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ARGENTINA

This is the country which seems to show the greatest variety in its telegram seals,
in that there have been a number of telegraph companies operating and using their own seals.
It is also one of the only countries for which a comprehensive listing of such seals has been published.

 

Updates. The above was written by Steve Hiscocks. I have found an Argentinian catalogue that lists Telegram seals It is by Victor Kneitschel and dated 1958. I have added a column for his reference numbers (VK). I have added the prices from the VK catalogue, but multiplied by 3 to give reasonable current GB£ pricing.

Shortcuts to different sections:

National

Directión General de CyT

Ministerio del Interior

Ministerio de Comunicaciones

Admiralty

Public

Gendarmeria

Buenos Aires

T T

Entre Rios

Army

Railway

Miscelaneous

 

TELEGRAFO NACIONAL / REPUBLICA ARGENTINA

#1 1888	#2 1889, 30.5mm

 

#3 30.9mm	#4 30.3mm No Face on sun and only short rays.

 

RH #	Type.	was	VK	Description	Mint	Used	On telegram
RH1	1	1	1	1888 Imperf. Blue	9.00	-	-
RH2	2	2	2	1889 Imperf. Dark blue.	6.00	-	-
RH2a	2	2	2	Blue.	9.00	-	-
RH3	3	-	3	Imperf. Milky blue	6.00	-	-
RH4	4	3	4	Imperf. Milky blue	6.00	-	-

 

 

DIRECTIÓN GENERAL DE CORREOS Y TELÉGRAFOS / REPÚBLICA ARGENTINA

'Phrygian cap' sideways, curved horizon.

#5 1903, 34mm, curved horizon, small sun looking forward. 20 lines behind cap.	#6 34.3mm, curved horizon, larger sun looking left. 22 lines behind cap.	#7 1906-7, 34.7mm, curved horizon, larger cap and sun looking right. No hyphens.

 

RH #	Type.	was	VK	Description - curved horizon	Mint	Used	On telegram
RH5	5	4	6	1903. Die-cut circle, Black / white. Large centre, small sun.	6.00	-	-
RH6	6	-	5	Die-cut circle, Black / white. Large centre, medium sun looking left.	9.00	-	-
RH7	7	-	7	1906-7. Die-cut circle, Black / white. Large centre, medium sun looking right.	3.00	-	-

 

'Phrygian cap' sideways, nearly flat horizon.

#8 1909, 35mm Rounded 'C' and 'G' in 'CORREOS Y TELEGRAFOS'.	8a Accent more acute over 'Ú' and mark on 'T'.	8b Characteristics of 8a, and additional mark over 'L' of 'TELÉGRAFOS'	RH8b Characteristics of 8a, and additional mark over 'L' of 'TELÉGRAFOS'

 

#9 1910, 35.4mm Straight-back to 'C' and 'G'.	#9a 'ARGENTNIA'.	*#9A (RH9c), 35.9mm No accents on 'O' or 'E'.

 

#10 (RH10) 1910-12, 35.8mm Smaller lettering away from top perimeter.	#10 (RH10a) two shades of blue.

 

RH #	Type.	was	VK	Description - nearly flat horizon	Mint	Used	On telegram
RH8	8	-	8	1909. Die-cut circle, Black / white. Large centre, large sun. Rounded 'C' and 'G'.	3.00	-	-
RH8a				Accent more acute over 'Ú' and mark on 'T'.	-	-	-
RH8b				Accent more acute over 'Ú' and mark on 'T' and additional mark over 'L' of 'TELÉGRAFOS'.	-	-	-
RH9	9	5	9	1910. Die-cut circle, Black / white. Large centre, large sun.	3.00	-	-
RH9a			9a	'ARGENTNIA' for 'ARGENTINA'.	9.00	-	-
RH9b			9b	1913 Blue(shades) / white.	6.00	-	-
*RH9c	9A	-	-	Date? Die-cut circle, Black / white. Large centre, large sun. Without accents over 'O' or 'E'.	-	-	-
RH10	10	9	10	1910-12 Die-cut circle, Black / white. Large centre, large sun. 'Correos' moved inwards.	6.00	-	-
RH10a			10a	Blue shades.	6.00	-	-

* Added due to example shown.

