AP Cover March 2019

Member David Lindwall's article
got Guatemala? was published in
the March 2019 issue of
The American Philatelist. APS members
may read the article online here.
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Topical Time cover

The March/April issue of Topical Time,
the journal of the Americal Topical
Association, contains two articles on
Mayan topics on stamps.
_____________________________________

Welcome!

Thank you for visiting the International Society of Guatemala Collectors web site. The ISGC is a non-profit organization and APS affiliate founded in 1948; membership in the Society is open to anyone interested in stamps and postal history of colonial and modern Guatemala and adjacent regions of Central America.

All memberships include a subscription to El Quetzal (EQ), published four times a year. Members also have access to the member side of the ISGC website, where you may participate in the online Forum discussions, and have access to the entire run of back issues of EQ, starting with #1, published in 1949. Guatemala-1, the out-of-print Volume 1 of the Postal History and Philately of Guatemala, is also available online to members, as well as other out-of-print ISGC publications. Members may also download the ISGC Guatemala Stamp Album to print through the Document Library and participate in the Society Auctions.

Join the ISGC, or renew your membership An online only membership is now available at a reduced rate.

Why Collect Guatemala?

Introduction to Guatemala Philately

Donate to the ISGC

ISGC Facebook Page

NEW HANDBOOK AVAILABLE NOW!

The Stamps and Postal Stationery of Guatemala, edited by Michael Bloom, is now available for download. With 1000+ pages and more than 3,500 new color illustrations, this is the first new comprehensive Guatemala handbook in more than 20 years. The downloaded file is a very large PDF file. You will need a PDF reader, such as Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader, to view the file. Be sure to download the instruction sheet.

To watch the video got Guatemala?, an introduction to collecting Guatemala Stamps, click the play button on the YouTube player, and enlarge to full screen.

NEW! Guatemala Stamp Chats on ZOOM

On the first Monday of each month, all society members and guests are invited to attend a live chat on Guatemala philately. Sessions will last one hour and begin with a short presentation followed by a question and answer period and time to socialize. Members from around the globe will be able to meet and chat. This is a unique opportunity to meet collectors with similar interests.

Registration is required. Just click on the links below to register. All Guatemala Chats are conducted in English. Starting time for the Chats is 9 AM U.S. Pacific time, noon U.S. East Coast time, and 5 PM Universal (London) time.

Link to recorded 2020-21 Stamp Chats

2022 Stamp Chats

January 3, 2022 Yuri Montez The Travelling Post Offices of Guatemala - Part 1 Link to YouTube video

Monday, February 7, 2022 Yuri Montez The Travelling Post Offices of Guatemala - Part 2 Link to YouTube video

Yuri Montes continues with the second part of a discussion on the Ambulantes (Railway Postals) of Guatemala.

Monday, March 7, 2022 Michael Bloom “Oldies but Goodies” Review of Past EQ articles Link to YouTube video
Michael Bloom takes us on a nostalgic journey into a subject based on published article in El Quetzal and other sources.
Monday, April 4, 2022 Bill Meara The 1954 Guatemala Coup D'état Link to YouTube video

Bill Meara is a diplomat who worked in Guatemala. This non-philatelic presentation provides an insider's view of an unhappy interlude in Guatemala history.

Monday, May 2, 2022 Rod Haenni ISGC Jeopardy Game Link to YouTube video

Using the format of TV's Jeopardy show, Rod Haenni will challenge us with Guatemala stamp related answers. The audience provides the questions.

Monday, June 6, 2022 Yuri Montez The Travelling Post Offices of Guatemala - Part 3 Link to YouTube video

Yuri Montes continues with the third part of a discussion on the Ambulantes (Railway Postals) of Guatemala.

Monday, July 11, 2022 Dave Lindwall Guatemala's Presidents on Stamps Link to YouTube video

David Lindwall lived in Guatemala and served the U.S. as a diplomat there. He will discuss the presidents whose portraits appear on Guatemala's stamps.

Monday, August 1, 2022 Michael Bloom Update on the ISGC Handbook Project Link to YouTube video

Michael Bloom is leading the ISGC's Handbook Project. Having completed The Enhanced Reprint of G-1, G-2, G-3, he will introduce the crowd-sourcing phase of the project.

Monday, October 3, 2022 Yuri Montez The Travelling Post Offices of Guatemala - Part 4 Link to YouTube video

Yuri Montes continues with the fourth part of a discussion on the Ambulantes (Railway Postals) of Guatemala.

