Chapter 5

THE SECOND ISSUE (SANABRIA TYPE ‘N’)

These were used from March to November 1920 and issued following the multicolored vignettes, which were almost entirely used on 22 February and 4 March 1920. The above is a green unicolor SG 10 rendering of the pilot signaling, as in the multicolored vignette SG 4.

Only a few multicolored vignettes remained after 4 March, and the remainder were used on flights not long afterwards. Most of the SG 10 type ‘n’ covers feature the same single green design and were printed by C Valiente of Barranquilla.

Most catalogues deal with this in a cursory fashion, as most issues remaining for collectors are either unused or on undated cancellations. The real value is found on cover or on a few dated extracts/fragments dated for flights, as documented by Bazin. Full or part unused sheets are very scarce. Of utmost rarity are the post-4 March 1920 covers of the CCNA multicolored vignettes.

For the SG 10 green issues, dates were recorded by the pilot Bazin. There may only be a few of each type in existence, while some are completely unique. The value should be determined by the numbers found, but in fact they have generally been valued in accordance with demand by the few collectors looking to complete their collections in auctions, where scarce material surfaced after many years. The oldest evidence is from the Cole’s collection in 1940. Catalogue values seem to be of little use. Examples of the covers, and some on piece, are illustrated in this monograph.

Many of the flights did not carry mail at all. These include those flights on 29-31 March, and 3, 7, 12, 17, 19, 24 and 26 June 1920. The relevant dates of the flights on which mail was carried that are mentioned by Bazin and we have recorded are 6 March, 11 March, and 5, 7, 14, 17, 18, 25 and 29 April. He also made flights on 20 April; 5, 7, 9, 10 and 29 June; 5, 7, 10 and 20 July (the latter resulting in a crash); 17 October and 30 November.

Ex Philp G Cole 1939/40. A pre-cancelled pair of the 1920 issue. Extremely rare

6 March 1920, first day issue. This is a rare usage, especially for a commercial cover to overseas – on this occasion New York. The latter section was transported by maritime means. Only three covers are known, and this is the ONLY one to leave Colombia.

Rendon certificate. Ex Boonshaft. It was estimated at $3,000.

OTHER RECORDED MAIL

Jourdanet made several flights in April with mail. The CCNA was looking at the possibility of scheduling flights to four airports in preparation for further flights to Medellin and Bogota. Bazin was doing this too, and in the process, he travelled by road, on foot, river boat and train.

Most dates are accounted for, but we have been unable to locate any mail from 11 April, a date on which we know mail was carried.

ACTUAL EVIDENCE FROM LOCATED COVERS/FRAGMENTS

As mentioned above, Bazin recorded all his flights, enumerating to whom covers were addressed.

6 March 1920: Inland to Franco, Gonzalez & Co and Robson Lowe

6 March 1920: Overseas to Lecompte (NY) and Sola (Paris)

11 March 1920: Inland to Anabel Lombardi (one 10c/one 16c) and Puccini

5 April 1920: Proving the existence of a 6 April flight from Cartagena to Barranquilla with an oval cancel. Thought to be sent to a Kelly. UNIQUE!

7 April 1920: Inland from Cartagena to Barranquilla to James W Kelly with 5 green and 24c local stamps (realized for 1,800 Swiss Francs including commission by Corinphila).

UNIQUE!

17/18 April 1920: Inland from Cartagena to Barranquilla to Palacio with an oval cancel. Ex Goeggel. UNIQUE!

25 April 1920: An unusual piece from Barranquilla with an oval cancellation. This can only be from a return flight, possibly the last full flight before Jourdanet flew for the last time on 29 April. Unrecorded proof of existence. UNIQUE!

‘Cartagena’ crashed on 29 April 1920 and Jourdanet was killed. There is no specific mention by Bazin of mail on this flight, but I show above a CLEARLY DATED piece with a 3c national stamp from 25 April, plus a green stamp with an oval cancellation from Barranquilla, without an addressee. According to Brian Moorhouse, this could have been on a cover handled early and scheduled for the 29 April flight. But of course, there are no known covers from the flight in question.

