• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Classic Latin America logo

CLASSIC LATIN AMERICA

News, commentary and opinion on Central and South American philately

  • Home
  • Resources
    • Introduction
    • Central America : Philatelic Societies & Specialized Catalogues
    • South America : Philatelic Societies & Specialized Catalogues
    • Fakes and Forgeries
  • Auctions & Shows
  • Absolute Beginners
  • About
  • Contact

Central America : Philatelic Societies & Specialized Catalogues

Johnson's Map of Central America

COSTA RICA

Philatelic Societies

For a relatively small country, Costa Rica punches above its weight with a good selection of philatelic resources.

The Society for Costa Rica Collectors (EN) – known better as Socorico –  has published its in-house journal, The Oxcart, four times a year since 1960. The Society also runs a regular auction programme.

Based in Costa Rica, The Philatelic Association of Costa Rica (AFCR) (ES) has been in existence since 1932 and publishes a monthly digital bulletin, available on its website. It also produces the semi annual Costa Rica Filatélica (ES).

Finally, there is the Costa Rica Revenue and Postage Society who publish Costa Rica Timbre (ES). Contact the editor Alvaro Castro-Harrigan acastro@ulacit.ac.cr.

Specialist Catalogues

Socorico also publishes the comprehensive Costa Rica Postal Catalogue (EN) by Hector Mena. First published in 1994, the most current is the fourth edition from 2014. Also worth looking out for is the Saenz Catalogo de Sellos Postales de Costa Rica (EN/ES).

Useful Websites

The blog www.estampillascr.com (EN/ES) is an excellent source of articles dedicated to Costa Rica.

 

CUBA

Philatelic Societies

The International Cuban Philatelic Society (EN/ES) publishes a quarterly, bilingual journal, available to members only.

The Miami-based Cuban Philatelic Society of America (EN) also publishes a bilingual journal, The Cuban Philatelist, three times a year.

Specialist Catalogues

The Spanish publisher Edifil produces the Catálogo de Sellos de Cuba (ES) in three volumes. For the classic period collector you’ll need the specialized Volume 1 that covers the period 1855 to 1958. It was last published in 2015.

Another good investment is the Handbook of the Stamps of Cuba (EN). Published by the Cuban PSA, it can be purchased via its website.

Useful Websites

www.filat.com (EN/ES) covers a broad sweep of Cuban philately including a very detailed bibliographic section. Lots to get stuck into.

For a detailed appraisal of the early issues, www.jjareal.com (ES) is also a useful resource.

 

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Philatelic Societies

The Dominican Philatelic Society seems to keep a low profile; I don’t have contact details. However, El Filotelico (ES) is the society journal and was still being published in 2020.

Specialist Catalogues

A specialist catalogue on stamps from the Dominican Republic has not been published for a number of years. The latest I am aware of is the Amiama catalogue – Catalogo de Sellos Postales Dominicanos (ES) by Luis Amiama Veloz in 1988.

The very early issues (1865-1876) are comprehensively covered in Danilo A. Mueses’ book, Dominican Republic – The Classic Stamps (EN/ES), published in 2001.

 

GUATEMALA

Philatelic Societies

The International Society of Guatemala Collectors (EN) has been publishing its quarterly magazine, El Quetzal, since 1949.

Specialist Catalogues

There are two essential volumes: Guatemala -1 and -2.

Guatemala -1 covers postal history and philately up until 1902 and was published in 1969. Guatemala -2 continues up until 1971 and was released in 1974. Both were edited by Roland A. Goodman and published by the ISGC. They have been reprinted but the well-illustrated originals are the ones to go for. Guatemala -1 even came with an Esso road map of Guatemala (!).

Also worth acquiring is The Postage Stamps of Guatemala (EN/ES), edited by Gruson and Jickling, again published by the ISGC. The latest edition, printed in 2008, catalogues varieties and print numbers etc from 1871 to 2007.

