- Argentina - Portal público de noticias de la República Argentina.
The culture and history of a country can be preserved through postage stamps: they serve as little ambassadors traveling around the world everyday.
The first postage stamp issue was carried out under a profound reform of British postal services undertaken by Rowland Hill around 1840. Until then, the letter’s postage rate was defined by the distance covered to its destination and was paid by the recipient. Very often, however, the recipient refused to pay postage, which made it impossible for the post office to charge for its service. Hill proposed that postage should be paid by the sender according to a single letter rate established by weight. A postage stamp was evidence of pre-paying a fee for postal services. Soon after, the art of stamp collecting appeared. Post offices took notice of this activity and began issuing more and more attractive and interesting postal stamps.
In 1856, the province of Corrientes was the first to issue Argentine postal stamps which were illustrated with the profile of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture. In 1862, the stamps bearing the Argentine coat of arms or “Escuditos” appeared and were printed with the definite name of our country.
A series of high-quality stamp issues followed; they were engraved in steel so as to replace bronze, which had been used until then. Printing plates, types, inks as well as the puncher came from France and England. The vignette bore the effigy of the first Argentine president, Bernardino Rivadavia.
One of the first commemorative postage stamps was made to celebrate the anniversary of the fourth centennial of Columbus Day, on October 12th, 1892. This commemorative issue set precedent for later works of the same kind depicting specific historical, cultural and scientific events to the world.
Each issue is preceded by thorough research on the subject; qualified experts, institutions or organisms are consulted to endorse the information and truthfulness contained in the postage stamp and the philatelic brochure enclosed.
In constant progress
The offset printing method is being used today. It consists in an indirect printing system in that the design is engraved on a plate which inks a rubber stamp which, in turn, prints on paper. The usual inks are cyan, magenta, yellow and black, which make up the whole range of design colors. Specially-treated gummed paper known as “tropicalized” is used. Perforations are carried out with fine combs. The size of each comb gives the postage stamp its final format.
The Philately Design Department of the Official Post Office is constituted by a team of designers, illustrators and photographers. According to the theme, different designs are developed and the necessary technical innovations are proposed such as specials inks, partial varnishing, formats, dies and even modern presentations.
Argentine philately has positioned itself among the first in Latin-America due to its design and printing quality as well as its notorious originality. The recognition it has earned proves it beyond doubt; some of the awards received are:
• Best Postage Stamp of the Americas, with the series: “Winemaking”, awarded by Timbres Magazine (year 2000).
• 5th prize at the 7th Stamp World Cup, 2001 Belgium issue, Philately World Fair, awarded by Timbropresse, France.
• 4th prize at the 8th Stamp World cup, “Argentine Scenery – San Jorge Lighthouse” issue, awarded by Timbropresse, France (2003).
• Asiago Prize to Best Postage Stamp, environment category. “Americas UPAEP” issue. This design had a die which punched the stamp (2005).
• 2nd Prize Yehudi Menuhin to Best Postage Stamp on musical themes, along with the issue of “150 years of bilateral relations with Thailand”, awarded by Motiv Groupe (2006).
• Best Design, with the issue of “150 years since the first Argentine postage stamp”, awarded by the Chinese Committee of the Foreign Stamps Annual Contest (2008).
