All seven values of the 1903 First Lions Issue were issued on 28 February
1903. Printed by H. Kraus of Asuncion. Not
recorded is the size of the sheets,
although I suspect there were sheets of 100.
The only variety I record in this issue is a pair of the 30c without vertical perfs.
The quantities issued of the values are:
1c Gray - 300,000 2c Blue Green - 350,000
5c Blue - 450,000 10c Orange-Brown- 200,000
20c Carmine - 150,000 30c Deep Blue - 220,000
60c Purple - 150,000
Die essays in Black have been recorded for the 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 30c and 60c, but I suspect they exist for the and 20c as well.
Also, for the 1c I record the following essays:
Value Table and Numerals only in dark blue
Die Essay without "1903" in black, blue, dark green, violet, carmine, brown and orange. Die Essay with "1903" in black and blue.
This issue was printed by H. Kraus in Asuncion in sheets of 100 (10x10) and is perforated 11 1/2.
1c Yellow-green
Issued on 19 October 1903 in a quantity of 800,000.
Plate Essays in black are known imperf. and perf. 11 1/2.
Die Proofs are known in black, blue, carmine, red and violet.
The only variety I have recorded is an imperf. pair of which a sheet of 100 is known to be extant.
2c Red Orange
A quantity of 800,000 were issued sometime in September 1903. The only variety I record is an imperf. pair of which a sheet of 100 is known to exist.
Plate essays in black are known.
5c Dark Blue.
Issued on 19 October 1903 in a quantity of 900,000 with a imperf. pair being the only variety. A sheet of 100 is known for this variety.
Also, a plate essay in black is known.
10c Purple
A quantity of 300,00 were issued in September 1903. The only variety known is an imperf. pair of which a sheet of 100 is known to exist.
There is a plate essay in black.
20c Dark Green
Issued on 20 Jan 1906 in a quantity of 150,00.
The only variety is an imperf. pair of which a sheet of 100 is known to be extant.
There is a plate essay known in black.
30c Ultramarine
This value was issued sometime in September 1903 in a quantity of 220,000 with an imperf. pair being the only variety known. A sheet of 100 is known of this variety.
A plate essay is black is known.
60c Ochre
A quantity of 150,000 was issued sometime in August 1906 of which the imperf. pair is the only variety known. A sheet of this variety is known to exist.
In-so-far as all other values exist in a plate essay in black, it is probable that this value does also, but it is not recorded.