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The Puerto Rico Columbian Commemorative of 1893
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1893 - 3 Cents de Peso Dark green - Certified! |
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1893 - 3 Cents de Peso Dark green - Mint |
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 1893 - 3 Cents de Peso Fake |
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1893 - 3 Cents de Peso On Piece |
1893 - 3 Cents de Peso On Piece |
This stamp was issued to commemorate the four centenary of the discovery of Puerto Rico by Christopher Columbus. It was authorized by royal decree, for use on internal mail on the 19th of November 1893 only.
Don Pedro Blanco Viala designed the stamp which was printed by the lithography process at the Boletin Mercantil in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The stamp was printed on sheets of 20 stamps (4 x 5), most fakes are printed on sheets of 42 stamps (7 x 6). All original stamps are perforated 12, the fakes are perforated 11½.
It is the only Puerto Rican stamp designed and printed on the island. It is also the third commemorative stamp in the world and the only Puerto Rican stamp issued under Spanish rule that does not have the portrait of the King of Spain.
Color proofs are known in several shades of Pink, Rose Carmine, Bright Red, Brown, Yellow, Orange, Deep Violet, Violet, Purple, Indigo, Pale Blue and Dark Slate.
