Sellos Postales El Salvador 1916 Teatro & Vías del Tranvía
. . . . . Stamps El Salvador 1916 Theatre & Tram Tracks
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Detail from the 1916 stamp design and a detail from a postcard of a horse-tramcar of the type in use at that time.
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The 1916 El Salvador stamp depicting the National Theatre clearly shows tram tracks in front of the building. Horse trams, or often mule-drawn trams, remained in use as late as the early-mid 1920s in the country. A few battery-powered trams were also introduced towards the end and they lasted until the end of that decade. The story is beautifully described and depicted on Allen Morrison's website and his El Salvador page may be found here (opens in a new tab).
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1916 : National Theatre & Tram Tracks Original Issue:
1916 : National Theatre & Tram Tracks Original Issue: (SG 683-692)
1c Green [ . ]
2c Scarlet-Red [ . ]
5c Deep Blue [ . ]
6c Violet-Blue [ . ]
10c Sepia [ . ]
12c Purple [ . ]
17c Orange [ . ]
25c Deep Brown [ . ]
29c Black [ . ]
50c Bluish-Grey [ . ]
Note: The colours of the 6c Violet-Blue and 12c Purple stamps are discussed in detail in the appendix to this article, link in left panel.
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1916 Officials : National Theatre & Tram Tracks overprinted OFICIAL
1916 Officials : Overprinted OFICIAL in red or blue as shown in scan (SG O.694-703)
1c Green [ . ]
2c Scarlet-Red [ . ]
5c Deep Blue [ . ]
6c Violet-Blue [ . ]
10c Sepia [ . ]
12c Purple [ . ]
17c Orange [ . ]
25c Deep Brown [ . ]
29c Black [ . ]
50c Bluish-Grey [ . ]
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In January 2021, Corinphila sold an elegant set of 9 denominated American Banknote Comany proofs in BLACK on India Paper (the whole set less the 10c) plus a proof of the centre only, as shown below.
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ABN Company working die proofs of the 1916 set:
We have added an appendix article for these 1916 Theatre designs. It is devoted to a full set/10 of work-in-progress Die Proofs in the Theatre & Tram Tracks design - with additional Die Proofs for the 6c and the 12c, due to revisions to the colours of the issued stamps in those values. Also shown are three hand-painted colour proofs of the design, a wonderful (and unique) array from the ABN Company archives. Link to the Appendix Page (opens in new tab). There is also a link in the left panel.
The Surcharges :
It would appear that the El Salvador postal authorities either badly misjudged their postage stamp needs or perhaps a rise in postal rates created an unforeseen high demand for additional low values. Whatever the reason, every value in the postage set other than the 1c, 2c and 5c were surcharged, in every case with a surcharge which reduced the stamp's face value. Additionally, both the 5c and 6c Official stamps were overprinted for public use without change in value. The 6c Official also received a 1 centavo public use surcharge in two different styles. Chronologically, these amended Official stamps were the first to be issued and we examine them next.
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1917 : 1c/6c Official with CORRIENTE in large capital letters
1917 : 1c/6c Official with CORRIENTE in large capital letters (SG 703)
1c / 6c Violet-Blue, surcharged in the style shown above [ . ]
The 1c with this surcharge is listed by Michel, SG and Yvert but is not in our Scott catalogue. In 40 years, we have never seen a copy of this stamp, nor do we know anyone who has one, yet it has a modest catalogue value. If you have one, please let us know.
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1917 : 1c/6c Official with CORRIENTE in small capital letters
The detail scans show the errors in the word CORRIENTE
Left: An enlarged scan showing the 'CORRIENTE' omitted variety.
Right: Large and small CORRIENTE in pair (ex Hahn).
A cover (with detail scan alongside) in the November 2020 Cherrystone auction, showing 'Un Centavo' omitted on both stamps.
1917 : 1c/6c Official with CORRIENTE in small capital letters (SG 704)
1c / 6c Violet-Blue correctly inscribed CORRIENTE in small capitals [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double (not seen by us) [ . ]
- ditto - CORRIERTE for CORRIENTE. [ ]
- ditto - CORRIENRE for CORRIENTE [ . ]
- ditto - CORRIENTE omitted [ . ]
- ditto - Large & Small CORRIENTE in pair [ . ] (Image ex Hahn)
- ditto - Un Centavo omitted (on cover illustration) [ . ]
We have also seen an example of this stamp with the word CORRIENTE entirely overlaid by the diagonal bar.
