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Discover what was the Guatemalan postal seal that became the most coveted by the philatelists in the world, due to a print error.
This postal seal is coveted by several collectors in different countries. (Free Press Photo: Ministry of Communications/Posts of Guatemala)
Among the most valuable pieces for philatelists worldwide is a Postal seal Guatemalan printed in 1881. This jewel has raised the prestige of the country in the history of international philatelia.
According to official information from the Government of Guatemala, the history of this seal dates back to 1871when the country joined philately as a way of expressing its identity, culture and geography through postal stamps.
However, it was a specific series that captivated the attention of collectors in the international arena. It’s about the fifth series, known as “The small quetzal.” This broadcast marked a milestone in Guatemalan postal history due to a small printing error.
According to official data, Some specimens of this series were printed with the image of the national bird invested with respect to the framework. This happened for a technical failure of the American company American Bank Note Company.
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How did this carelessness occurred that gave rise to Quetzal inverted?
The mistake took place during the two -phase printing process: the central image was first placed (in this case, the quetzal) and subsequently the decorative framework. Some sheets were placed upside down, which caused the bird to appear head down in certain emissions.
Instead of discarding them, postal stamps circulated for a while. They are currently appreciated for their shortage and singularityaccording to official sources. For this reason, the piece has acquired a new dimension in the Guatemalan philately, as it symbolizes the country’s connection with the history, art and national memory.
The Department of Philately of Correos de Guatemala keeps this legacy alive as part of the dissemination of collecting culture, protecting parts That, like the inverted quetzal, the identity of the Guatemalans tells the world.