• 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
  • Spanish-English Glossary
  • Auctions & Shows
  • Absolute Beginners
  • About
  • Contact
  • STORE

The Bustamantes of Peru

Bustamante Peru Specialized Catalogue
The Bustamante 2022 ‘Catalogo Especializado De Las Estampillas Del Peru’

For three generations the Bustamante family has been producing both simplified and specialized catalogues for collectors of Peru. A new edition is planned for publication in 2022 (see details below).

In this article we discuss Peruvian catalogues and collecting Peru with Ysmael Bustamante, the grandson of the founder.

CLA The name “Bustamante” has been associated with Peruvian philately for many years. Can you explain the history of the company?

YB Casa Filatelica Bustamante was founded on 1st April 1933; but its relationship with Peruvian philately started many years earlier.

The founder was my grandfather, Gabriel O. Bustamante Rivarola.

He had been studying Peruvian philately since childhood and came to write numerous diverse articles on philately in specialized magazines.

An important contribution was the discovery of the 1 Dinero Rose Inverted Coat of Arms variety of 1862 (published in the very first edition of Filatelia Peruana in 1949).

Equally important was the discovery of the Type XI triangle overprint, used on some of the remaining stamps following the War of the Pacific.

My father, Juan G. Bustamante Frias, also contributed articles and then in 1965 began to publish the Catalogo de Estampillas del Peru, both in simplified and specialised editions. This culminated in his greatest work, the Specialized Catalogue of 1981, his last catalogue being published in 1984.

My father passed away in 1987. He also prepared an unpublished and unfinished work, Postmarks of the First Issues of Peru 1857-1876. I then added to this and finally published it in five volumes in 2018.

Between 1990 and 1994 we published an updated Specialized Catalogue, followed by simplified editions in 2004 (a supplement in 2005), once again in 2006 and a further supplement in 2015.

We continue to publish Peruvian catalogues and will be publishing a new edition of the Specialized Catalogue later this year, most likely in July.

Gabriel Octavio Bustamante Rivarola who founded the company in 1933
Gabriel Octavio Bustamante Rivarola who founded the company in 1933

CLA How have the catalogues evolved over the years and how many editions have been published?

YB We have now published twenty-one editions. The forthcoming 22nd edition will cover new areas of Peruvian philately, as well as new sections that had not been previously incorporated.

Like everything in life, our catalogues evolve for the benefit of philatelists.

CLA How do the latest catalogues differ from the first editions?

YB The differences between the editions of our catalogues are principally based on the updated information we have gathered.

There is a regular and reliable source of contributions made by different scholars and collectors who, after each edition, kindly send us information.

After consultation, if the case merits it, we can add the respective notes to the next edition for the benefit of future collectors.

That is not to say that our studies are the last word on Peruvian philately.  There are various scholars who are constantly publishing very good works on their studies that further enrich Peruvian philately in its different facets.

Our published catalogues and studies are just one more contribution to the whole range of publications on Peruvian philatelic studies.

However, we are very pleased with the preference and importance that our catalogues have with collectors of Peruvian stamps; not only at a national level but also internationally.

The Peru Bustamante Catalogue
The Peru Bustamante Catalogue from fifty years ago, authored by Juan Bustamante

CLA Are you still discovering new information about the first editions of Peru?

YB Peruvian philately is constantly being researched and new discoveries are always being made. This is why we state that what is written is never definitive; there are always new notes and discoveries that scholars of our philately are making every day.

CLA Can you explain the differences between your specialised and simplified catalogues?

YB The difference between the specialized catalogue and the simplified catalogue is that in the simplified ones, only the minimum details of an issue are noted.

The specialized catalogues will contain additional data such as errors, varieties and more extensive notes on each issue including information such as date of printing, dates of use, designers, printer’s details and so on.

CLA Apart from the Bustamante catalogue, are there any other publications on Peruvian philately that you have published?

YB  In 2018, on the occasion of our 85th anniversary, we published the five volume Matasellos Sobre Primeras Emissiones del Peru 1859-1876.

This was developed over sixty years with three generations of the Bustamante family contributing to its formation.

For those collectors that wish to focus on the early issues of Peru, we would consider this to be an important support material to help build their collection. We are currently working on a supplementary update as there are always new and important things to add.

