Peru 1874 Llama and Steamship Postage Due Die Essays

Peru · 1874 · 2c (unissued)

This is a set of five die essays for Peru's first postage due stamps, featuring a central design of a llama and a steamship. The essays are printed on thin paper and affixed to a card, showcasing the unissued 2 centavos value. The final issued stamps (Scott J2-J5) used this design but with different denominations.

These essays represent a key step in the production of Peru's first postage due stamps in 1874, a period of modernization for the country's postal system. The design combines a national symbol, the llama, with a symbol of modern transport, the steamship.