Stamp Investment Tip: Bolivia 1952 Eduardo Abaroa (Scott #365-70, C157-62)

  In 1952, Bolivia issued a compound set of  twelve stamps honoring Eduardo Abaroa, its  foremost hero of the War of the Pacific (1879–1883), which pitted Chile against Bolivia and Peru (Scott #365-70, C157-62). 50,000 sets were issued, and Scott '13 prices the unused set at $ 21.05 .
  
 This set strongly appeals to Bolivian nationalism, and  is yet another grossly undervalued issue from a Latin American country. Also, there are many collectors who focus on the region as a whole, which supplements demand for the stamps of the individual countries.

 A nation of about 11 million people, Bolivia is the poorest country in South America, despite being rich in natural resources. Along with substantial reserves of silver and tin, Bolivia has the second largest natural gas reserves in South America and 50%-70% of the world's lithium, for which demand is expected to rise significantly over the next decades, because of its use in making batteries for electric vehicles. Since 1985, the government of Bolivia has implemented a far-reaching program of macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform aimed at maintaining price stability, creating conditions for sustained growth, encouraging foreign investment, and alleviating scarcity. Annual GDP growth has averaged 4.6% over the last 5 years.

I have begun a new blog, " The Stamp Specialist ", featuring my buy lists for stamps which I wish to purchase, including some Bolivian stamps. Periodically viewing dealers' buy lists is an excellent way to remained informed about the state of the stamp market.

Stamp Investment Tip: Bolivia 1930 Scenes (Scott #C27-34)

In 1930, Bolivia issued a set of eight airmail stamps picturing scenes of rural Bolivia (Scott #C27-34). 5,767 sets were issued, and Scott '12 prices the unused set at $23.60 .

This set is yet another grossly undervalued issue from a Latin American country. There are many collectors who focus on the region as a whole, which supplements demand for the stamps of the individual countries.

A nation of about 11 million people, Bolivia is the poorest country in South America, despite being rich in natural resources. Along with substantial reserves of silver and tin, Bolivia has the second largest natural gas reserves in South America and 50%-70% of the world's lithium, for which demand is expected to rise significantly over the next decades, because of its use in making batteries for electric vehicles. Since 1985, the government of Bolivia has implemented a far-reaching program of macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform aimed at maintaining price stability, creating conditions for sustained growth, encouraging foreign investment, and alleviating scarcity. Annual GDP growth has averaged 4.6% over the last 5 years.

I have begun a new blog, " The Stamp Specialist ", featuring my buy lists for stamps which I wish to purchase, including some Bolivian stamps. Periodically viewing dealers' buy lists is an excellent way to remained informed about the state of the stamp market.

Stamp Investment Tip: Bolivia 1868-69 Arms (Scott #10-14, 15-19)

In 1868 and '69, Bolivia issued its first perforated stamps, two sets picturing its coat of arms and either nine or eleven stars (Scott #10-14 and #15-19). In each, the 500 centavos Black high value is particularly scarce, as only 2,000 of #14 and fewer than 1,000 of #19 were issued. Scott '11 values the unused sets at $1,222.50 and $3,643.- respectively, and the high values at $1,000.- and $3,500.- .

I recommend purchase of either set or high value. There were very few collectors of Bolivian stamps 140 years ago, and I'd be astounded if more than a couple hundred of either 500 centavos stamp remains. As with all Latin American issues, there are many collectors who focus on the region as a whole, which supplements demand for the better stamps of the individual countries. Although I'm not aware of any counterfeits of the the 500 centavos stamps, it might prudent to purchase either conditional on obtaining expertization.

A nation of about 11 million people, Bolivia is the poorest country in South America, despite being rich in natural resources. Along with substantial reserves of silver and tin, Bolivia has the second largest natural gas reserves in South America and 50%-70% of the world's lithium, for which demand is expected to rise significantly over the next decades, because of its use in making batteries for electric vehicles. Since 1985, the government of Bolivia has implemented a far-reaching program of macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform aimed at maintaining price stability, creating conditions for sustained growth, encouraging foreign investment, and alleviating scarcity. Annual GDP growth has averaged 4.6% over the last 5 years.

I have begun a new blog, " The Stamp Specialist ", featuring my buy lists for stamps which I wish to purchase, including some Bolivian stamps. I haven't listed the sets recommended in this article, but would be very interested in purchasing either of them, with certificates for the 500 centavos stamps, if offered at a reasonable price. Periodically viewing dealers' buy lists is an excellent way to remained informed about the state of the stamp market.

