Peru Arequipa Provisional Surcharge

Peru · 1881 · 10c on 5c

This stamp is a provisional issue from the city of Arequipa, created during the War of the Pacific. It features a surcharge of '10 Centavos' printed over an earlier 5 centavos stamp, which itself depicts the Peruvian coat of arms. The surcharge is typically applied in black ink within a simple rectangular frame.

During the War of the Pacific (1879-1883), Chilean occupation disrupted Peru's postal system, leading to local provisional issues like this one in Arequipa to meet postal needs.