 

'Phrygian cap' front view, flat horizon (cap flops left unless otherwise stated).

#11 1915. Arms and hands partially shaded. 30 lines behind cap.	#12 1916. Arms and hands totally shaded. 23 lines behind cap.

 

#13 1918, 34mm Only arms partially shaded 30 lines behind cap.	#14 1920, 34mm Little shading on arms. 29 lines behind cap.	#15 1920, 34.3mm Rounded 'C' in 'Correos'. The base of the sun is simply a line. Cap flops right. (29 lines)

 

#16 1919, 34.7mm   Ribbon in bow at base of sun. 'TI' joined in 'Argentina'. (27 lines)	#17 1931 Thin letters, poor printing. (29 lines)	#18 1933? poor printing. small "Republica Argentina"

 

#19 1933-5, 34.2mm (smaller wreath, 22 lines)	#20 1934, 34mm leaves below sun. No shading on sun. (33 lines)

 

#21 1939, 34.4mm (22 lines)		#21 1939, 34.8mm (22 lines)
These are from congratulatory telegrams all used on 29 November 1939 to the same person. The first two have a mark on the spear, the last is slightly larger. These are similar to #18 but without the stippled shading.

 

RH # . Type. was VK Description Mint Used On telegram RH11 11 - 11 1915. Die-cut circle, Black / white. Medium centre. Arms and hands partially shaded. (30 lines) 6.00 - - RH12 12 - 12 1916. Die-cut circle, Black / white. Small centre. Arms and hands totally shaded. (23 lines) 9.00 - - RH13 13 11 13 1918. Die-cut circle, Black / white. Small centre, small sun. Only arms partially shaded. (30 lines) 6.00 - - RH14 14 6 14 1920. Die-cut circle, Black / white. Medium centre, medium sun. (29 lines) 3.00 - - - - 8   Merged with old #10 below (indistinguishable despite different description). - - - RH15 15 10 15 1920. Die-cut circle, Black / white. Simple line at base. Cap flops right. (29 lines, VK says 28) 3.00 - - RH16 16 - 16 1919 Die-cut circle, Black / white. Ribbon in bow at base of sun. 'TI' joined in 'Argentina'. (27 lines) 6.00 - - RH17 17 - 17 1931. Die-cut circle, Black / white. Thin letters, poor printing. (29 lines) 6.00 - - RH18 18 - - 1933 ? Die-cut circle, Black / white. Small "Republica Argentina". poor quality. - - - RH19 19 7 18 1933-5. Die-cut circle, Black / white. Small centre, medium shaded sun. (22 lines) 6.00 - - RH20 20 - 19 1938-41. Die-cut circle, Black / white. Small centre, medium sun. More shading. (33 lines) 3.00 - - RH21 21 - - 1939-40. Die-cut circle, Black / white. Like #18, but no stippling. (22 lines) - - - RH22 22 - - Date ? Die-cut circle, White on Blue. - - - I am not sure where the one on the right fits in, but appears to come before the next section, so I will put it on the end of this one.

#22  Blue - Negative

 

 

 

REPÚBLICA ARGENTINA / MINISTERIO DEL INTERIOR / DIRECTIÓN GENERAL DE CORREOS Y TELÉGRAFOS

#23 1942   No shading in lower half of oval. (19 lines)	#24 1942-4, 33.5 mm   Shading on arms and lower oval. 1942 printing has thick lines in oval. 1944 printing has thin lines. (20 lines)	#25 1944 33mm   Post horn.

 

#26 1945-9, 33mm   Accent over 'U'.   This exists in two types: In the first the letters 'C' and 'G' are oval, the tube of the horn is long and narrow and the hanging tassels are together.	#26a 1945-52, 33mm   Accent over 'U'.   This exists in two types: In the second, the two letters are narrow, the tube is short and wider, with the tassels separated. The thunderbolt differences are easier to see though.

