First Issues - 1877 to 1880

page 10.5

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Panama

September 1878 SG1 Sc1	Commemorative 1913 SG160 Sc202 400th anniv. of Balboa's discovery of the Pacific Ocean	Airmail 1929 SG225 Sc-C1	First real airmail 1930 SG235 Sc-C7	Charity 1939 SG353 Sc-RA1 Cancer Research Fund	Post Due 1915 SG-D169 Sc-J1

Department of Colombia	Republic	First real stamp
1887 SG5 Sc8	1903 SG35A Sc51	1905 SG142 Sc185

Panama was originally a department of the Republic of Colombia, but gained independence in 1903 and so the 1878 #1 was issued in that context and only valid for internal mail. There are some admin variants and changes to note as that independence was gradually realised (the 1878 issue was for use throughout Panama). The first airmail was a Special Delivery overprint and the underlying stamp takes its place in the Express diversion. In all a nice series of stylish and relatively inexpensive stamps, lacking an official. Stamps were later issued for the Canal Zone which was under US administration.

Bulgaria

1st May 1879 SG1 Sc1	Commemorative1896 SG78 Sc43 Baptism of Prince Boris	Airmail 1927 SG281 ScC4	Charity 1916 SG185 Sc113 Red Cross Fund	Charity 1920 SG210 Sc-B1 Returned prisoners of war	Official 1942 SG-O507 Sc-O1	Post Due 1884 SG-D75 Sc-J1

World's First Sunday Delivery Stamp 1925 SG286b Sc-RA1	Express 1939 SG-E429 Sc-E1

Bulgaria has another handsome full set. The #1, depicting a crest shown the Lion of Bulgaria, is similar to those of Russia and Poland, and there is a particularly fine early airmail (C2 and C4 issued in 1927, C1 and C3 in 1928). There were perforation variants of the early post due sets and the cheapest is favoured. Bulgaria was also one of the motive forces behind the Express Diversion with an issue so good (as with Russia) it has to be shown here with the full set on the Express page. Bulgaria has a First First to offer with the world’s first Sunday Delivery stamp.

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