7 June 1920: Inland to Franco Gonzalez and Co. (and Ramon Glens?) on the replacement flight for the crashed ‘Cartagena’. Ex Corinphila (lot 3171) that features three green stamps and realized 900 Swiss Francs at auction.

9 June 1920: Carried by the new waterplane ‘Santa Maria’, flown by Bazin. The cover features a Cartagena date stamp with oval cancellation. This is the only record of this flight. UNIQUE!

7 July 1920: Addressed to Franco Gonzalez & Co and Ramon Glens. I do not have the front cover of this letter.

July 1920: A partially dated back cover with oval Cartagena cancellation.

10 July 1920: Addressed to Vincente Puccini. Ex Corinphila (lot 3170) with eight stamps that realized the low estimate of 500 Swiss Francs. UNIQUE!

Includes an undated cover with two stamps on the back from July 1920.

20 July 1920: Addressed to Ramon Glens, recovered by Bazin from the crashed flight of pilot Fratoni’s plane. Ex Investphila (lot 1047) estimated at $5,000 and realized at $6,000. UNIQUE!

30 November 1920: Addressed to Senora Teresa Echavarria. A postcard with four national yellow ½ c stamps.

Conclusion

Is there mail on the dates mentioned by Bazin, other than the ones we know exist today? We only have some 15–16 finds of covers and a few singles, showing us the extreme rarity of used covers with the green SG 10, only surpassed by the multicolored CCNA vignettes dated after 4 March, which are indeed rarer.

Are there any others?

I have looked at most of the old catalogs. I have found some dates of covers offered. A number seem to have disappeared. Brian Moorhouse says this is not unlikely among even the classic issues, but from time to time these re-emerge. For example, the Nicholls auction of April 1951 shows number 62 being a light red-brown SG 13a on cover from Cartagena to Barranquilla dated 13 March 1920. There is also a SG10 CCNA dated 22 June 1920.

I have not seen this example in any of the major auctions.

THIRD ISSUE – OCTOBER 1920

Shown – (in the introduction to the various issues) and below Type “o” and “p” as described in Sanabria.

GENERAL COMMENT ON CHAPTER 4 CCNA ISSUES AND PRELIMINARY VIEW ON THE FIRST, SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH ISSUES OF THE UNICOLOR STAMPS.

(I have summarized these in the following way for ease of comparison)

The first issue (as included in text previously)

Of the multicolor vignettes of 22 February and 4 March 4 and thereafter, and dealt with in Chapter 3.

The second issue (March 6 to November 1920)

This is the green SG10 based on SG5 of the multicolor stamp. These flights are individually notated in date order and carried on through to November 1920. These are found in Chapter 5. Sanabria shows the type “n” and “p” and “o” very clearly.

The third and fourth issues (December 1920)

The third Issue comprises a number of essays and trial printings of the sea and mountain type “o” and the cliffs and sea type “p”.

In the HR Harmer auction of 13 December 1949, we see offered in lots 378–9 collections of unused singles, blocks, se tenant blocks in various shades of red-brown and vermillion. These were never flown.

The fourth issue

Also included is the reds as above, etc., as from 6 March. As we have seen, the green second issue prevailed during this period as did some unused CCNA stamps.

However, a few VERY rare flown dated copies do exist. They are amongst the rarest of all Colombian Airmails.

There is a degree of uncertainty on the date of the issue of the SG11–15. Like SG 10, the issue was of the same date. SG says in its South America catalog that it was October 1920. Kessler and Gebauer suggest “possibly October 1920”. An early airmail catalog of David Field 1934, gives April 1920.

The “proof of the pudding” comes from authentic good covers bearing stamps and postmark cancellations which are clearly dated.

We do have cancellations from March 1920 right through to the date SG suggests. See the following:

We have cover ex the Chas Nicholls sale in 1951, lot 106, dated 13 March. That same cover was in the Serabrakian sale 24 June 1952, lot 531 and expertised signed Diena, which was ex Dr Phillip Cole 1939/40.

2 The Marquess of Bute sale shows two covers, one of 11 March 1920, and the other of 11 August 1920, one with a vertical pair and one with three stamps, and these stamps are Sanabria 14 and 15a. (Robson Lowe March 1959 sale)

The Kessler sale of the famed Matthews collection of February 1961 shows three fine covers dated 23 June 1920, lots 1705, 1712 and 1714, and each one is signed “Champion.” These appeared in many of the old auction catalogs. Sanabria 14a, 15a and 15c. All backstamped Cartagena and ex cancelled Barranquilla. Commercially addressed.