 

#27 1949-50, 33.9mm   No accent on 'U' of 'REPUBLICA'. Slightly smaller letters.	#28 1951-6?, 34.5mm   Design away from perimeter. Seen on telegram with imprint "248.T. Gráf. M. O, -12/957 - 12.000 B."	#28 A used example that looks like it is dated in 1956

 

REPÚBLICA ARGENTINA / MINISTERIO DE COMUNICACIONES / CORREOS Y TELCOMUNICACIONES

#29 33.7mm	#30 1952-4, 33.8mm

 

REPUBLICA ARGENTINA / CORREOS Y TELCOMUNICACIONES / CORREOS Y TELCOMUNICACIONES

#31 1960, 32.5mm

 

RH #	Type.	was	VK	Description	Mint	Used	On telegram
RH23	23	-	20	1942. Die-cut circle, Black / white. No shading in lower half of oval. (19 lines)	3.00	-	-
RH24	24	-	21	1942-4. Die-cut circle, Black / white. Shading on arms and lower oval. (20 lines, thick or thin)	3.00	-	-
RH25	25	12	22	1944. Die-cut circle, Black / white. Post horn	3.00	-	-
RH26	26	14	23	1945-9. Die-cut circle, Black / white. Post horn in shield. Accent on 'Ú'. Type-1.	1.00	-	-
RH26a	26a	14	23	1945-52. Die-cut circle, Black / white. Post horn in shield. Accent on 'Ú'. Type-2.	1.00	-	-
RH27	27	-	24	1949-50. Die-cut circle, Black / white. Post horn in shield. No accent on 'U'.	1.00	-	-
RH28	28	-	-	1951-2. Die-cut circle, Black / white. Post horn in shield, No accent on 'U'. Smaller centre.	-	-	-
RH29	29	-	-	Date? Die-cut circle, Black / white. Ministry of Communications	5.00	-	-
RH30	30	13	25	1952-54 Die-cut circle, Black / white. Post horn in shield, Ministry of Communications	1.00	-	-
RH31	31	-	-	1960 Die-cut circle, Black / white. Post horn in shield, 'Correos y Telecomunicaciones'	-	-	-

 

 

ARMADA NACIONAL (Admiralty)

#M1 1910, 35.5mm ARMADA NACIONAL

 

RH #	Type.	was	VK	Description	Mint	Used	On telegram
RHM1	M1	-	81	1910 Die-cut circle, Black / white. ARMADA NACIONAL	3.00	-	-

 

MINISTERIO DE MARINA - ESTACION RADIOGRAFICA

#M2 1910, 29.3mm(lettering) rays of sun broken.	#M3 1913, 28.2mm(lettering) rays of sun complete.	#M4 1914, 29mm(lettering) rays of sun shorter. Distinctive letter 'A'.

 

#M5 1917 large hands, distinctive lettering.	#M6 1919 small hands, distinctive lettering.	#M7 1920-31, 34.5mm(whole seal), 28mm(lettering) larger sun, shaded hands.

 

RH #	Type.	was	VK	Description - ESTACION RADIOGRAFICA	Mint	Used	On telegram
RHM2	M2	-	82	1910. black on white, rays of sun broken.	3.00	-	-
RHM3	M3	-	83	1913. black on white, rays of sun complete.	9.00	-	-
RHM4	M4	-	84	1914. black on white, rays of sun shorter. Distinctive letter 'A'.	6.00	-	-
RHM5	M5	-	85	1917. Scalloped, black on white. Large hands, distinctive lettering.	6.00	-	-
RHM6	M6	-	86	1919. Scalloped, black on white. Small hands, distinctive lettering.	6.00	-	-
RHM7	M7	-	87	1920-31 Die-cut circle, Black / white. Larger sun, shaded hands.	6.00	-	-

 

 

#M8 1924, 27mm(lettering) Servicio Radiotelegráfico	#M9 1931-7, 34.5mm(whole seal), 27mm(lettering) SERVICIO RADIOTELIGRÁFICO	#M10 1952[?], 34.5mm ESTACION RADIOTELIGRAFICA

 

#M11 1936, 26mm ? (Hiscocks) MINISTERIO DO MARINA / Buenos Aires	RHM11 - 6 sun-rays	RHM11a - 8 sun-rays

 

RH #	Type.	was	VK	Description	Mint	Used	On telegram
RHM8	M8	-	88	1924. Die-cut circle, Black / white. Servicio Radiotelegráfico	6.00	-	-
RHM9	M9	-	89	1931-7. Die-cut circle, Black / white. SERVICIO RADIOTELIGRAFICO	3.00	-	-
RHM10	M10	15	-	1952[?] Die-cut circle, Black / white. ESTACION RADIOTELIGRAFICA	-	-	-
RHM11	M11	-	90	1936. Blue / white. MINISTERIO DO MARINA / Buenos Aires (6 sun rays)	3.00	-	-
RHM11a				8 sun rays.	3.00	-	-