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1917 : 5c Official overprinted with Bar through OFICIAL and the word Corriente added
We have provided a slightly darkened scan of the stamps above for greater clarity. The middle stamp has the whole overprint double, i.e. both bar and the word CORRIENTE. The right stamp has only the word CORRIENTE double, one of them diagonal.
1917 : 5c Official overprinted with Bar through OFICIAL and the word Corriente added (SG 705)
5c Deep Blue [ . ]
- ditto - whole overprint Double [ . ]
- ditto - CORRIENTE only Double (one diagonal) [ . ]
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1917 : 6c Official overprinted with Bar through OFICIAL and the word Corriente added - a scarce stamp.
1917 : 6c Official overprinted with Bar through OFICIAL and the word Corriente added - a scarce stamp. (SG 706)
6c Violet-Blue [ . ]
- ditto - CORRIENTE Double (Sct 450a - not seen by us) [ . ]
That completes the surcharged Official stamps, except for a 1c/12c Purple which was produced in error and which we cover later.
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In 1918, the 6c postage stamp was surcharged 1 CENTAVO in three different styles . A fourth 1c/6c came out in 1919 but this time written 'Centavo'. We shall examine the three 1918 CENTAVO types first as a group.
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1918 : 6c Postage surcharged 1 CENTAVO 1 in Red - style as scan above
1918 : 6c Postage surcharged 1 CENTAVO 1 in Red - style as scan above (SG 707)
1c / 6c Violet-Blue [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double, one Inverted (not seen by us) [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Inverted [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double, both Inverted [ . ]
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1918 : 6c Postage surcharged 1 CENTAVO 1 in Black - circles obliterating old value
1918 : 6c Postage surcharged 1 CENTAVO 1 in Black - circles obliterating old value (SG 708)
1c / 6c Violet-Blue [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double, both Inverted (not seen by us) [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double, one Inverted [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Inverted (sloping diagonally) [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Inverted (aligned) [ . ]
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1918 : 6c Postage surcharged 1 CENTAVO 1 in Black - rectangles obliterating old value
1918 : 6c Postage surcharged 1 CENTAVO 1 in Black - rectangles obliterating old value (SG 709)
1c / 6c Violet-Blue [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double, both Inverted (not seen by us) [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Inverted [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double, one Inverted [ . ]
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Between 1919 and 1921, all the postage values between 6c and 50c were surcharged, as was the 12c Official stamp.
1919 : 6c Postage surcharged 1 Centavo 1 in Black - squares obliterating old value
1919 : 6c Postage surcharged 1 Centavo 1 in Black - squares obliterating old value (SG 710)
1c / 6c Violet-Blue [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double, one à cheval [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double, one Inverted [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Inverted [ . ]
- ditto - Centado for Centavo variety [ . ]
- ditto - Figure '1' in centre broken (variety may not be constant) [ . ]
We assume that the 'Centado' variety occurs in combination with the double and inverted surcharge types but have not provided check-boxes for these.
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1919 : 12c Postage surcharged 1 Centavo 1 in Black - on the Postage value
1919 : 12c Postage surcharged 1 Centavo 1 in Black - on the Postage value (SG 711)
1c / 12c (postage) Purple [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double, one à cheval [ . ]
- ditto - '1' Centavo 1' at top of stamp [ . ]
- ditto - surcharge à cheval (vertically) [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double, one Inverted [ . ]
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1919 : 12c Postage surcharged 1 Centavo 1 in Black - on the Official stamp
1919 : 12c Postage surcharged 1 Centavo 1 in Black - on the Official stamp (SG 721)
1c / 12c (official) Violet-Blue [ . ]
- ditto - surcharge à cheval (vertically) [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double, one Inverted [ . ]
According to Scott, these official stamps were surcharged in error, mixed into the sheets of the 12c postage values, which would explain why the word OFICIAL was not barred out. Nevertheless, they were released for public use.
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1919 : 17c surcharged 1 Centavo 1 in Black
The scan above, surcharge triple, is one of three images of scarce Theatre issue surcharges taken when viewing a 2026 Grosvenor Auctions lot. All three images are reproduced on this page, with 'ex Hahn' noted in the catalogue-style listing.
1919 : 17c surcharged 1 Centavo 1 in Black (SG 712)
1c / 17c Orange [ . ]
- ditto - variety Cnetavo for Centavo [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double, one Inverted [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Inverted [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Triple [ . ] (image ex.Hahn collection)
Notes:
Cnetavo: Amongst these surcharges, the 1c/17c is one of the commoner values encountered, yet we have not seen the 'Cnetavo' variety. Given its apparent scarcity (note that SG list it but do not price it), could the error perhaps have been corrected during the printing process, with the result that few examples were ever released?