In addition, I have an old article reprinted from “THE AERO FIELD,” which is described as “the most complete record yet published of the first and special flights of COLOMBIA.”

March 1920 “issue of 10c stamp in three designs and various shades of green and brown red by Colombiana de Navegacion Aerea”.

To see what flown, red-brown type shades might have been offered, we perused the dated catalogs since 1935.

1935, 11 December, N.Sanabria, nothing found

1943, 17 December, F R Ferryman, nothing found

1947, 11 November, Gildred, HR Harmer, 25 December 1920, 0-20 surcharge (recorded!) ex Cole.

Nothing more until:

1951, April, Chas L. Nichols sale by Kessler.

Colombia CCNA 1920 flown cover from Cartagena to Baranquilla with 1920 CCNA 10c brown-red SG13a, plus national issue dated 13 March 1920. This is illustrated in the catalog and is the exact copy we have located.

1952, 24 June. S Serabrakian sale. The very same item is offered in lot 531. It was unpriced and described as very rare. It was sold for US$600.

1954, 5 October HR Harmer. nothing found

1956, 18 October, nothing found

1955, 18 April, nothing found

1959, 25 March, Marquess of Bute. Here are the finds but not seen since.

Lots 102, 11 August 1920, 10c light brown red with scroll cancellation of Medellin on cover. Also lot 106, 11 March 1920, 10c light brown red vertical pair on cover, Sanabria 14 and 15a, Cartagena to Barranquilla.

Also lot 112 but undated, fine cover with Sanabria 15a and 15c.

February 1961 the Kessler sale – some wonderful finds of this fourth issue.

Look at lots 1705, vermillion ex Barranquilla to Cartagena – as also are 1712, 1714, all covers dated 23 June and signed Champion.

Thus I have only one SG 13a dated March 13th 1920 red – brown, which I secured ex Cherrystone 2015.

EXAMPLES OF SECOND ISSUE RARITIES ACTUALLY FLOWN, NAMELY GREEN (NUMBER 10/11 AND VERMILLION/CARMINE NUMBERS 14/15

Vermillion/carmine: I have referred to a number of flown covers as illustrated in the Robson Lowe, Bermuda auction of 16 February 1979. These include lot 1224 (cliff and mountains type “p”) addressed to Enrique uribe Diaz. In the same auction lot 1225 is a carmine cover with 2 x type “p” and 2 type “o”, which realized in that year 1979, US$1,000. However, this is dated August 1921.

Then too, in the Phillips auction in London 1990, we see a number on piece, not on cover. Lot 850 is the red plane over two peaks.

Of type 13 light brown-red, 408 were printed in March 1029: We have but just one example ex the Nicholls sale. What happened to the others? The sea and mountains type “J” (per Kessler) and type”K” were printed as in the sheet shown. Almost all in reddish hues remain unused. Particularly, of the rows showing a Tete-Beche example, only a few remain as such, the same with juxta-positioned blocks. Later, these examples were surcharged “0-30” and “ 0-30” and 30CVS. All which were flown, as indeed the example unsurcharged, are extremely rare.

USAGE OF TYPE “O” USED IN MARCH 13, 1920. SOON AFTER ISSUE OF NUMBER 14 VERMILLION/CARMINE

Except for the two we have dealt with, the second series green, from 6 March to July 1920, (numbers 12/13), there is little or no evidence of flown usage of the red-brown 12/13 or the vermillion/carmine numbers 14/15. In fact, there was doubt any existed. And while just two or so flown of this color exist in December of that year, these are the surcharged 0-20 and 0-30 type. So, we are looking for unsurcharged copies.

Shown later is a cover dated 13 March 1920. It is type “o” vermillion/carmine and has a penciled expert signature of Alberto Diena (Italy) on the right side lower edge.

The date is fully shown on the back of the cover, and on the front is clearly March (smudged) 1920.

Bazin records that he made flights between Cartagena and Barranquilla from 22 February 1920, but it is known that the second and later series commenced 6 March. This is one of the very few of number 14 vermillion/carmine (Third series used flown.)