 

HAITI

Philatelic Societies

The Haiti Philatelic Society (EN)  runs a regular series of auctions and has an indexed quarterly journal, Haiti Philately. The journal runs from inception in 1975 to the present day and is now available in digital format.

Specialist Catalogues

I’m not aware of one. A handy, early guide worth searching out is The Postage Stamps of Hayti (EN) by Fred Melville. This provides an overview of each issue from the Liberty Head series up until 1904.

 

HONDURAS

Philatelic Societies

Honduras has a small in-country association, the Federación Filatélica de la República de Honduras (contact ffrh@hotmail.com for further details). They also have a Facebook page and publish a journal Honduras Filatélica (ES).

Specialist Catalogues

I’m not aware of a specialized Honduras catalogue.

Useful Websites

www.hondurasstamps.com (EN) closes the gap on the lack of other resources and is one of the best enthusiast sites out there. It provides reviews of each issue up until 1940 and considered advice on separating the genuine from the fraudulent.

 

MEXICO

Philatelic Societies

The well-established Mexico-Elmhurst Philatelic Society (EN),  more usually referred to as MEPSI, has published its quarterly journal, Mexicana, since 1952. It also offers an expertization service.

In Mexico, Amexfil (Asociacion Mexicana de Filatelia) produces a magazine (ES) and can be contacted at amexfil@gmail.com.

Specialist Catalogues

A Catalogue of the Stamps of Mexico 1856-1910 (EN) by Nicholas Follansbee is the standard reference work. Now in its fourth edition, the current version was published in 2015.

Also worth investigating is Sellos Postales de Mexico (ES) by Ing. Guillermo Celis Cano. The last edition I have seen is 1974.

Useful Websites

The discussion forum at www.meximail.org (EN) is a good source of information. Coverage of the 1856-1861 issues is explored at www.mexico.ameridane.net (EN) as are the ‘eagle’ issues at www.eagles.ameridane.net (EN).

 

NICARAGUA

Philatelic Societies

Information on the Nicaragua Study Group is hosted at www.bio-nica.info (EN). The group produces an excellent journal, Nicarao (EN) with a superb index for rapid data look up. The index is frequently updated and also cross references with The Mainsheet and the Central American Newsletter. Back issues are available digitally. Contact Michael Schreiber at momotombo@woh.rr.com

Specialist Catalogues

The catalogue to look out for is Nicaragua to 1940 – A Philatelic Handbook (EN) by Clyde R. Maxwell. Last published in 1992, this publication provides a wealth of detail on a notoriously ‘difficult’ country, including Maxwell’s own scarcity/valuation guide.

 

PANAMA

Philatelic Societies

The Colombia-Panama Philatelic Study Group (EN), more commonly known as COPAPHIL, produces a quarterly journal, COPACARTA for members.

In Panama itself, there is also ASOFILPA (The Philatelic Association of Panama) (ES).

Specialist Catalogues

COPAPHIL distributes The Stamps of Panama 1878-2010: Vital Statistics by Federico Brid (EN). The latest edition is 2014 and includes a lot of useful data including print numbers.

Useful Websites

www.icollectpanama.com (EN) is a useful resource for the early issues.

Go to the South America section

Go to the Resources introduction

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Never miss a new post

Receive an e-mail alert when new posts are published

Your e-mail address will not be published and will only be used for sending you notification of new posts

Key Auctions & Shows (double check before attending in case of any COVID related postponements)

  1. Taipei | Taipei 2021 International Stamp Exhibition

    June 4 - June 8
  2. Chicago | Great American Stamp Show 2021

    August 12 - August 15
  3. Yokohama | Philanippon 2021 International Stamp Exhibition

