On January 1, 1899, along with the definitive stamps, ten official stamps were issued. Since the definitive stamps were overprinted with an art nouveau style design the comments made in the definitive chapter about the dual plates and the "wheel" overprint apply here as well. The same two types of paper can be found on these issues also.

Although the stamps were not officially issued without the "wheel" overprints, copies without the "wheel" were provided to the UPU and are extant thus in their archives.

Shown above is a UPU copy provided to Portugal, where it was handstamped with the "ultramar" (overseas) device.

The values issued were: 1c, 2c, 3c, 5c, 10c, 12c, 13c, 24c, 50c and 100c. The "Franqueo Oficial" device is printed in black although it is known in dark blue on the 3c and appears only in dark blue on the 12c and 24c. The quantity issued is not known to me, but I suspect that it was small.

Mint, OG copies and even used copies of the original printing appear to be quite elusive without or even with the "wheel" overprint. However, the "reserve" printing with counterfeit "wheels" are fairly abundant. However, multiples of either of there do not seem to be common. As in previous chapters I have put a red x behind each listed item in my collection.

Denomination without wheel with wheel

1c x

2c x (used)

3c x x (used)

5c x

10c x x

12c x (used)

13c x

24c x

26c x (used)

50c x x

100c x

There are only two varieties known to me –

1c without wheel on genuine official cover

13c without wheel on genuine official cover

1899 is the first and only time this design of "Franqueo Oficial" was used. Prior to this time and in the decade or so after, the usual "Franqueo Oficial" in oval was used. However, the original printing is known with this oval device on the 12c, 13c, 26c and 100c stamps. I have seen only one apparently genuine copy of the 12c, 13c, and 26c and only two copies of the 100c. Neither Leavy nor Gerhauser mentioned these items. Scott is the only major catalogue to list these items although they did NOT appear in the 1907 edition of this catalog. These items must remain and enigma until more information is forthcoming and I list them with a "U" prefix since they are of an Unknown status.

U12c

U13c

U26c

U100c

In addition to counterfeit "wheel" overprints, purely bogus items of this issue are known. I illustrate here two such items. First, two of the original printing 1899 definitive stamps with the genuine, albeit BOGUS, "De Oficio" handstamp. Although this handstamp apparently was used sometimes on domestic official mail since adhesive official stamps were not required on such mail, this handstamp is ALWAYS BOGUS when used on an adhesive stamp.

The definitive issue of 1900, printed by Francisco Sasso, was overprinted with the "Franqueo Oficial" in oval device to produce an official stamp issue in that year. All the values of the definitive issue were used.

1c x

2c x

3c x

5c x

10c x

12c x

13c x

24c x

26c x

50c

Mint, OG, copies are not easily found in sound condition as the soft paper used is easily damaged. The same holds true for used copies.

The following varieties are known to me:

Inverted oveprint-

1c x

2c

3c

10c

26c

50c

Printed on both sides, overprint inverted on one side, missing on the other.

2c x

In the July 1917 (Vol. 7, #7) issue of The Philatelic Gazette there appeared an article by Victor M. Berthold "Recent Forgeries of the Stamps of El Salvador." In this article he stated that Samuel C. Dawson ¹ offered some 1c and 10c stamps of the issue of 1900 in black, overprinted with the "Franqueo Oficial" in oval as well as copies overprinted with the shield device. The conclusion he reached was that the 1c and 10c in black were printer’s proofs but the stamps with the shield or oval overprint were forgeries even though those devices were identical to the original ones. These items are extremely elusive as I have seen only one in over 30 years. Listed here are the varieties noted by Dr. Berthold (note he uses the word surcharge to denote overprint):

1c black, shield surcharge regular

10c black, shield surcharge regular

10c black with inverted shield

1c black, Franqueo Oficial

10c black, Franqueo Oficial

10c black, without shield surcharge

For reasons unknown to me, some of the values were handstamped with the Shield, Type I in violet. These are:

1c x

2c

26c x

50c x

The following varieties are known to me:

Franqueo Oficial in oval inverted

2c

Shield inverted

26c x

Shield Type I in violet

50c

Shield Type I inverted

50c x

The stamps with and without the shield were used concurrently. Multiples are scarce.

Scott is the only major catalogue to list these stamps with both the "Franqueo Oficial" in oval and Shield Type III (typographed) with only the 1c priced. The denominations they list are:

1c

3c

5c x

10c

12c

I know of the following varieties:

Shield Inverted

12c x

Shown here is a 2c value, which is unlisted.

At this point it is not known if these are legitimate issues or counterfeits that made it into the catalogue because both of the overprints exactly match those known to be genuine. If a government decree for these items could be located that should settle the matter.

A BOGUS item, shown here, is the 10c with a genuine Shield Type II handstamp with the additional bogus "De Oficio" handstamp.

On October 1, 1911, according to the Minkus Latin America 1964 Stamp Catalog – the earliest mention I have found in the philatelic press is in the November 1, 1911 issue of The Philatelic Gazette – a new emission of official stamps took place.

The design is that of the 1900 Lithographs printed by Francisco Sasso, but it appears that new plates were laid down as the quality of this issue does not show any wear, which would be expected if the original plates were used.

It appears that only four denominations were printed and the other needed values were made by surcharging these denominations to produce the additional values.

Thus, we have the following issued denominations:

1c x

3c on 13c x

5c on 10c x

10c x

12c x

13c x

50c on 10c x

1 colon on 13c x

In the above mentioned article, A.C. Roessler writes "Colon has replaced peso. This is the forerunner of the new financial arrangement made by Wall Street financiers who have advanced $12,000,000 to buy up the money of Nicaragua, Guatemala and Salvador....)

It is not known how many of each denomination were printed or issued. However, a large number of remainders must have been sold at a later date as unused copies are plentiful. Still, multiples of these stamps are not often found.

The following varieties are known to me:

1c Horizontal pair, imperf between x

3c "1" for first "I" in Oficial x

Imperf pair x

5c "5" shifted to right x

Imperf pair x

50c First "I" in Oficial missing x

"5 0" with wide spacing x

"1" for first "I" in Oficial

1 Colon

Imperf pair x

This issue has long been considered dull and uninteresting but I suspect new discoveries could be made if it were seriously studied.

Sometime in 1911 the letter rate changed from 13c per 15g to 17c per 15g with 12c for each additional 15g or part. Although a study of sufficient covers may help narrow the time frame in which this occurred, a problem with official mail is that covers sometimes do not show the proper rate being paid. Often official mail, if it had an official stamp on it went through even if the stamp(s) did not pay the correct rate.

Official covers are also known, especially with high values, which were sent to stamp dealers and collectors because they desired to have all values issued on a cover. These have no philatelic significance and are mere curios

If anyone has any additional information, especially copies of decrees, for these issues I’d be pleased to hear from them. Also, any and all comments are welcomed.