1	2	1	2	1	2	1	2	1	2	1	2
3	4	3	4	3	4	3	4	3	4	3	4
5	6	5	6	5	6	5	6	5	6	5	6
7	8	7	8	7	8	7	8	7	8	7	8
9	10	9	10	9	10	9	10	9	10	9	10
11	12	11	12	11	12	11	12	11	12	11	12
13	14	13	14	13	14	13	14	13	14	13	14

Fig B. – Sheet composition of #7

 

Scott #13d Main characteristics

Issued and used from January 1860 to June 1861. Short lived issue, which is totally different from the #7.

•  Basic Colour: tan, variations: all the entire spectrum up to dark, nearly black t an. (Fig. 5

Fig. 5 – May 1860 Cover with 13d Dark tan

•  Thick numerals totally different from the previous issue, A common characteristic,not present in all the stamps a small tail under the “6” from its base to the left (Fig. 6)

Fig. 6 - Thin numeralsl as it appears on #13d (arrow) shown
side by side with samples of #7 and #13. Typical “tail” showing
from the base of the 6 to the left.

 

•  Sharp Impression with thin sun rays, with sharp details easily recognizable one from the other (Fig. 7)

 

Fig. 7

This stamp was not correctly identified as a different issue until 1937 by Felix Castillo (Uruguay Filatelico 19-20) who also plated the stamp and detailed the basic 24 types, instead of 20 found in the previous stamp issue.

No major blocks of this issue are known. The largest blocks known are a small, mint block of 3 (Fig. 8) and a vertical strip of 3 used.

Fig. 8

Strips or pair of used stamps, on and off covers are rare and highly sought after. (Fig. C)

•  Different plate layout from the #7, with 24 different types arranged in 4 panes sheet of 12 columns by 16 rows (Fig. D)

Fig C – 13d Vertical. Strip x2 on Cover, November 14, 1860

 

1	2	3	4	5	6	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	19	20	21	22	23	24
1	2	3	4	5	6	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	19	20	21	22	23	24
1	2	3	4	5	6	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	19	20	21	22	23	24
1	2	3	4	5	6	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	19	20	21	22	23	24

Fig D. – Sheet composition of #13d

Scott #13 Main characteristics

The Lucien Mege&Co. printing house was deeply impacted in many ways with the sudden death of Lucien Mege in October 1860, the most visible consecuence was the inmediate loss of quality and craftmanship, this is how we got the long used Scott #13 thick numeral stamp.

• used from January 1861 to 1865
• Thick numeral, blurry impression (Fig. 9).

Fig. 9 - Thick numeralsl as it appears on #13 (arrow) shown
side by side with samples of #7 and #13d. Note the
blurry print quality.

• Overall low printing quality, thick detail (Fig. 10)

Fig. 10

• Thicker, coarser paper
• Many different shades are known, can go from brown to black and brownish pink to tan
• Totally new sheet composition, was assembled transposing 16 times a basic 12-stamps pane (Fig. E)
• 12 basic types with a hughe array of sub-types (usually 20-25 subtypes for each type!)

1	2	3	4	5	6	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	7	8	9	10	11	12
1	2	3	4	5	6	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	7	8	9	10	11	12
1	2	3	4	5	6	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	7	8	9	10	11	12
1	2	3	4	5	6	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	7	8	9	10	11	12
1	2	3	4	5	6	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	7	8	9	10	11	12
1	2	3	4	5	6	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	7	8	9	10	11	12
1	2	3	4	5	6	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	7	8	9	10	11	12
1	2	3	4	5	6	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	7	8	9	10	11	12

Fig E. – Sheet composition of #13