 

 

 

Public Services

#P1 46mm(design), 1978. Perf. 13½	#P1 43mm(design), 1982-8. Rouletted 8

 
Apart from colour and perforation, these two differ in the way they were printed. These 3 factors may not all have changed at the same time.
There may be other combinations between these dates, as well as other changes before and/or after these dates.
ENCoTel - "Empresa Nacional de Correos y Telégrafos" state-owned company from 1972 to 1997.

 

ENCoTel was privatised in 1997, becoming "Correo Argentino", part of Sociedad Macri (SOCMA).

#P2 49mm	#P3 48.8mm (across text)

I have a telegram of Correo Argentino sent without seal, in an envelope in 2009.
Presumably these ceased to be used before that date. This company still operates.

 

RH #	Type.	was	VK	Description	Mint	Used	On telegram
RHP1	P1	-	-	1978 Perf. 13½ Blue on white. Encotel.	-	-	-
RHP1a				1982 Rouletted. Blue on white.	-	-	-
RHP1b				1988 Rouletted 8. Light blue on cream.	-	-	-
RHP2	P2	16	-	Perf. 11. Dark blue and yellow on pale blue.	-	-	-
RHP3	P3	17	-	Rouletted 9½. Blue and orange-yellow on light blue.	-	-	-

Hiscocks added the following note:

Note. Both 16 and 17 have 'Form No 3001/02-060-0628' reading upwards at the left.

 

GENDARMIA NACIONAL (Federal law enforcement)

#G1 Date ?	#G2 1947, 32.5mm

 

RH #	Type.	VK	Description	Mint	Used	On telegram
RHG1	G1	-	Date? Perf. 10½ Orange-red, Gendarmeria Nacional.	4.00	-	-
RHG2	G2	96	1947. Perf. 10¾ Orange-red, Gendarmeria Nacional.	3.00	-	-

Victor Kneitschel illustrates only #G2, but describes it as orange, suggesting that he thought they were all the same.
However there are differences in the swards, lettering and other details.

Hiscocks added the following note:

Note. Several radio telegrams used by the War Ministry in 1947 and sealed with this seal have lately appeared on eBay.

 

 

Regional Telegraph Company Seals

Provincia de Buenos Aires

#BA1 1915-20, 25mm, Perf.11½

#BA3 1930-47, 27.4mm, Perf.10¾ x 11½ ?	#BA4 Date ?, 27.4mm, Perf.11½	#BA5 1921-36, 29mm, Perf.10¾ From www.filateliachiavello.com	#BA5 1921-36, 29mm, Perf.10¾

Victor Kneitschel does not have an image matching BA4 above. It is similar to his BA3 but on that, the rays of the sun almost reach "O" of "BUENOS". On BA4, they are much lower.
By the same token, I have not seen anything matching VK#52 which is without an accent and lacking shading (his image is poor also).

 

RH # Type. VK Description Mint Used On telegram RHBA1 BA1 51 1915-20, perf. 11½, blue(shades). (Imprint of Taller de Impresiones Oficiales.) 3.00 - - RHBA2 BA2 52 Date?   No accent on "TELEGRAFO". Perf. 11½, grey-blue (shades). - - - RHBA3 BA3 54 1930-47, perf. 12 x 11, violet (shades). 3.00 - - RHBA3a BA3 53       Perf. 12½, light blue to blue (shades). 3.00 - - RHBA4 BA4 - 1931, perf. 11½, violet to grey-lilac. 3.00 - - RHBA4a BA4 -       Perf. 10¾, violet (shades). - - - RHBA5 BA5 55 1921-36, Perf. 10¾, Accent on 'E' in 'TELÉGRAFO', violet to grey-lilac. (shades). - - - RHBA5a BA5 -       Perf. 11½ - - - RHBA5b (BA5) - 1947-49 No accent on 'E' in 'TELEGRAFO', light blue. [This may be a confusion with VK52, which might just be very weak] 9.00 - - RHBA6 6 - 1962 perf. 11½, blue (shades) on white. - - - RHBA6a 6 -       Perf. 11, blue (shades) on white. - - - Hiscocks added the following note: Note. There are several differences between #2 and #3 but the space around the wreath is the most obvious.                 Nos. 3 and 4 seem to have been reported as different seals but I suspect they are the same.                 All the violet seals I have seen have had the accent, which is very small, over the second 'E' and the                 only seals of that design without it that I have seen have all been of the quite different light blue colour.

