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SCADTA, Los Primeros Cincuenta Anos de Correo Areo En Colombia, 1975, von Eugenio Gebauer & Jaime T. Londono, pubished by Avianca
The airmail stamps of Colombia, in particular the SCADTA stamps, are among the most interesting in the world. Their existence is due solely to the postal needs, the important details of which will be considered in the text.
Several catalogues only recently recognized these stamps, a fact that explains their rise in value during the last few years. Yet 40 years ago the late friend F. W. Kessler had already bit upon this field of philately with the publication of his catalogue: THE AIR POST STAMPS OF COLOMBIA.
In it Mr. Kessler demonstrates his thorough knowledge of Colombia as well; knowledge acquired on his many trips across the country since the beginnings of the SCADTA air line, and through his family relations in Colombia. Unfortunately, at the present, it is almost impossible to acquire his catalogue except at an auction. Besides, since its last publication, new facts have come to light, which made the issue of a new catalogue of the air post stamps of Colombia necessary. In this task, Mr. Kessler helped by making available important cliches and giving the authors the copyright to his book.
A number of airmail stamp collectors helped by giving valuable advice and in many cases by revealing the results of their studies in this field. The collection of the authors of the book, honoured several times by awards at well-known international exhibitions supplied much of the visual material, especially the hundreds of business envelopes sent by airmail.
The authors are also greatly indebted to Captain Waldeman Wuebke, pilot of AVIANCA successor of SCADTA. He contributed valuable information with regard to the first flights and issues of stamps in Colombia, information that he obtained from the (then) associates of the first air line of Colombia, "La Compania Colombiana de Navegacion Aerea". In addition Mr. Wuebke helped to acquire photocopies of many of the articles contained in publications which are in the Philatelic Library of the City of Munich.
The authors thanks also go to Captain Rene Bazin, pioneer of Colombia's commercial aviation and former pilot of the aforementioned "Compania Colombiana de Navegacion Aerea". He gave interesting facts concerning the beginnings of commercial aviation in Colombia contained in his complete and concise logbook. Last, but not least the authors want to acknowledge the help and assistance of Mr. Orjan Luning of Stockholm and of Dr. Marco Tulio Jimenez of Medellin.
The task of determining the correct prices for these stamps was not an easy one; undoubtedly many will say that the prices shown are too low, while others will find them too high and both will produce evidence supporting their viewpoint. Therefore, in order to quote a price which the authors consider proper, they studied and compared the prices of known auctions with airmail material.
Their own purchases on the international market show that the prices paid for stamps at auctions are based primarily on the momentary supply and demand and not on the scarcity or rareness of the stamps. These results and the study of the most important stamp catalogues have permitted them to arrive at the current prices for these increasingly scarce stamps.
The unified issue (EMISION UNIFlCADA) of airmail stamps of December 1959 brings the era of Colombian airmail-fee stamps to and end. From that date on, the air freight could be paid by means of only one type of stamps. Previously, the airmail stamps of Colombia were a sort of surtax stamps. Proofs and specimens are of interest to a very limited group and therefore cannot be considered as stamp. For this reason, the authors did not include them in this catalogue. Neither did they include the issues after 1960 since they can be found in all detail in most catalogues and as such do not fit into the scope of this book.
All prices in the catalogue are in US dollars. The first column is for mint stamps with original gum (hinged or not hinged), the second for genuine used stamps and the third column is for stamps used on letters or documents transported by aircraft.
The airmail stamps of Colombia, in particular the SCADTA stamps, are among the most interesting in the world. Their existence is due solely to the postal needs, the important details of which will be considered in the text.
Several catalogues only recently recognized these stamps, a fact that explains their rise in value during the last few years. Yet 40 years ago the late friend F. W. Kessler had already bit upon this field of philately with the publication of his catalogue: THE AIR POST STAMPS OF COLOMBIA.
In it Mr. Kessler demonstrates his thorough knowledge of Colombia as well; knowledge acquired on his many trips across the country since the beginnings of the SCADTA air line, and through his family relations in Colombia. Unfortunately, at the present, it is almost impossible to acquire his catalogue except at an auction. Besides, since its last publication, new facts have come to light, which made the issue of a new catalogue of the air post stamps of Colombia necessary. In this task, Mr. Kessler helped by making available important cliches and giving the authors the copyright to his book.
A number of airmail stamp collectors helped by giving valuable advice and in many cases by revealing the results of their studies in this field. The collection of the authors of the book, honoured several times by awards at well-known international exhibitions supplied much of the visual material, especially the hundreds of business envelopes sent by airmail.
The authors are also greatly indebted to Captain Waldeman Wuebke, pilot of AVIANCA successor of SCADTA. He contributed valuable information with regard to the first flights and issues of stamps in Colombia, information that he obtained from the (then) associates of the first air line of Colombia, "La Compania Colombiana de Navegacion Aerea". In addition Mr. Wuebke helped to acquire photocopies of many of the articles contained in publications which are in the Philatelic Library of the City of Munich.
The authors thanks also go to Captain Rene Bazin, pioneer of Colombia's commercial aviation and former pilot of the aforementioned "Compania Colombiana de Navegacion Aerea". He gave interesting facts concerning the beginnings of commercial aviation in Colombia contained in his complete and concise logbook. Last, but not least the authors want to acknowledge the help and assistance of Mr. Orjan Luning of Stockholm and of Dr. Marco Tulio Jimenez of Medellin.
The task of determining the correct prices for these stamps was not an easy one; undoubtedly many will say that the prices shown are too low, while others will find them too high and both will produce evidence supporting their viewpoint. Therefore, in order to quote a price which the authors consider proper, they studied and compared the prices of known auctions with airmail material.
Their own purchases on the international market show that the prices paid for stamps at auctions are based primarily on the momentary supply and demand and not on the scarcity or rareness of the stamps. These results and the study of the most important stamp catalogues have permitted them to arrive at the current prices for these increasingly scarce stamps.
The unified issue (EMISION UNIFlCADA) of airmail stamps of December 1959 brings the era of Colombian airmail-fee stamps to and end. From that date on, the air freight could be paid by means of only one type of stamps. Previously, the airmail stamps of Colombia were a sort of surtax stamps. Proofs and specimens are of interest to a very limited group and therefore cannot be considered as stamp. For this reason, the authors did not include them in this catalogue. Neither did they include the issues after 1960 since they can be found in all detail in most catalogues and as such do not fit into the scope of this book.
All prices in the catalogue are in US dollars. The first column is for mint stamps with original gum (hinged or not hinged), the second for genuine used stamps and the third column is for stamps used on letters or documents transported by aircraft.
Guide created: 05/31/09 (updated 10/03/09)
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