2018-11-14 Wed

Costa Rica has produced its own stamps since 1863. The first issue of stamps was printed by the American Bank Note Co.

Costa Rica is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the east and south, the Pacific Ocean to the west and south and the Caribbean Sea to the east. The decree authorizing postage stamps became law 9th September 1862 and an order for the stamps was placed with the American Bank Note Company in New York in October 1862.

In April 1863 the first stamps of the country were issued. Two values ‘medio real’ blue and the ‘dos reales’ red, were issued. The stamp depicts the coat of arms in the centre with a picturesque landscape of mountains and ships along with five stars. The stamps are inscribed with the denomination value and “CORREOS DE COSTA RICA” at the top and the value in the word at the bottom.

A letter franked with a single ‘medio real’ was found sent from Cartago to San Jose. The letter is dearly dated inside ‘Abril 21 de 1863’ making it the earliest recorded usage of a Costa Rican stamp.

Image Courtesy: https://en.wikipedia.org