The five volume work on the Postmarks on the First Issues of Peru
The five volume work on the Postmarks on the First Issues of Peru

Collecting Peru

CLA Is philately still popular in Peru?

YB Philately in Peru, as everywhere else, has had its ups and downs.

Currently we would definitely say that it is on the rise, not least because of the enthusiasts and active collectors who have been creating forums and using social media to promote the hobby.

CLA How has stamp collecting in Peru changed and evolved over the years? Do you see any emerging trends?

YB As has been said, philately is always evolutionary with each generation exploring new fields and with new horizons opening up.

In Peruvian philately in particular, the attraction of postmarks of the post-classic to modern issues is emerging by leaps and bounds. This is a really interesting and captivating field that has much to explore, discover and learn about.

CLA The collecting of Peruvian early issue cancels has also been popular for many years. Do you feel that the demand in this area continues?

YB This is an area that is still going strong and I believe it will be around for a long time to come. There is still a lot to discover and write about.

CLA To what extent are forgeries a problem with Peru’s classic material, and how can a new collector avoid making costly mistakes?

YB As with issues from most other countries, Peruvian issues in the classical and even post-classical period have been adulterated and counterfeited. For the most part though, to the eye of more advanced collectors, they are easy to detect.

There are several published studies that detail these forgeries. If they are carefully read and if due attention is paid, those who are just getting into the collecting, study and acquisition of these specimens can easily detect them and exclude them from their personal collections.

We always recommend that high-cost specimens should be acquired from specialists and people that know these issues.

We have seen that in some auction houses, even the prestigious ones, fraudulent specimens from Peru have been offered.  And of course, there is always false material being offered via the online market places.

Peru 1873 2c 'Llamita' Pair
Peru 1873 2c ‘Llamita’ Pair

Advice for new collectors of Peru

CLA What areas of Peruvian philately would you recommend a new collector to focus on if they want a relatively inexpensive but interesting area to explore?

YB Peruvian philately really is one of the richest in its diversity of topics, both to study and to collect. They are not necessarily linked to the financial  circumstances of the philatelist and, although it is a subject we do not usually touch on, we must remember that philately is not purely an economic investment.

We see it more as a cultural and social investment; an interrelation between different individuals who, by the mere fact of being immersed in this wonderful world, break socio-political, cultural and theological boundaries.

The desire for collecting breaks the differences between those involved and brings them closer together in the midst of a culture of peace and friendship.

But returning to the question. As I’ve mentioned, Peruvian philately has a vast spectrum to collect and explore and it does not have to be expensive.

The diversity of its issues and its different epochs, leaves much to be discovered and is open to the imagination of any curious person. It could be to choose issues of certain printings, to undertake a study on errors and/or varieties, to consider places and dates of use…the list is endless.

The important thing is that the interested party should see what is most appealing to him/her personally and can choose what best suits their situation, without losing sight of the fact that philately is a very personal hobby.

Dedicate the necessary time and funds so that it does not become a stress and you will enjoy a relaxing hobby that provides continuous learning and one which will benefit the person enormously.

A new, limited edition of the specialized Bustamante catalogue will be published in July this year. To reserve a copy, send your contact details to cafilbust@hotmail.com. The number of volumes and pricing will be announced in due course.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gary Liggett says

    12th April 2022 at 6:23 am

    I am interested in the 2022 Peru Specialized and the 5 volume early issues catalogue. I would also like to purchase a catalogue or reference of Peruvian revenues and cinderellas.

    Reply
  2. Nick Salter says

    12th April 2022 at 2:52 pm

    Send an email to the address above and I am sure you will get a notification when the catalogue is ready. It is likely to be published in July and will probably stretch to five volumes.

    Regarding the revenues, look out for a copy of The Revenue Stamps of Peru by Clive Akerman & Herbert Moll. It was last published in 2007 (second edition) and is out of print but copies do occasionally surface on the secondhand market.

    Reply
  3. Celso Seretti says

    15th December 2022 at 11:20 pm

    I’m also interested in the 2022 Peru Specialized catalogue and publication(s) on Peruvian postmarks, early and late.

