Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8: BISECTED STAMPS

Some stamps of various issues have been included as bisected stamps. Usually, but not always, these are for half the value. I am not clear on their validity. In the majority of cases, these were surcharged SCADTA stamps. But there do appear to be a small number of bisected national 3 centavos stamps affixed with the CCNA multicolor.

I have not seen any Knox-Martin nor CCNA multicolor nor unicolor bisects.

Here are my findings:

Of the CCNA issues, there are three known vignettes with half a 3 centavos national stamp. Shown below is one on cover with an SG tilted wing yellow vignette from the James Johnson sale.

The 1920 l0c, “Tilted Plane” is a very fine and well centered example tied by ‘CCNA/Cartagetta” oval, used on a postcard from Cartagena to Barranquilla on the first flight. It is upfranked, according to the stipulated 1 1/2 centavos postal rate for postcards, with a diagonal half of National Post 3c, which was applied adjacent to the vignette, both tied by “Correo Aéreo./Cartagena-Colombia.” c.d.s. and 23 February receipt large c.d.s. of Baranquilla also tying the franking. (One of the 10 items known with this vignette carried on this flight.) The fascination of this postcard is greatly enhanced by the extremely rare usage of a bisected National Post stamp, of which only two examples are recorded accompanying a C.C.N.A. vignette. Signed Calves. Scott C4, Ex Augusto Peinado.

The next is the new SG 1 -30c and SG 2- 50c of 4 October 1920. SG does not note this but Kessler in his 1936 catalog shows both 19a and 20a as “half used” as 15c and 25c. He noted 19a was used in Bogota on 15 September 1921. Leo Temprano in his catalog shows only the 50c green as “bisectado”.

SG3 he notes as being used in bisected form. This is the extremely scarce regular “1” not inverted so the bisected example might not even have survived. It would be a magnificent find if located. Cruz Bortfeldt’s book on provisional S does not show the SG3 in normal A.

Leo Temprano 308 (equivalent to Kessler 27) has SG 7 (valor 30ctvs – S.C.A. T. A. between hands) as “bisectado” and values this a X1.5 normal. I have not seen this.

SG11 SCADTA ($0 30C) is noted by Kessler 30b as “half used” as 15c). It is not noted as such in SG but Leo Comprano shows both SG 10 and 11 as being ”bisectado.

Regular scheduled SCADTA fights in 1921. Money letter from Bogotá to Barranquilla, endorsed at top “ Confene $55.oo en billetes” franked by SCADTA 1920 50c. pale green and vertically bisected 30c. black-on-rose design used with a 1920 3c. green pair (double c rate, thus the bisected 30c must have been used as a 10c. adhesive): All stamps are tied by a three-line ‘Soeiedad Colombo Alemana/De/Tranportes Aéros’ cachet in violet. Docketing of safe receipt can be seen on the left in manuscript. There are some small faults but this is of great rarity.

Above is a rare “tilted wing” CCNA vignette with BISECTED national stamp added to provide for the full postage.

Also is a reduced size October 1921 provisional 30c with a diagonal half of 50c green from New York to Barranquilla. The cancellation is a three-line handstamp and Barranquilla c.d.s.

Thirdly is a cover with a black-on-rose bisected 30c October 4 issue with a green 50c, Bogota to Barranquilla. The cancellation is a three-line cachet in violet.

A full set of these American Woolen covers can fetch up to $12,000.

On November 11, 1921 the new SG 12, 13 & 14 were issued. SG 12a and SG14a are shown as half the value bisected on the cover. Kessler notes the 30c as “ half used as 15c”, as used in Barranquilla on November 30, 1921.

Two of the famous American Woolen Company covers have a diagonally bisected green 30c, SG 11 affixed. The other two have the rose 30c bisected, one diagonally and the other bisected vertically as shown above.

The Spink Auction of the James Johnson sale shows Lot 1111 with a bisected green 50c placed sideways as illustrated. This is ex New York via Baranquilla. This illustrates the strange variety of SG11 30c with the inverted cc.

Finally shown are two bisected 10c ochre on the cover November 11, 1921. One is bisected diagonally and the other vertically. Only three exist. All bisects carry premium values.