This is the third in a series of articles highlighting key philatelic resources for collectors of Central and South American stamps. The next article in the series will be published in a few weeks and will cover Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic and El Salvador. The complete series of articles will ultimately replace the Resources section in the menu above.
PARAGUAY
Philatelic Societies
The Centro Filatelico del Paraguay was established in 1913 but no longer appears to have a presence. Let me know if you know different. It published a journal, of which a handful of scanned copies are available to read on the Portal Guarani website (see below).
I’m not aware of other philatelic societies representing Paraguay.
Specialist Catalogues
The book to look out for is the Catalogo de los Sellos Postales de la Republica de Paraguay y sus Derivados (ES), published by the Argentinian dealer Victor Kneitschel in 1947. Long, long out of print but there is nothing really to touch it.
It was published in a limited edition of 1000 copies. As expected from Kneitschel it is very strong on varieties with certain issues picked out for special treatment on plate flaws. The Habilitado overprints of 1908 get a particularly detailed look and there is a useful proofs and essays section at the back of the book. Although it can be a challenge to find an original copy, a free digital download is in circulation.
Another digital catalogue worth seeking out is Joe Hahn’s Paraguay Handbook (EN) which contains a wealth of additional detail and is particularly strong on varieties, print quantities and scarcity.
It’s a little clunky but you can still access it via Joe’s old website at www.oocities.org/~joehahn/handbook (EN). Peter Moorer has also compiled an updated pdf version.
Lastly, Jose Jimenez produced a copiously illustrated catalogue in 2021 – Catalogo de Estampillas del Paraguay (ES), reviewed here.
Useful Websites
Worth exploring is Portal Guarani (ES). The website acts as focal point for Paraguayan culture and the arts and has a section devoted to philately. There are a number of useful online resources for the classic period buried in amongst more modern material but unfortunately not downloadable.
The site also includes a digital copy of Filatelia, Correos Y Sellos Paraguayos (ES) by Alfredo M. Seiferheld, an excellent introduction to Paraguayan philately.
In the absence of a more formal society, the Filatelia en Paraguay Facebook Group is worth noting.
Useful Publications
The Stamps of Paraguay (EN) by Charles Phillips is still a worthy companion, despite being printed all the way back in 1912. Published by Stanley Gibbons, back in the day when they had an office in Buenos Aires.
For an excellent appraisal of the early Lion Essay, Paraguay – Land of the Lion and Liberty Cap (EN) is recommended. More information on the author, Robert Shaw, here.
PERU
Philatelic Societies
The Asociación Filatélica Peruana has been serving the needs of Peru collectors since 1949 and has published its journal, Filatelia Peruana (ES), since inception. A selection from the 200 or so issues printed can be downloaded from their website.
The Society has become an early adopter of AI publishing and produces a regular newsletter, LECOQ (ES), compiled from Mi Oficina presentations. It has its own Facebook Group which is well subscribed and active.
The Peru Philatelic Study Circle (EN) is a predominantly online group which produced a quarterly journal, Trencito 2, up until 2020. It hosts an excellent digital library (also including back issues of the Filatelia Peruana (ES)), together with links to a selection of useful resources.
Within Peru, the Circulo Amigos De La Filatelia (ES) caters for a broad range of collectors and publishes the journal FILAT (ES).
Specialist Catalogues
For three generations, the Bustamante family has been producing Peruvian stamp catalogues. Care needs to be taken in distinguishing the ‘simplificado’ editions from the ‘especializado’. Find out more about the Bustamante catalogue here.
The most up to date reference work is the heavily revised and illustrated Catalogo Espcializado de las Estampillas del Peru (ES). This is only available as a series of digital downloads and was published in twelve volumes between 2022 and 2026.
If you are happy to use an older edition, look out for either the 1981 or the updated three-volume catalogue from 1990 (the third volume was published in 1994). Note that the 1981 edition can be viewed in pdf format on the Peru Philatelic Study Circle website.
Also worth looking out for is the Catalogo de Sellos Peruanos (ES) by Herbert Moll, published in 1957.