    Reply

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

Please ensure all fields are completed to activate your subscription. Your e-mail address will not be published and will only be used for sending you notification of new posts

Upcoming Events

May 23
23rd May 2026 - 30th May 2026

Boston | Boston 2026 World Expo

View Calendar

Recent Comments

  • John Schwind on Which country has the world’s worst postal service?
  • Charles Reynolds on The Collector | Neal West | Nicaragua
  • Ernesto Cuesta on One (Philatelic) Database to Rule Them All
  • Jewett Burr on The Collector | Robert Shaw | Paraguay
  • Derek Asquith on Which country has the world’s worst postal service?

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
  • Forgeries
  • General Philately
  • People
  • Philatelic Societies
  • Post Offices
  • Publications
  • Stamp Issues
  • The Collector

Featured Posts

  • Mr PhilatelistCollect Latin American stamps but don’t speak Spanish?
  • Stanley Gibbons' Latin American catalogues have not been published since 2007/8Part 20, Part 20, wherefore art thou Part 20…?
  • Peru 1897 Lima Post Office Stamp IssueEvolution of a Stamp: The Peru 1897 Lima Post Office Issue
  • Composite proof of the Paraguay 1879 lion issueThe Collector | Joe Hahn | El Salvador & Paraguay
  • El Salvador proofEl Salvador finally makes it to London
  • London 2022 - The Main HallLondon 2022…from a Latin American perspective
  • RPSL Latin America bookletRoyal puts on a Latin American show
  • Stamp Market IndexeBay disrupts catalogue publishing with Stamp Market Index
  • The 19th Century Issues of El Salvador 1867-1900. Guillermo Gallegos & Joseph HahnBook Review | The 19th Century Issues of El Salvador 1867-1900. Guillermo F. Gallegos & Joseph D. Hahn
  • Venezuela AR39 stampScott Specialized adds another 67 listings to Venezuela
  • The Observer's Book of Postage Stamps by Anthony S. B. NewLatin American stamp design and its harshest critic
  • John Shaw RPSLThe Collector | John Shaw | Paraguay
  • Asofilca Venezuela Specialized Stamp CatalogueVenezuela – the final specialized catalogue for 2022
  • Brazil Bulls Eye ForgeryThe Numerals Issues of Brazil – Fakes, Forgeries and Counterfeits
  • The Scott Classic Specialized Catalogue: a review
  • FIAF logoPhilatelic Societies – a review
  • The 10 pesos top value of Mexico's Mail Transportation issueThe Collector | Eric Stovner | Mexico
  • A visit to the Edificio Correos in San José
  • The MainsheetThe Mainsheet goes digital
  • GJ Specialized Argentina CatalogueNew specialized Argentina catalogue published
  • Rocky Mountain Stamp Show 2019Exhibiting Latin America…from Denver to Stockholm (Part 1)
  • Keep Calm and Collect StampsThe Future of Latin American Philately
  • Introducing Venezuela's EscuelasBook Review – Introducing Venezuela’s Escuelas Stamps by Williams Castillo
  • Granadine Confederation 1859 1 Peso Carmine Block of 15, to be auctioned by Siegel on 30th September (est. $3k-$4k)Forthcoming auctions and initiatives in the hobby
  • Mexico National Express CoThe Collector | Peter Bamert | Mexico
  • Brazil catalogue cross reference bookCollect Brazil? You probably need this…
  • SOFICH Chile catalogueSOFICH, so good
  • Honduras Ambulante Mourning CoverCollecting Classic Honduras
  • One of the most prolific forgers in philately - Placido Ramon de TorresDiscovering the lesser-known forgers of Latin American stamps
  • 1868 genuine trial color proof in greenCollecting and selling Mexico (Part 2)

Archives

  • December 2024
  • July 2024
  • December 2023
  • August 2023
  • April 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • August 2022
  • April 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • June 2021
  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • November 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • February 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • April 2018
  • February 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • March 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016

Footer

Menu

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

Recent Posts

  • Evolution of a Stamp: The Peru 1897 Lima Post Office Issue
  • The Future of Latin American Philately
  • Latin American stamp design and its harshest critic
  • One (Philatelic) Database to Rule Them All
  • Collect Latin American stamps but don’t speak Spanish?

Categories

  • Contact

© Copyright 2023 www.classiclatinamerica.com