#6 1962, 18.5mm

 

Compañía Telegráfico - Telefónica Nacional.

This company does not seem to appear in the Argentinian listing but it certainly used a well-known seal as below and its company address was in Buenos Aires,
although they seem also to have operated in Uruguay (1931). The 'TT' in a box was the logo of the company.

#T1 1924-6, 38mm	#T2 used in Santa Fé (Answer by TT).

 

RH #	Type.	VK	Description	Mint	Used	On telegram
RHT1	T1	-	1924-26 Perf. 10¾ Blue.	-	-	-
RHT2	T2	-	Imperf. Date? Black on orange. (Santa Fé)	-	-	-

 

 

Provincia de Entre Rios

TELEGRAFOS y TELEFONOS

#ER1 1910-20, 33mm - vertical lines behind star.	#ER2 1920-30, 33mm - shaded arms, few lines behind star accent on "TELEGRAFOS"	#ER3 1930-40, 35mm - tall-close letters

#ER4 1949 - small "Y"

TELECOMUNICACIONES

#ER5 1950-51, bars at sides, red, blue, green, yellow.	#ER6 1950-60, 35.5mm - eyes of sun close to rim, small flames.	#ER7 1970-80, 35mm - large sun hits wreath

The images for ER1, ER2, ER3 and ER5 are courtesy of Humberto Brumatti.

RH #	Type.	VK	Description	Mint	Used	On telegram
RHER1	ER1	-	1910-20 Die-cut circle, Black on white. 'Telegrafos y Telefonos'. Vertical background lines.	-	-	-
RHER2	ER2	-	1920-30 Die-cut circle, Black on white. 'Telegrafos y Telefonos'. Shaded arms, few background lines.	-	-	-
RHER3	ER3	-	1930-40 Die-cut circle, Black on white. 'Telegrafos y Telefonos'. Tall-close lettering.	-	-	-
RHER4	ER4	-	1949 Die-cut circle, Black on white. 'Telegrafos y Telefonos'. Small "Y".	-	-	-
RHER5	ER5	-	1950 Die-cut circle, Red, blue, green, yellow and black on white. 'Telecomunicaciones'. Side bars..	-	-	-
RHER6	ER6	-	1954 Die-cut circle, Red, green, yellow and black on white. 'Telecomunicaciones'. Small Sun.	-	-	-
RHER7	ER7	60	1970's Die-cut circle, Red, green, yellow and black on white. 'Telecomunicaciones'. Large Sun.	3.00	-	-

Strangely, the image of #60in the 1958 book of Victor Kneitschel, seems to match best the last image above.
That is currently thought to be from the 1970's, suggesting it was in use from much earlier or I am missing an earlier, though similar image.

 

 

Ejercito Argentino (Army)

#E1 39.6mm   'TROPAS' (Troops)	#E2 39.6mm   'TROPAS' (Troops)

 

#E3   'SubSecretaria'

 

RH #	Type.	was	VK	Description	Mint	Used	On telegram
RHE1	E1	-	71	Grey-blue. Perf.11	9.00	-	-
RHE2	E1	-	72	Blue-lilac. Perf.12	9.00	-	-
RHE3	E2	-	73	Green. Perf. 11½	9.00	-	-
RHE4	E3	-	74	Black on white. Imperf.	6.00	-	-

 

 

 

Railway (FERROCARRILES) TELEGRAPH COMPANIES

Hiscocks wrote: A number of these railway company seals have been reported but not yet seen.
Details and scans would be welcome for a future edition.

