Postage stamps and postal history of Chile

Before the introduction of the first stamps

The postal history of Chile began in 1748. This year begin the first monthly postal transport between the Chilean capital Santiago de Chile and Buenos Aires. 1766 for the first time a city gets its own stamp. Letters from Valparaíso were provided with the then stamp BALPARAISO. The postal service has since steadily expanded from the Spanish occupiers to Chile finally became independent on September 11, 1811 by Spain and finally established in 1818 as an independent nation.

In 1840, the Chilean Post " Correos de Chile " begins with the regular mail delivery across the country. Soon, packages were transported. Ten years after the first South American country, namely Brazil, had spent stamps, the Chilean post also decided to introduce postage stamps. On 1 July 1853, the first Chilean stamps were finally available at post office counters.

Time of their own stamp issues

The first two Chilean stamps from July 1, 1853 zeigtem on their brand image is a portrait of the Spanish navigator Christopher Columbus. The two values ​​at 5 and 10 centavos (100 centavos peso equaled 1 ) were still printed in England. The first post stations that used the brand in 1853, were Valparaíso and Santiago. The two postage stamps were still spent imperforated.

By law, the Chilean stamps were included from 1853 to 1910 only portraits of Columbus. This law, however, was dealt from 1904 by telegraph stamps with overprint, reason was the lack of low-order postage stamps. The only exception to the Columbus portrait made ​​since 1880, the officials, as well as postage and telegraph stamps.

Most of the overseas post from 1865 to 1881 was sent by British postal agencies. To this end, British stamps were provided with a bar temple in the ports of Valparaíso, Caldera and Coquimbo. In this period, the French consulate post coincides with the stamp Valparaíso.

In Salpeter 1879-1881 Peruvian brands were provided with printings. Stamps (also Chilean ) with stamps from the occupied territories are trading at significant premiums.

On April 1, 1881 Chile joined the Universal Postal Union (UPU ).

The first airmail transport began on January 1, 1919 by Santiago to Valparaíso and was carried out by the pilot Clodomiro Figueroa with his Morane -Saulnier MS -35. In 1927, the first airmail stamps of Chile was spent, this was painted by French airlines test type on the route Santiago - Valparaíso used.

On April 8, 1957, the first parcel post tax stamps were issued by the Chilean post. The first postal tax stamp was spent in 1970, followed by the Pinochet era. Since 1990, Chile has returned a freely elected president as head of state.

Today Chile prints practically only machine brands. However, special stamps can be given by financially strong prospects in order. These special stamps with very small print runs are traded very expensive.

This collection area counts with philatelists to the exotics, there are few specialists in this field.