    August 25 - August 30
  4. Capetown | IPEX 2021 International Stamp Exhibition

    November 9 - November 13
  5. Athens | Notos 2021 International Stamp Exhibition

    November 19 - November 22

View All Events

Featured Posts

  • ELASCA websiteIntroducing ELASCA – The European Latin American Stamp Collector Association
  • Stockholmia 2019Exhibiting Latin America…from Denver to Stockholm (Part 2)
  • Haiti 1898 President Sam, 50c Rose Brown Sunken Die ProofABNC proofs – understanding the different types
  • Mexico National Express CoThe Collector | Peter Bamert | Mexico
  • GJ Specialized Argentina CatalogueNew specialized Argentina catalogue published
  • Argentina 20 Peso High ValueSouth American stamps continue to appreciate in value
  • Mi Oficina logoLatin American Philately Zooms Forward
  • ABNC Steel PlateOriginal ABNC steel plates come to market
  • The Scott Classic Specialized Catalogue: a review
  • John Shaw RPSLThe Collector | John Shaw | Paraguay
  • SOFICH Chile catalogueSOFICH, so good
  • Buenos Aires stamp forgeriesFakes, forgeries…and buying online
  • Venezuela AR39 stampScott Specialized adds another 67 listings to Venezuela
  • The 10 pesos top value of Mexico's Mail Transportation issueThe Collector | Eric Stovner | Mexico
  • Black HondurasAnd the second most expensive Latin American country to collect is…Honduras. And the least expensive? Guatemala. Debate!
  • Brazil catalogue cross reference bookCollect Brazil? You probably need this…
  • Stamp Market IndexeBay disrupts catalogue publishing with Stamp Market Index
  • Central American NewsletterBookshelf Essentials Part II – The Central American Newsletter
  • Neal West NicaraguaThe Collector | Neal West | Nicaragua
  • Rocky Mountain Stamp Show 2019Exhibiting Latin America…from Denver to Stockholm (Part 1)
  • Brazil Bulls Eye ForgeryThe Numerals Issues of Brazil – Fakes, Forgeries and Counterfeits
  • The MainsheetBookshelf Essentials – The Mainsheet
  • Old Central Post Office Buenos AiresStamp Dealers in Argentina and Uruguay
  • The MainsheetThe Mainsheet goes digital
  • FIAF logoPhilatelic Societies – a review
  • Introducing Venezuela's EscuelasBook Review – Introducing Venezuela’s Escuelas Stamps by Williams Castillo
  • Stanley Gibbons Part 20 South AmericaPart 20, Part 20, wherefore art thou Part 20…?
  • Lazy PostmanWhich country has the world’s worst postal service?
  • A visit to the Edificio Correos in San José

No interest in Latin American stamps?

For news and opinion on the broader stamp market, click on the General Philately category below

Categories

  • Analysis
  • Auctions
  • Dealers
  • Events
  • General Philately
  • People
  • Philatelic Societies
  • Post Offices
  • Publications
  • Stamp Issues
  • The Collector

Recent Comments

  • Nick Salter on Latin American Philately Zooms Forward
  • Alfonso Molina on Latin American Philately Zooms Forward
  • Shiv Nair on Absolute Beginners
  • Nick Salter on ABNC proofs – understanding the different types
  • Arthur Morowitz on ABNC proofs – understanding the different types

Recent Posts

  • The Mainsheet goes digital
  • ABNC proofs – understanding the different types
  • The Collector | Peter Bamert | Mexico
  • Forthcoming auctions and initiatives in the hobby
  • The Numerals Issues of Brazil – Fakes, Forgeries and Counterfeits

Footer

Menu

  • Home
  • Resources
    • Introduction
    • Central America : Philatelic Societies & Specialized Catalogues
    • South America : Philatelic Societies & Specialized Catalogues
    • Fakes and Forgeries
  • Auctions & Shows
  • Absolute Beginners
  • About
  • Contact

Recent Posts

  • The Mainsheet goes digital
  • ABNC proofs – understanding the different types
  • The Collector | Peter Bamert | Mexico
  • Forthcoming auctions and initiatives in the hobby
  • The Numerals Issues of Brazil – Fakes, Forgeries and Counterfeits

Categories

  • Contact

© Copyright 2018 www.classiclatinamerica.com