 

Ferrocarriles de Buenos Aires al Pacifico

#FC1 35mm	#FC2

 

RH #	Type.	VK	Description	Mint	Used	On telegram
RHFC1	FC1	101	Die-cut circle. Red.	3.00	-	-
RHFC2	FC2	102	Perf.13½ Dark blue.	3.00	-	-

 

 

FC Central Argentino

#FC3

 

RH #	Type.	was	VK	Description	Mint	Used	On telegram
RHFC3	FC3	-	-	Perf. 11½ Indigo	3.00	-	-

 

 

FC la Plata a Meridiano Quinto

#FC4

 

RH #	Type.	was	VK	Description	Mint	Used	On telegram
RHFC4	FC4	-	101	Imperf. Black	3.00	-	-
RHFC4a		-		Tête bêche pair.	6.00	-	-

The sheets were printed as 4 rows of 10 stamps.
Each row was inverted relative to the row above causing tête bêche vertical pairs.

 

 

FC Sud

#FC5 1939, 23mm.

 

RH #	Type.	VK	Description	Mint	Used	On telegram
RHFC5	FC5	106	1939. Perf. 11½ Indigo.	1.50	-	-

 

 

FC General Bartolme Mitre

#FC6 23.9mm. FNGBM = Ferrocarril Nacional General Bartolomé Mitre (existed 1949-1956)	#FC7 FCGBM = Ferrocarril General Bartolomé Mitre (existed 1956-1971)

 

RH #	Type.	VK	Description	Mint	Used	On telegram
RHFC6	FC6	110	1949? Perf. 10¾ Lilac. FNGBM	1.50	-	-
RHFC7	FC7	-	1956? Rouletted 14¼ Bright Lilac. FCGBM	9.00	-	-

The 1958 Kneitschel, Catalogue, volume II, page 547, does not list #2.
It lists postage stamps up to 1957 so perhaps this was not issued until after 1957.

 

 

 

Ferrocarril General San Martin
Nationalised in 1948, then privatised in 1991)

#FC8 - Private company under Secretariate.	#FC9 33mm - Nationalised under Secretariate.	#FC10 - Nationalised under Ministry.

 

RH #	Type.	VK	Description	Mint	Used	On telegram
RHFC8	FC8	-	Perforated. (14) Blue "SECRETARIA"	-	-	-
RHFC9	FC9	-	1956? Rouletted. Blue "SECRETARIA"	-	-	-
RHFC10	FC10	115	Rouletted. Blue "MINISTERIO"	1.50	-	-

 

 

FC Nacional General Roca

According to wikipedia, Ferrocarril General Roca (FCCR), named after the former Argentine president Julio Argentino Roca,
was one of the six state-owned Argentine railway companies formed after President Juan Perón's nationalisation of the railway network in 1948.

#FC11 1959, 22.3mm

This was on a telegram of 1959, but they were probably in use earlier than that.

 

RH #	Type.	VK	Description	Mint	Used	On telegram
RHFC11	FC11	-	1959, perf. 10¾, black on white.	-	-	-

 

 

FC Argentinos General Belgrano

According to wikipedia, Ferrocarril General Belgrano (General Manuel Belgrano Railway (FCGMB)), named after the Argentine politician and military leader Manuel Belgrano,
was another of the six state-owned Argentine railway companies formed after President Juan Perón's nationalisation of the railway network in 1948.

#FC12 1976	#FC13 1977

For Urgent Telegrams.

 

RH #	Type.	VK	Description	Mint	Used	On telegram
RHFC12	FC12	-	1976, black on white.	-	-	-
RHFC13	FC13	-	1977, black on white.	-	-	-

 

 

 

Miscellaneous

 
This is described by JalilStamps.com as a "Proof made by Casa de Moneda of Buenos Aires, preparing a telegraph seal that was not issued.
Perforation 12½, gummed paper with RA in sun watermark." This watermark was in use 1928 to 1943. Kneitschel lists this also (Vol.2,Pg756).

 

It is uncertain what these were used for. Possibly general use, possibly just as etiquettes. It is also possible that they were never used, but were just essays. More information is needed.

 

Steve Hiscocks included the following advert. I see no reason not to repeat it.
Guillermo was helpful to Steve in preparing the original page and has continued to be helpful to me also, with many new images.
In addition he has supplied images to help with my Argentine Telegraph stamp page.

 

If anyone can provide scans to help with this, I am happy to give appropriate credit.