Colombia Seebeck Issue, 1892

Colombia · 1892 · 10c

This stamp features a central portrait of General Francisco de Paula Santander, a key military and political leader in Colombia's independence. The design is framed by ornate scrollwork typical of the era, with the country's name 'REPUBLICA DE COLOMBIA' at the top and the denomination 'DIEZ CENTAVOS' at the bottom.

This is a 'Seebeck issue,' part of a controversial contract where the Hamilton Bank Note Company printed stamps for several Latin American countries for free, in exchange for the right to reprint and sell them to collectors. These reprints, often indistinguishable from originals, flooded the market.