Useful Publications
Herbert Moll also produced two handbooks to Peruvian philately; one published in Spanish, the other in his native German. Historia Postal Y Filatelica Del Peru (ES) was published in 1983 and has a strong section on PSNC followed by a study of the early issues up until the ‘Llamita’ stamp of 1873.
Peru – Postgeschichte und erste Briefmarken (DE) from 1999 follows a similar path to his earlier work but is much better illustrated.
Along similar lines are the series of works by Carlos Nicoletti, El Servicio Postal Y Filatelico En El Peru (ES), issued between 1988 and 2003.
A much deeper dive into PSNC is the heavily illustrated Pacific Steam Navigation Company – History, Postal History and Stamps of what was once The Largest Steam Ship Company in the World (EN) published by Michael Roberts in 2023.
Early Peruvian cancellations remain perennially popular and there are a number of reliable works to support the specialist. Lamy & Rinck’s groundbreaking study was first published in 1960 and expanded in a second edition in 1964: Perou Oblierations Postales De 1857 A 1873 (FR/EN/DE/ES). Its rarity scores provide a useful valuation tool when assessing postmarks. It can be tough to secure the book with only 430 copies of the second edition printed.
In 2009, Erik Emsing developed the genre further with the Peru Cancellation Handbook 1858-1873 (EN). Very worthwhile.
The third option on cancellations is Bustamante’s Estudio de Matasellos Sobre las Primeras Emissiones del Peru (ES), published in 2018. This five volume digital-only resource provides a wealth of detail for the issues 1857 to 1876 and covers over 1000 pages of in depth articles.
Erik Emsing has also written Peru The Scenic View Cards 1898-1901, A Postal Stationery Odyssey (EN 2023) detailing the 390 cards printed during this period, together with full illustrations and values.
Finally, the War In The Pacific issues are covered in some depth in El Servicio Postal En El Peru Durante La Guerra Con Chile (ES), published by Jose Caceres in 1976.
URUGUAY
Philatelic Societies
The Club Filatelico del Uruguay (ES) has a somewhat confusing website but it contains a huge amount of useful information, including a large bibliographic section on journals past and present. It celebrated its centenary in 2026.
Also active is the Philatelic Circle of Montevideo (ES).
Specialist Catalogues
The default catalogue is the 2006 edition of CIARDI Catalogo Especializado de los Sellos del Uruguay (ES). It was only printed in a run of 200 copies so they are difficult to come by. However, the Club Filitelico del Uruguay has made it available as a series of free pdf’s via its website.
Shades of the early issues are covered in some depth together with some overly enthusiastic differentiations in perf varieties. For example, the 5c Blue 1868 issue has listings for perfs 10, 10.5, 11.9, 12.3, 12.5, 12.8 and 13…all individually priced. And this is on the first printing alone!
This impressive level of detail is continued throughout the publication. Also noteworthy is the section on air posts with explanations of first flights, associated postal history and guide pricing.
Other catalogues to watch out for are the Kobylanski-Casal Catalogo de Estampillas (ES) which was last published in 1989 and the Catalogo de Sellos by Federico Mottek. His final edition was published in 1975.
More recently, in 2015 Orlando Shäfer published the Sellos Postales República Oriental del Uruguay Catálogo (ES/EN). This has the unique distinction of listing stamps from Uruguay, cross referenced by the catalogue numbers of Scott, Yvert, Michel, Stanley Gibbons and Kobylanski-Casal. It will also successfully cross reference with CIARDI which adopted the Yvert numbering system.
Useful Publications
There are surprisingly few recent publications on Uruguayan philately.
Of the older books, the standout work is The Postage Stamps of Uruguay (EN 1931) by Emmanuel Joseph Lee. The original is hard to find and was only published in a limited run of 200, although a later reprint exists. E J Lee found notoriety in buying up virtually every key piece in Uruguayan philately, effectively preventing a competing collector base to develop. When his huge collection was sold in 1936 it was a complete disaster, with no collectors to bid!
Also worthy of note is Robert Hoffman’s Estudio de las Falsificaciones de los Sellos Postales del Uruguay (ES 1948) which focuses on detecting forgeries from the Diligencia issues through to the airmails of the 1920’s. There is a downloadable edition on the Club Filatelico del Uruguay website but the resolution needs improving.