In some early catalogs of 1930-1950, there are references to such a cover, but I had never seen one. Especially type “o”.

This March 13 cover is first mentioned as part of Serabrakian’s collection, much of which was acquired from Dr. Phillip G. Cole. In 1952, Kessler auctioned the Charles L. Nicholls, of Bogota, Colombia, collection.

Included therein was this same flown unicolor light red-brown unsurcharged, dated 13 March 1920. It is possible that this was acquired by the Marquess of Bute, whose collection was sold by Robson Lowe in 1959, including a red-brown flown cover.

However, I have not seen it in any later collections, such as those of Boonshaft.

While these have appeared in several auctions since Dr. Cole in 1939, a close investigation reveals these are FAKE. What is a SCADTA postmark doing on a CCNA cover? This style of SCADTA cancellation was not introduced until sometime around the later 1922 period in Barranquilla and the 1923 period in Cartagena.

Interesting note: Where covers were addressed in this era to Felix and Mrs. Josefina Banfi, she was the wife of Don Vicente Puccini, and the Banfi’s were brothers. There was much correspondence. However, covers addressed outside the family are rare.

Enlarged Alberto Diena Signature

Two Commercial Covers

13 March 1920.

11 August 1929.

Remarkable multi-stamped cover – Cartagena oval cancellation as are all March 1920 NB: The 11 August example also has an oval cancellation ex Cartagena.

CHAPTER 5 (c)

FOURTH ISSUE –

being the similar “sea and mountains” and “cliff and lighthouse”

The Surcharged 30 cvs

In November 1920, type SG10 stamps were surcharged 30 CVS and used on a flight from Barranquilla to Puerto Berrio. On this flight, the plane was damaged during a forced landing.

These 30CVS flown are very rare.

Attached hereto is a Colombia CCNA 1920 “30 CVS” SG15 affixed to an envelope with a small oval-shaped “Cia Colombiana de N avegacion/Aerea/Cartagena” ribbon cancellation.

Brian Moorhouse suggests that this could be a “trial marking,” but genuine and rare. This cancellation has not been recorded on any known flight. The only known flight was a postcard posted in Cartagena without the 30 cent surcharge.

The typewritten 0-20 and 0-30 surcharges

In December 1920, typewritten 0-20 and 0-30 surcharged stamps were produced on the brick-red and Brown-red SG 13a -14a.

In December 1920, these SG 13a and SG14a were each surcharged as above in violet for the return flight from Puerto Barrio, but as mentioned, the plane was damaged beyond repair and so the mail was returned by surface mail.

However, another flight took place on 15 December 15 from Medellin to Cartagena – see the cancellation also to New York on that date hereunder.

EXAMPLES NOW SHOWN

This is a 20 December flight showing the sea and mountains design and tied by the rare “Cia Colombiana de Navegacion/Area/Medellin ribbon cancellation, plus a cover Medellin to Cartagena “sea and mountains” surcharged 0.30 by typewriter. The plane ran out of fuel and was destroyed in a storm. This is one of just two covers that survived (ex Neuberger).

Center – This is the ONLY cover recorded to New York bearing a very rare CCNA fourth-issue handstamp (ex Neuberger). (This typewritten 0.30 instead of 0-30 is unique.)

These covers surcharged 0-30 and O.20 realized Sw.Fcs 5,100 (Corinphila 18 November 2014 and sw.fcs 5,000 respectively.

1920, 20 December. Cover from Medellin to Cartagena, bearing “Cliff and Mountains” 30 cents on 10 cents light brown-red, typewritten surcharge, paying the national postage for the single rate with 3 cents, both tied by blue duplex datestamp on dispatch, with vignette also tied by “Cia Colombiana de Navegación/Aérea/Medellin” ribbon handstamp, and Cartagena boxed receiving datestamp in blue at foot. An exceedingly rare usage of these typewritten vignettes, of which very few were provisionally surcharged to be used on the 20 December flight, with an extremely small quantity of covers recorded. One of the important rarities of Colombian aerophilately, of great facination. Cert.

The Only Cover Recorded, bearing the C.C.N.A. Fourth Issue, sent abroad.

