Stamps of Bolivia – Philatelic Country Profile

Bolivia is a small land-locked country in South America bounded by Chile & Peru to the West, Brazil to the North & East, Argentina & Paraguay to the South. Bolivia has a total land area of around 425,000 square miles and a population of just under ten million making it a sparsely populated country at around 23 per square mile. The country consists of the western highlands in the Andes Mountains and the eastern lowlands with large areas of Amazonian rain forests and the Chaco Plain. Bolivia became landlocked after the war of the pacific (1879) when it lost the coastal area of Litoral to Chile. The province of present day Bolivia was part of the Inca Empire until the Spanish empire conquered the region (called “Upper Peru” at the time) in the 16th century. Bolivia, named after Independence leader Simon Bolivar, was established as a republic after the 16-year war that commenced in 1809 when they declared independence. Bolivia’s history following independence was especially painstaking due to political instability – almost 200 coups and counter-coups ensued during the years until democratic civilian rule was established in 1982. Bolivia is rich in natural resources but it is still one of the least developed countries in South America. It per-capita GDP (ppp) stands at around $4300. Political instability and racial tensions are the root causes. 2005 saw a significant shift in Bolivia’s political climate with the election of Socialism leader Evo Morales and his re-election in a landslide victory in 2009. Nationalizations of hydrocarbon assets along with giving more power to the indigenous majority population (55% Amerindian) are the main themes of his government.

The first stamps of Bolivia were a set (Scott #1 to #8) of eight in single color Imperfs showing the Andes Condor released in 1867. Several varieties and types of these early issues exist. The stamps catalog for between $5 and $400 with the lower denominations cataloging lower and progressively getting higher. The most valuable is the 50c Blue and the Dark Blue variety which catalog for around $400 MNH and $100 Used. Reprints of many of these issues also exist and are more common with catalog values in the $5 to $25 range. Pen cancellations (fiscal use) are also common with catalog values in the $1 to $60 range. This was followed by a few other issues in the Coat of Arms and Arms and the Law themes. Those issues dominated the scene until 1896. Many of those stamps are also very valuable with catalog values in the dollar range for lower denominations to around $150. One exception is the 500c black Coat of Arms Issue (Scott #19) which is valued at over $2000 for MNH or Used (Eleven Star watermark variety – the Nine Star variety fetch about one-third this amount). Other significant Bolivian issues from the classic period (till 1940) include:

1. A set of eight stamps released in 1897 in the Patriots, Generals, and Coat of Arms theme. The set (Scott #47 to #54) catalogs for around $60 MNH or Used. The patriots and generals of Bolivia represented are President Tomas Frias, President Jose M. Linares, Pedro Domingo Murillo, Bernardo Monteagudo, General Jose Ballivian, General Antonio Jose de Sucre, and Simon Bolivar. These issues are affordable and catalogs for between a dollar and $6. Genuine Vertical Imperf pairs exist for Scott #47 and #51 and they catalog in the $75 range. The most valuable issue in the set is the mult-colored Coat of Arms stamp (Scott #54) at around $40 MNH and $50 Used. Acquiring a genuine one will involve some work as excellent forgeries exist.
2. A set of six stamps released in 1916 in the Nature and Architecture themes. The set (Scott #111 to #116) uses a bi-color design in the classic Keytypes mold. Monolith of Tiahuanacu (a statue found in the mysterious prehistoric city of Tiahuanaco that has an inferred date of 12,000 BC), Mount Huayna Potosi, Lake Titicaca (largest lake in South America by volume of water located at the Peruvian border - over 200 cubic miles, over 3000 square miles surface area), Mount Illimani, and Legislative Building.
3. A set of two triangular-shaped stamps released in 1931 to mark the revolution of June 25, 1930 that resulted in General Carlos Blanco Galinda's military Junta taking over power. The set (Scott #205 and #206) is inexpensive at around $3 MNH and a dollar for Used. Imperf pairs exist which fetch a premium ($15 to $20). The issue is significant in that it marks the beginning of Bolivia's transformation from laissez-faire policies that ignored the needs of the majority native population.
4. A set of nine stamps released in 1938 in the Industries theme. The set (Scott #242 to #250) catalogs for around $15 MNH and around $4 for Used. The design uses conservative single-colors and the depictions are: Native School, Oil Wells, Modern Factories, Torch of Knowledge, Map of Sucre-Camiri Railroad, Allegory of Free Eduction, Alligorical Figure of Learning, Symbols of Industry, and Modern Agriculture. This is another important issue that marks Bolivia's early attempt at political transformation.

The first stamp of Bolivia after the classic period was the “Flags of 21 American Republics” to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Pan American Union. The stamp (Scott #269) is a beautiful multi-colored issue and is remarkably inexpensive at around $2 MNH and a dollar for Used. The issue is significant in Bolivia has a significant claim to the formation of the Union - Simon Bolivar conceptualized such an organization aimed at regional solidarity at the 1826 Congress of Panama as early as 1826 although the formation of it took another 64 years. Other significant issues since the classic period include:

1. A set of seven stamps released in October 1942 to mark the first school philatelic exposition held in La Paz the previous year. The set uses a single color multiple-stamp-on-stamp design. The stamps depicted are Bolivia's first postage stamp and the airmail stamp of 1941. The set (Scott #274 to #280) catalogs for around $20 MNH and around $15 Used.
2. A set of fourteen stamps released on July 1, 1951 to commemorate the fifth athletic championship matches held at La Paz in October 1948. The beautiful set (Scott #352 to #358 and #C150 to #C156) catalogs for around $8 MNH and $6 Used. The sports depicted are Boxing, Tennis, Diving, Soccer, Skiing, and Handball on the regular issues and Horsemanship, Basketball, Fencing, Hurdling, Javelin throwing, Relay race, and La Paz Stadium on the airmail variants.
3. A beautiful set of ten stamps issues on April 24, 1970 in the Butterflies theme. The set (Scott #521 to #525 and C302 to C306) which uses a single-color background and butterflies in original colors catalogs for around $25 MNH or Used. The butterflies depicted are Papilio Crassus, Catagramma Cynosura, Eunica Eurota Flora, and Ituna Phenarete in the regular issues and Metamorpha Dido Wernichei, Heliconius Felix, Morpho Casica, Pailio Yuracares, and Heliconius Melitus in the airmail variants.
4. A beautiful Parrots set of eight stamps released on May 11, 1981. The set (Scott #661 to #668) catalogs for around $15 MNH and around $5 Used. The parrots depicted are Ara Macao (Scarlet Macaw), Ara Chloroptera, Ara Ararauna, Ara Rubrogenys, Ara Auricollis, Anodorynchus Hyacinthinus, Ara Militaris, and Ara Severa.
5. Three sets of stamps released in 1997 in the Tourism theme. The sets (Scott #983 to #988, #989 to #994, and #995 to #1000) together catalog for around $30 MNH and a little less for Used. The designs show Miners' Monument, Folklore Costume, Virgin of Socavon, Sajama Mountains, Chipaya Child, and Raul Shaw Moreno in the first set (Tourism in Oruro theme), La Glorieta, Governor's Palace, Dinosaur Tracks, House of Liberty, Tarabaqueno, and Statue of Juana Azurduy of Padilla in the second set (Tourism in Chuquisaca), and House of Culture Dorada, Church of Entre Rios, San Luis Falls, Monument to the Chaco War, Temple & Statue of the Virgin Mary Chaguay, and Eustaquio Mendez House in the third set (Tourism in Tarija theme).