Surcharge Double: As shown above, this is found quite closely spaced but also widely spaced with Centavo at top and bottom.
Surcharge Inverted: The pair illustrated above are the only examples that we have seen and the surcharge on them is à cheval (horizontally).
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1919 : 10c surcharged 2 Centavos 2 in Black
1919 : 10c surcharged 2 Centavos 2 in Black (SG 713)
2c / 10c Sepia [ . ]
- ditto - variety Italic figure '2' at TOP (Position 80) [ . ]
- ditto - variety Italic figure '2' at LEFT (Position 20) [ . ]
- ditto - surcharge à cheval (vertically) [ . ]
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1919 : 50c surcharged VALE 5 Centavos in Black
1919 : 50c surcharged VALE 5 Centavos in Black (SG 714)
5c / 50c Bluish-Grey [ . ]
5c / 50c Bluish-Grey : COLOUR TRIAL of Surcharge in YELLOW [ . ]
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1919 : 25c surcharged 6 SEIS in Blue
1919 : 25c surcharged 6 SEIS in Blue (SG 715)
6c / 25c Deep Brown [ . ]
6c / 25c Deep Brown: COLOUR TRIAL of Surcharge in RED : Seis Centavos [ . ]
6c / 25c Deep Brown: COLOUR TRIAL of Surcharge in RED : SEIS (only) [ . ]
An example of this SEIS only colour trial in Red on a 1921 cover is shown with the 15c/29c surcharges.
Note that the colour trials tested the appearance with and without the word 'centavos' included in the surcharge. The simple capital-lettered 'SEIS' was deemed the most successful trial and adopted, but printed in the much clearer Blue, for the issued stamp. This choice using SEIS to obliterate VEINTECINCO on the original stamp, whilst leaving CENTAVOS visible, required some accurate surcharging, for which El Salvador is not famous, but we have yet to see a very poorly-registered example of this surcharge.
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1919 : 29c surcharged 15 in Red
Note: Both SG and Scott list the Type III as the principal listing with Types I, II and IV given sub-numbers, in SG a, b & c, in Scott b c & d. To avoid confusion, we have illustated them above and listed them below in the same order.
1919 : 29c surcharged 15 in Red (SG 716, Scott 463)
15c / 29c Black (small '15', SG & Scott Type III ) [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double [ . ]
15c / 29c Black (large '15', SG and Scott Type I ) [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double [ . ] Image above is ex Hahn collection
15c / 29c Black (medium '15', no serif at top of '5' : SG and Scott Type II ) [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double [ . ]
15c / 29c Black (medium '15', small serif at top of '5' : SG and Scott Type IV ) [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double [ . ]
All four styles of the figures '15' are found in the same sheet. The second (detail) scan shows the only Surcharge Double that we have seen, which appears to be a very light surcharge with a heavier surcharge almost directly on top. It is on the medium size surcharge with no serif. However, we think that the surcharge double variety will probably exist with all four types of figure '15' - and have listed them provisionally above.
We have seen two further styles of 15c/29c surcharge not listed in the main catalogues, one on a cover and one in a pair with an issued 15c/29c type; both are illustrated below.
Additional scans above show enlarged versions of the top stamp of the pair and of the 15c/29c on the cover. Neither stamp is listed in stamp catalogues and we think that both are surcharge trials that were unadopted. Nevertheless, one is shown to have been used on a Registered Cover in 1921.
Careful examination shows that, in both cases, the obliterating boxes are single but that there are multiple surcharges of the figures '15' as follows:
Left large scan (fat figure '5') : Surcharge figures Double (as far as can be ascertained). This stamp is in vertical pair with a regularly-issued stamp in Type 1 with a single surcharge.
Right large scan (tall surcharge, figure '5' 5.9 mms in height) : Surcharge figures Triple. Note that this stamp is accompanied on the registered cover by a further colour trial, the 6c/25c with RED surcharge.
These two 15c/29c trial surcharges are very rare; we would be surprised if more than a handful of each was produced. They probably emanate from a single trial sheet of surcharges containing the four issued Types and an unknown number of other unadopted types, each in tiny quantities. More information on these would be most welcome.
15c / 29c Black : TRIAL SURCHARGE (of surcharge style), very large '15' with fat figure '5' - Figures of value Double [ . ]
15c / 29c Black : TRIAL SURCHARGE (of surcharge style), tall figures (figure '5' is 5.9 mms high) - Figures of Value Triple [ . ]
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1919 : 50c surcharged 15 in Red : UNISSUED VALUE :
The style of the figures '15' in this surcharge is similar to one applied to the 15c/29c issued stamps. We are not aware that any other style of '15' surcharge was applied to the 50c in these trial printings.