1920, 20-25 December. Commercial envelope from Medellin to New York, bearing a magnificent marginal example of “Cliff and Lighthouse” 30 cent on 10 cent, light brown-red, typewritten surcharge, tied by very elusive “Compania Colombiana/De/ Navegación Aérea/Agencia De/Medellin” large oval handstamp in violet, additionally franked, for the single rate, with two National Poast 5 cents cancelled by indistinct c.d.s. dated 25 December, which also passes through the “Hospital de San Vicente/Medellin” 1 cent charity label. “Correos/Aéreos/Cartagena” oval cachet on reverse applied to airmail. The only cover known bearing any vignette of this provisional issue and addressed to a foreign destination. Its significance is reinforced by the fact that very few vignettes with typewritten surcharge were produced and the desirability of this cover is further enhanced by the very rare usage of the C.C.N.A. handstamp of the Medellin Agency. One of the greatest aerophilatelic rarities of Colombia. Gebauer 24. Ex Jacobo Neuburger. Flown only from Medellin internationally and then sent by sea to the U.S.A.

Note: The cover has a typewritten value 0.20 instead of 0-30. In the above are shown the SG10-14 surcharges in Unicolors as distinct from the multicolored Vignette.

I record Phillips 1990 and Robson Lowe 1979 showing a set of seven: three with Sanabria guarantees, and also one signed by Gerbauer. SG shows a value of GBP 3250 for a used copy, which I have not seen.

NOTE: The typewritten surcharges are first shown in the Cole sale in 1940. They are exceedingly rare. They were always canceled with a Medellin semi oval postmark. One was sent to Don Eduardo Correa of New York (see illustration) with a CCNA cancellation.

During 20-25 December 1920, SG 11a & 12a were typewritten surcharged 0-20 and 0- 30 for use in the return flight on the “Medellin” from Puerto Berrio, but as the plane was badly damaged the covers were sent by surface mail.

The two varieties of the 0-20 surcharges are type 15 and 16, whereas the two varieties of the 0–30 are type 17 and 18.

Ex Matthews sale February 1961

Ex Cole 1939 (why no National Stamp perhaps at the back)?

Ex Matthews sale 1961

These surcharges were for flights from Medellin and use the oval type cancellation on the top line “Cia Colombiana de Navegacion” and the lower line “MEDELLIN”. In the examples above, some originally for the Cole collection, are the two “0-20” and “0-30” surcharges.

In the example is also a “sea and mountain” type “o” together with the above. Also there is a SG10 green second issue with the same cancellation.

EXAMPLES OF KESSLER TYPEWRITTEN SURCHARGES

Extremely rare special flight vignettes Medellin/Cartagena, a special flight which took place 15 December 1920. All are surcharged in violet by typewriter. Colomphil certificates numbers D545-547

Ex private sale Club Filatelico de Bogotá February 2011

0-20 surcharge, Kessler type 15 red-brown with violet surcharge

0-20 surcharge, Kessler type 16 red-brown with violet surcharge

0-30 surcharge, Kessler type 17 red-brown with violet surcharge

030 surcharge, Kessler type 18 red-brown with violet surcharge

These are Sanabria 26 – 29 prepared on 15 December 1920 for use on a flight Medellin to Cartagena on 25 December 1920.

Example of a CVS proof

Colombia CCNA airmail imperf black proof – November 1 1920. Very rare according to Dieter Bortfeldt. See Colomphil certificate D544.

Kessler type 13j, using violet rubber handstamp. The actual stamp was used on the route Catagena/Barranqullia. The plane carrying this mail sank and used copies were apparently not recovered.

Ex private sale ex Club Fliatellco de Bogota February 2011.

There are a number of other examples.

The range of prices for the fourth issue 0-20 and 0-30 surcharges – US$ 2500–3500 on cover realized in the Spink Auction, but I believe these were low realizations. Very few exist and of the ones shown above, only one or two exist. On fragment used, US$ 1,000.

NOTE ON CURRENCY VOLATILITY

It appears that collectors had bid higher prices at auctions in the period 1940 onwards to well into the 1990s. We can see the effect of currency exchange variations and volatility.

