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The Seebeck sets of 1892.
  
In 1890 Nicholas F. Seebeck, manager of the Hamilton Bank Note Co. of New York, agreed to print and supply stamps to central american republics, in exchange for the right to reprint them after they had been removed from sale (using this demonetized stamps for philatelic uses). Four Central American Republics -Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Ecuador- contracted in 1892, with this printing firm a set of stamps and covers. This contract was considered an outrage for the collectors. Numerous letters of protest filled the philatelic publications through the 1890´s: "the crusade against the so-called Seebeck issues".
Three of the four Seebeck show pictures of Columbus landing or sighting land.  Colours are all similar throughout all four sets. Small differences exist in intensity but all similar colour appear to come from the same colour mix. Perforation of all sets is 12. Some imperforate and part perforated stamps exist. List of the values issued in the sets:

 

Salvador Honduras Nicaragua
1c. green slate brown
2c. orange brown blue vermilion
3c. pale ultramarine
5c. slate/grey apple green deep blue
10c. pale red blue green slate
11c. brown
20c. orange vermilion maroon
25c. maroon orange brown
30c. ultramarine
40c. orange
50c. yellow brown violet
75c. lake
1p. carmine lake violet brown
2p. green
5p. carmine
10p. dull orange

1 peso = 8 reales = 100 centavos
Nicaragua - 1892     [Scott #40-49, #O21-30]
nicaragua1892grande.jpg (23771 bytes) seebeckfranqueooficial.jpg (12480 bytes)

seebecktelegrafos.jpg (10933 bytes)

Nicaragua had 1c value for local printed mail and 2c and 3c postal cards to cover internal and external rates. Stationery envelopes exist for 5, 10 20 and 25 centavos rates. On the stamps of Nicaragua of this issue, the central design closely resembles that of the 1c Columbian series: an engraving based upon a painting by W.H. Powell, called "Columbus sight of Land". Official sets (Franqueo oficial) exist, ten values from 1c to 10 pesos all in yellow brown. All are rare on cover. Telegraph sets (Telegrafos) with the same design but in different colours exist for Nicaragua. The telegraph overprint is on rare occasions omitted and these stamps unoverprinted have been recorded postally used.

seebeckproof1.jpg (35356 bytes)

 seebeckproof3.jpg (31911 bytes)

Unique artist's drawing of the frame (left) and the vignette. From Argyll Etkin Gallery, London. Fosbery states that the design do not seem to have been taken recognised pictures and appear to be the work of the Hamilton designers.
Honduras - 1892     [Scott #65-75]

The design of stamps is based upon the painting "Columbus pointing out the lightt to Pedro Gutierrez" by D. Anvers of Naples. Honduras has postal cards (above-right), 2c and 3c, presumably for internal and external rates. Envelopes (above-left) were made for 1, 5, 10 and 25 centavos. The 20c was a double weight rate.
seebeckenterohonduras.jpg (24341 bytes) seebeckenterosobrehonduras.jpg (85581 bytes)
      
El Salvador - 1892     [Scott #60-75]

There are postal cards for 1, 2 and 3 centavos. 1c is a local urban or dop letter rate, the 2c is for internal and the 3c is for external use. For envelopes there are 1, 5, 10, 11, 20 and 22 centavos items. The 1c might be for a local unsealed rate for a bill internal letter rate and the 11c is external letter rate to Europe. The 10c might be special rate to other Central American Republics and the 20c and 22c double weight
seebeckenterosalvador.jpg (28450 bytes)
Fosbery believe that imperforate plate proofs or colour trials on similar paper to the issued stamps but in different colours abound for all four republics. It certainly seems as if they might been used to promote sales after demonetisation rather than for use by the individual republics to help agree colours or decide denominations. Papers for all the 1892 sets seem similar and we see no definitive proof of any second printing. Quast and Irving Green definitely state there was no reprinting for Nicaragua and Honduras respectively. Regarding Salvador however Hahn and Sousa believe that reprints for the 1892 issue of this republic do exist.
About cancels John Fosbery believes there are forged cancellations, and genuine commercial covers are rare items; Below: four covers from Martin de Bustamante and Piniella exhibits.

seebeckusado1.jpg (35617 bytes)

seebeckusado2.jpg (31271 bytes)

seebeckusado3.jpg (16790 bytes)

seebeckusado4.jpg (27968 bytes)
El Salvador - 1893     [Scott #86-88]

Themes of the design of this set are: 2p Columbus found Isabella; 5p Columbus statue in Genoa; and Departing Palos in 10p.

Proof of unadopted coloursalvador87proofB4.jpg (36259 bytes)

(Photo of Monument of Columbus in Genoa, Italy)
salvador86.jpg (35485 bytes)
salvador88.jpg (42894 bytes)
                 
El Salvador - 1894     [Scott #101-103]
A new issue was printed in 1894 with the designs of Christopher Columbus at Salamanca (2p), protecting Indians (5p) and Columbus received at court.
salvador101proofB4.jpg (53740 bytes)

 

Proof of unadopted colour.
   
El Salvador - 1896/97     [Scott #157, #170, #174]

El Salvador had a last Seebeck stamp in 1896 with color change and official overprinted in 1897. The theme of the stamps was a portrait of Columbus.

  
salvador157.jpg (21178 bytes)          
      
References
  • Fosbery, J. "The Seebeck sets of 1892" Discovery vol.5 nº3(19) 1987.
  • Green, I. "That Man Seebeck" American Philatelic Congress 1946.
  • Hahn, J.; Sousa, J. "El Salvador, the Seebeck Stamps" American Philatelic Congress 1977/1978.
  • Mueses, D.A. Seebeck: ¿Heroe o Villano?   Santo Domingo, 1992. 170pp.
  • Nye, D. "Nicholas Seebeck - New York Philatelist and entrepreneur" Discovery vol.12 nº3(47) 1994.