VENEZUELA
Philatelic Societies
Organised philately has been in a state of flux in Venezuela in recent years. Through the latter half of the twentieth century the Club Filatélico de Caracas was the dominant society, before morphing into ASOFILCA (Asociación Filatélica de Caracas) in the early 2000’s. It no longer appears to have an active presence.
Specialist Catalogues
The most recent hardcopy, specialized catalogue for Venezuela is the Catalogo Especializado de Estampillas (ES), published by Aurelio Blanco in 2009.
However, my preference is for the similarly titled Catalogo Especializado de Estampillas de Venezuela (ES), compiled by Juan Jose Valera and last published in 1982. Valera is a much more detailed catalogue than the 21st century Blanco with a wealth of variety data.
Not easy to get hold of, it was first published in 1964 and was updated every few years until the final edition in 1982. My copy is the fourth edition from 1974. As would be expected, there is plenty of detail not encountered in the mainstream publications. Venezuela’s 1859-62 Coat of Arms issue, for example, has 24 varieties listed in the Scott Classic Specialized, against Valera’s altogether more comprehensive 71 entries. The 1871-6 Escuelas and subsequent postal fiscals have their own dedicated chapters, rather than being integrated into the body of the work. There is also a very useful section on the Venezuelan local posts, an area that is treated somewhat haphazardly in the major catalogues.
Valera sold the rights to his catalogue to Aurelio Blanco in the 1980’s who subsequently produced the first edition of his specialised catalogue in 1988. This contains further updates on the Valera work and is vastly superior to the 2009 edition.
Also worth looking out for is the Massilia catalogue, Catálogo Especializado de las Estampillas de la Republica de Venezuela (ES 1961) which has an excellent primer on the country’s forged stamps.
However, all the above have effectively been superseded by the introduction of a new, digital catalogue, published by ASOFILCA in 2022 (ES). Whilst not completely replacing the older, hard copy publications, it is a full colour, comprehensive catalogue and an excellent everyday companion for the Venezuela specialist.
Useful Websites
Venezuelan philately is very well served by the Venezuelan Philatelic Library (Biblioteca Filatelica de Venezuela) (EN/ES), a superb site providing a wealth of information for the Venezuela collector. The site includes a range of journals, articles, publications and catalogues, including digital editions of the specialised works mentioned above.
Many of the in-house magazines from Venezuela’s legacy philatelic societies have been made available, together with articles migrated from the redundant ASOFILCA website. Also included are links to Venezuela-specific Mi Oficina videos. An important and growing resource.
Also worth exploring is Will Castillo’s website which contains numerous useful articles based on his own personal research.
Venezuela has two active Facebook Groups, Filatelia Venezuela and Conversaciones sobre la Venezuela Postal – Filatelia y Cartofilia (my preference).
Useful Publications
A detailed introduction to Venezuela’s classic stamps is provided in The Early Stamps of Venezuela by Cornelius Wickersham (EN 1958) which builds on the earlier work of Hall & Fulcher (The Postage Stamps of Venezuela (EN 1924), also serialised in The London Philatelist). If words such as plating, settings and transfers are part of your philatelic vocabulary then this is the book for you.
For a good understanding of Venezuela’s first issue, I would recommend Sudamerika-Philatelie (DE), published by the Munchener Briefmarken-Club in 2007. This contains a heavily illustrated eighty plus pages by the leading Venezuela expert, Dr Knut Heister, together with articles on other Latin American early issues.
In the Spanish language, the first issues are also tackled by Santiago Hernandez Ron in his earlier Origenes De Las Dos Primeras Estampillas De Correo De Venezuela (ES 1956). Also published by the same author is Estampillas Clásicas de Venezuela (ES 1967).
The complexities of the Escuelas issues are unravelled by Will Castillo’s 2016 volume, Introducing Venezuela’s 1871-1880 Escuelas Stamps (EN). One of philately’s best examples of how to simplify a confusing issue. Note that a Spanish language edition was also published in 2017.
Will has also published a series of books on the Postal Stationery of Venezuela (EN 2025).
Next instalment: Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic and El Salvador
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