For example, Kessler in 1936 valued unused stamps at $90 and covers at $125. Gebauer in 1975 showed $70 and $750.

Such unused stamps are quite scarce and combinations could be looked for by collectors.

I disregard unused stamps, except for full sheets because of the large number printed, yet never used on flights. They are only of value when dates of the flights are clear and unambiguous. Thus, covers are desired by collectors.

The only exceptions are the scarce combinations. Examples of scarce combinations can be found in the older Semprano catalogs.

These scarce combinations have catalog values that are almost meaningless. In buying power, $1,000 in 1955 could be $20 000 today, and in 1979 $5,000 and in 1990 $25,000!

Thus, an estimate by Gebauer in the ‘70s of $400 would be over $1,500 today! Absolutely worth collecting if such can be found.

Examples of values by Gebauer in the past:

SG 10/LT293/Sanabria 11 gives relative values for dated used stamps and some also on cover.

In standard green (type “o”) he rated at $1500-2500**

In unused form he only rates a double impression copy. I have never seen this but he values it at about a third of a cover, $600 at the time. Very rare.

Because of the near almost seldom ever-seen copies on cover of the next issues in red brown vermillion, these are not discussed and I give attention to those items deserving special mention.

a. The re-engraved mountain

Examples of these second issues, which I discussed earlier

THE RE-ENGRAVED MOUNTAIN

This is type “p.” Looking at a complete sheet, it will be seen that the third row of 6 down, being number 23, one from the end of the line, the outer ridge of the mountain has been re-drawn. It is a feature that the top line of the Compania Colombiana has letters missing between the “I” and the “C”, the “C” itself being very faint. Compared with the other stamps on the sheet, to the right of the redrawn ridge, the shading is mostly missing except for the upper “rh” section. The line of the “rh” ridge is broken in its upward curve. In addition, the small bird is hardly visible. The paper quality should be identical to other stamps in this series.

The arrows in the photocopy below point to these features.

The copy below is genuine in all respects.

The arrows show specific differences. This is position 23, line 3. One position on the sheet was so light that it had to be re-engraved. The resulting low numbers makes this a useful collector’s item. Gerbauer valued this at 15 times normal.

No used copies are known. If found, they would be very valuable. He suggested that the re-engraved item 23 in pair with position 23 would be valued exceptionally.

b. Juxtapositioned blocks.

These are in blocks of four, but are usually seen with five As in the example above, there were two vertically positioned and two horizontally positioned. Fifty years ago, Gerbauer valued this at some $1000 while Sanabria valued it at $1,500.

c. Tete-Beche copies

Gebauer valuation in past years, just for reference: Gebauer valued these at one third of a re-engraved copy. Twenty copies theoretically existed. But few have remained as they were cut up for sale. Definitely an item for collectors.

SG 12/LT 294, san 12. Sanabria, Deep Green (type “p”) he shows at $2,500 on cover.

He shows SG 13/LT295/san 13 (type “p”) in Brick-red Vermillion Carmine SG11/LT 296/san 14 (type “o”) Deep green. Gerbauer values a pair with LT 294 at $450 in comparison with a cover at $2,500 SG14/LT297 (type “o” ) Brick-red Vermillion Carmine.

As above he rates the comparative value of Tete-beche and Juxta-postioned blocks at $1,200, half the value he placed on unicolored covers.

d. Side-by-side examples

Gebauer made mention of side-by-side examples for premium values

Examples

LT 295 + LT 297 green 500

LT 294 + LT 296 red 500

I have not seen any examples.

e. 15 December overprinted “20CVS” & “30 CVS” in violet surcharge, by typewriter.

Each in type 13 and 14 from the second setting. These overprinted items are scarce, even in unused condition. Brian Moorhouse says he has seen just a couple over many years. Phillips auctioned several in 1990

Worth acquiring

In November 1920, Green type “o” and “p” and vermillion “o” and “p” were overprinted in

violet. They were used only on 30 November. There were flown from Cartagena only.

f. Proofs in black

These are previously shown after the Kessler type 15 and 16, etc. examples. Proofs were seldom seen for many years, but a pristine unused set realized $1,000 each (Club Filatelico Bogota.)

The borderline is quite different The four examples were sold privately for US$1,000 each in 2009.