1919 : 50c surcharged 15 in Red (unissued stamp)
15c / 50c Bluish-Grey Trial Surcharge (medium '15', no serif at top of '5') [ . ]
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1919 : 29c surcharged 26 cts. in Blue
1919 : 29c surcharged 26 cts. in Blue (SG 717)
26c / 29c Black [ . ]
- ditto - 't' in 'cts' inverted (see detail scan) [ . ]
26c / 29c Black - Surcharge Inverted [ . ]
- ditto - 't' in 'cts' inverted [ . ]
The inverted 't' variety occurs on ten per cent of the stamps in the sheet. We have not seen any examples with Inverted Surcharge but it is a variety listed by Scott.
26c / 29c Black: COLOUR TRIAL of Surcharge in GREEN [ . ]
- ditto - in vertical pair with stamp in the issued colour of opt. (blue) [ . ]
26c / 29c Black: COLOUR TRIAL of Surcharge in YELLOW and further surcharged in GREEN [ . ]
A twin-colour trial surcharge sent on February 23rd 1921 to La Libertad on a philalically-inspired but genuinely travelled registered letter, La Libertad arrival backstamp, February 24th. Quite possibly the only existing used example of this rare trial surcharge.
We have no information as to whether the inverted 't' variety occurs on the Colour Trials. Some of the sheets of the colour trials of the surcharge were composite, as seen in the vertical pair with blue and green surcharges above. We do not have any production information on the stamps surcharged in both green and yellow.
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1919 : 50c surcharged 35 / Treinta y cinco in Black.
1919 : 50c surcharged 35 / Treinta y cinco in Black (SG 719)
35c / 50c Bluish-Grey [ . ]
- ditto - CinCo for 'cinco' (see note below) [ . ]
Scott reports that one stamp per row has the variety two large letters 'C' in 'CinCo'. All the other stamps have two small letters 'c' (cinco) and we know of no examples with a mixture of large and small letters on the same stamp. We have seen a strip/3 of positions 80, 90 and 100. Positions 80 and 100 have the variety CinCo, whereas Position 90 has the normal cinco. However, we do not know the full sheet layout. The right-hand stamp in the scan above shows the large 'C's variety.
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1919 : 29c surcharged 35 / Treinta y cinco in Black : UNISSUED VALUE
1919 : 29c surcharged surcharged 35 / Treinta y cinco in Black
35c / 29c Black : Trial Surcharge [ . ]
- ditto - CinCo for 'cinco' (not seen by us, presumed; confirmation sought.) [ . ]
A trial 35c/29c surcharge sent on February 20th 1921 to La Libertad on a philatelically-inspired, but genuinely travelled, registered letter with La Libertad arrival backstamp, February 21st. Quite possibly the only existing used example of this rare trial surcharge.
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In September 1921, the postal authorities took delivery of some new stamps and the need to surcharge the National Theatre design issue came to an end.
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Postal Stationery
The same National Theatre design was also used for a number of postal stationery cards (abbreviated to 'PSC' in listings below). All the cards are of 1 centavo original denomination, but most of the listing below describes a range of 2 centavos surcharges on these 1c cards.
Central American countries, in particular, enthusiastically adopted the use of joined pairs of postal stationery cards, one half paying for the outward message (message card) whilst the other half paid for the reply (reply card). The inscriptions on these double cards clearly indicated which part was the message card and which the reply card. Provision in the regulations allowed for uprating of cards to meet international rates. Any additional postage, in the form of adhesive stamps, would have had to be applied to both cards by the original sender in order to permit the addressee to send back the reply half as received. Examples of reply halves being returned from a foreign destination are few. Just occasionally, the recipient would reply without detaching the message card but such still-joined cards with both halves commercially used, even just for internal use, are rare or, in many cases, unknown. Over time, International Reply Coupons were adopted as a more equitable (though cumbersome) system, although these could not, of course, be sent out by postcard.
The El Salvador National Theatre design first appeared as either a simple 1c card or as a 1c+1c (message + reply) double card. However (other than one scarce exception mentioned later) with all the 2c surcharges that followed, whenever the 1c+1c was used for surcharging, the two halves were issued as separate cards. Whether the pairs of cards were separated before or after surcharging we have not discovered, but surcharging single cards would certainly seem to have been the simpler option.