Stamp Investment Tip: Bolivia 1930 Graf Zeppelin Issues

In 1930, Bolivia issued three sets for use on the South America Flight of the Graf Zeppelin. All are worthy of consideration as investments, but as these are overprints, the most expensive of them should be purchased conditional on expertization.

I've listed the stamps, along with printing quantities and Scott '11 Catalogue Values for unused, below:


- 1930 Overprint (Scott #C11-18)- C11-12 and C15-16: 8,000 of each, C14: 10,000 (Scott '11 CV = $ 20.- for each) ; C13 (CV = $2,500.- ) and C17 (CV= $1,000.-): 50 of each; C18 (CV = $ 350.-): 1,800 issued;

-1930 Metallic Surcharges (Scott #C19-23; 300; $ 1,120.-)

-1930 "Z" Surcharge (Scott #C24-26; 3,000; $210.- )


Some of the Bolivian Zepps present an expertization cost problem, in that some of the stamps are not quite expensive enough to justify the expense of expertizing them. Zepp Flight covers exist with complete sets of C19-23 or C24-26, and getting such covers expertized is far more economical than submitting individual values from these sets.


These stamps strongly appeal to both collectors of Latin America and of Zeppelin stamps. Zeppelin stamps and covers are extremely popular among "Zepp" collectors and Aviation topicalists, especially in Europe. Those issued by destination-countries which are likely prospects for rapid economic development should do very well over the next decades.

A nation of about 11 million people, Bolivia is the poorest country in South America, despite being rich in natural resources. Along with substantial reserves of silver and tin, Bolivia has the second largest natural gas reserves in South America and 50%-70% of the world's lithium, for which demand is expected to rise significantly over the next decades, because of its use in making batteries for electric vehicles. Since 1985, the government of Bolivia has implemented a far-reaching program of macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform aimed at maintaining price stability, creating conditions for sustained growth, encouraging foreign investment, and alleviating scarcity. Annual GDP growth has averaged 4.6% over the last 5 years.

I have begun a new blog, "The Stamp Specialist", featuring my buy lists for stamps which I wish to purchase, including some of the stamps recommended in this article.Periodically viewing dealers' buy lists is an excellent way to remained informed about the state of the stamp market.

Phila-Trivia: Stamps That Began a War

Wars have sometimes been started for rather trivial reasons, but it's hard to come up with a more petty one than a postage stamp. Yet, postal propaganda was one of the factors leading to the Chaco War (1932-35), the bloodiest military conflict fought in the Americas in the 20th century.

Both Paraguay and Bolivia claimed an uninhabited desert region known as the Gran Chaco. Bolivia, landlocked after war with Chile, wanted the territory in order to give it river access to the Atlantic. Paraguay, having lost most of its territory to its neighbors during the War of the Triple Alliance, needed the Gran Chaco just to stay on the map. Both sides believed that there were rich oil reserves in region as well.

The dispute heated up considerably when Bolivia issued a stamp featuring a map of Bolivia that included the Gran Chaco, now marked as "Chaco Boliviano." Paraguay soon issued even bigger stamps than Bolivia, with an even bigger map of the Gran Chaco, but this time marked as "Chaco Paraguayo."

Bolivia then forcefully asserted its claim by moving troops into the Gran Chaco. Paraguay responded by doing the same. In 1932, philatelic warfare gave way to the real thing.

The Chaco War saw the use of armor and aircraft on both sides. British, American, French, and Italian arms makers took the opportunity to profit from the carnage by exporting some of their newest weapons to the combatants. German and Russian veterans of the First World War served as staff members and mercenaries on both sides, advising the armies of Bolivia and Paraguay on how to butcher one another more efficiently.

In the end, after casualties and losses numbering about 100,000 were sustained by both countries, the Paraguayans won. The Paraguayans got the Gran Chaco, but it turned out that the oil that everyone had thought was there didn't exist.

Funereal Paraguayan stamp honoring the Chaco Peace, a truce negotiated in 1938

Stamp Investment Tip: Bolivia 1960 Gate of the Sun set

In 1960, Bolivia issued a beautiful set of stamps featuring various prehistoric gods and ornaments from the Tiahuanacu excavations (Scott # 433-50). Printed on a gold background, the "Gate of the Sun" set was initially intended for dual use, with some of the high values to be issued as airmails, but the overprints failed to include the word "Aereo." Only 6,500 sets were issued.

The set is one of many examples of Latin American sets with very low printing quantities and an increasing collector base, which are therefore grossly undervalued. Not only will it benefit from economic growth and a growing middle class in Bolivia, but it's the kind of issue over which Art topical collectors drool.

This issue tends to have mediocre centering. When purchasing a set, make sure that all of the values are centered Fine or better, especially the key 4000b on 4b Gray (Scott #449).