The international diplomatic language and the universal language of the UPU was French, so these cards are inscribed in the local language (Spanish) and in French. A quick glossary of inscriptions, Spanish first:
On Single Cards, just the words: Tarjeta Postal .... Carte Postale = Post Card
On Message half of double cards, additionally inscription: Con Respuesta Pagada .... Avec Réponse Payée = With reply paid for
On Reply half of double cards, additionally inscribed: Respuesta .... Réponse = Reply
1916:
Original Issue, c. 1916
1c Green PSC [ . ]
1c+1c Green PSC [ . ]
American Bank Note Company File / Record Department copy, probably unique. Ex Brian Moorhouse collection. [ . ]
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1920:
There are two types of this surcharge, which vary both in the figures '2' and in the size of SERVICIO / INTERIOR, measurements being as follows:
First Detail Scan : 'flat' figure '2', SERVICIO 15.5 mms in length, wide-spacing (2.5mms) to INTERIOR which is 12 mms long.
Second Detail Scan: 'tall' figure '2', SERVICIO 17 mms in length, narrow spacing (1.75 mms) to INTERIOR which is 12.75 mms long.
SERVICIO INTERIOR Issue, 1920
1c Green PSC, flat figure '2' on MESSAGE half [ . ]
- ditto - on REPLY half [ . ]
1c Green PSC, tall figure '2' on MESSAGE half ** [ . ]
- ditto - on REPLY half [ . ]
** We have not seen the message half with the taller surcharge but have assumed it exists.
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1921:
Surcharges with the figures '2' at centre left and centre right, of which there are two principal types, as shown in the detail scans.
1921 2c/1c Surcharges: Surcharged with 'italic' 2 2 in centre and CENTAVOS in capitals at foot:
2c/1c on Message half [ . ]
- ditto - with surcharge double [ . ]
- ditto - but surcharge at lower left of card [ . ]
2c/1c on Reply half [ . ]
- ditto - with surcharge double [ . ]
- ditto - but surcharge at lower left of card [ . ]
We have never seen examples of the surcharge double or surcharge at lower left varieties, but they are listed in Higgins & Gage. We believe they belong to this 'CENTAVOS' style surcharge, not the 'Centavos' style immediately below.
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1921 2c/1c Surcharges: Surcharged with 'tall' 2 2 in centre and centavos in lower case letters at foot:
2c/1c on Message half [ . ]
2c/1c on Reply half [ . ]
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1923:
1923 2c/1c Surcharges: Surcharged 2 DOS CENTAVOS 2 at foot of card:
2c/1c on Message Half [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double [ . ]
2c/1c on Reply Half [ . ]
- ditto - Surcharge Double [ . ]
2c+2c/1c+1c Unsevered Pair [ . ]
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Beyond this point, we have only a single illustration for the final two groups of surcharges. These cards appear to be very scarce and we suspect that most of the listings that we have seen probably had their roots in the Higgins & Gage postal stationery catalogue.
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1923 2c/1c Surcharges: Surcharged '2 centavos 2' (lower case letters) in Black at foot of card:
Indications suggest that, for these last issues, the double-cards were all split and sold only as singles. The above is a Message Half sent to Germany, first upgraded from 2c to 12c with an El Salvador 10c but then, it seems, only dispatched in the Honduras Republic, requiring the sender to re-frank with local stamps, where the same 12c rate also apparently pertained. Already a very scarce stationery card; the unusual franking probably renders it unique.
2c/1c on Message Half [ . ]
2c/1c on Reply Half [ . ]
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1923 2c/1c Surcharges: Surcharged 2 2 in top corners, CENTAVOS near the top of the card and thick bar at foot, the entire surcharge in RED:
2c/1c on Message Half [ . ]
2c/1c on Reply Half [ . ]
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84 years later:
For those who like a little more tram than just the tracks, one of the San Salvador trams finally appeared on a stamp 84 years after the National Theatre stamps were first issued, as part of a sheetlet issued in 2000 for the Millennium. The original postcard, from which the view was taken, is shown on Allen Morrison's webpage about the trams of El Salvador (link at top of this article).
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Postscript :
The postal stationery card below, which certainly appears to show a railway or tramway above the Parque Cuscatlan in San Salvador, although we cannot definitely state that the vehicle is on rails. It is something of a mystery. We can find nothing on the web to provide any additional useful commentary. It has been suggested to us that the vehicles on the bridge are battery trams from the tramway system but the purpose of this elevated section of line is far from clear to us.
The card is quite scarce and was issued in 1942, Higgins & Gage #115. We have never seen this design listed in any catalogue on railway philately and would welcome more information.
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