Monday, November 7, 2022 Michael Bloom Papel Sellado of Guatemala Link to YouTube video

Papel Sellado are revenue stamped papers. Lead by Michael Bloom, we will look all the way back to the 1640's at examples of how Spain's colonies collected taxes. Papel Sellado continued into the late 20th Century.

Monday, December 5, 2022 No Stamp Chat this month. Enjoy your Holidays!

Monday, January 2, 2023 Ziomara de Leon Correo Guatemala Today Cancelled
The status of the Guatemalan Post and the stamp program is uncertain for budgetary reasons and she is not authorized to release information at this time.

Monday, February 6, 2023 David Reitsema Early 20th Century Postal Stationery and Postal Cards Link to You Tube video

Dave Reitsema addresses this under-researched area with examples of scarce stationary and postcards.

Monday, March 13, 2023 ISGC Member Social

  Our occasional general meetings provide an opportunity for I.S.G.C. members to meet in a social setting. Attendees are encouraged to show new acquisitions and to discuss all aspects of philately,

Monday, April 10, 2023 Jaime Marckwordt Social Assistance Issue Link to You Tube video

  Jaime Marckwordt will discuss this issue showing rare proofs and varieties of the stamp series designed by his grandfather.

Monday, May 1, 2023 Rod Haenni Guatemala's Volcanos Link to You Tube video

  Volcanos are a major feature of Guatemala's landscape and are frequently featured on Guatemala's stamps. Rod Haenni will explore the nexus between the mountains and philately.

Monday, June 5, 2023 Alfredo Frohlich The Provisional Issue of 1922 Due to an error, a recording of this presentation is not available.
Alfredo Frohlich has prepared a wonderful multi-frame exhibit on the unusual 1922 overprints. Different positions on sheets of these stamps used different fonts, some of which are rare.

Monday, July 17, 2023 Glen Carr Revenues for Fun and show - an Introduction Due to technical issues, this presentation will need to be rescheduled.

  Glen Carr will explore the world of Guatemala's revenue stamps.

Monday, September 18, 2023 Michael Bloom Member Forum Register

  ISGC President Michael Bloom will conduct a wide-ranging discussion. A great opportunity to meet other ISGC members.

Monday, October 16, 2023 David Lindwall Guatemala History and Geography, a Philatelic Perspective Register

  Former U.S. diplomat to Guatemala David Lindwall will be the presenter.

Monday, November 20, 2023 David Reitsema Ship Mail  Register

  ISGC Vice-President David Reitsema will be the presenter.

Monday, December 18, 2023 Jonathan Topper Metered Mail Register

  Jonathan Topper will explore this under-studied area of Guatemala Philately.

Monday, January 15, 2024 Rod Haenni The Guatemala Stamp Jeopardy Show Register

  Rod Haenni will be our host for a a philatelic version of the Jeopardy Show.

After you register, you will receive an email from Zoom with a link to join the Chat. Questions? Contact info@GuatemalaStamps.com

ISGC Benefit Auction 2021: Results

The ISGC 2^nd Annual Benefit Auction is finished. There were 32 lots up for bid, including stamps, essays, postal history, revenues, literature, overprint errors, and more. There were 23 bidders, with 13 of the bidders able to secure at least one lot. the total of the winning bids came to $1,360 USD.

All lots were donated by your fellow ISGC members, with the net proceeds going directly to the benefit of our society. Donors for the auction include: The Estate of David Fine, Barbara Vignola, James Hildreth, Jonathan Topper, David Lindwall, David Libby, the Estate of Harry Philip Edwards, and Alfredo Frohlich.

Thank you to all the donors and all the bidders who made this auction a success.

Auction Manager, Jonathan Topper at: jonathan@topperstamps.com

2021 ISGC Auction Results

2021 ISGC Auction Lot Images

Auction Manager:

Jonathan Topper
Topper Stamps & Postal History
13100 Wortham Center Drive
3rd Floor - Suite 45
Houston, TX 77065
email: jonathan@topperstamps.com

Guatemala Fakes and Forgeries

Collecting the stamps of Guatemala is an interesting and potentially complex challenge, and collectors of the country are helped by a large body of available information. El Quetzal editor and former International Society of Guatemala Collectors (ISGC) president David Reitsema has added to this information by writing these articles to assist ISGC members and other ISGC website visitors distinguish between genuine stamps and fakes.

More articles in this series about Guatemala Fakes and Forgeries will continue to be posted periodically on the website.

To watch the video Guatemala - Forged Stamps and the ISGC, click the play button on the YouTube player, and enlarge to full screen.

Jonza Documents Available for Member Download

Long-time ISGC member Jack Jonza has collected nearly 150 articles and clippings that have information of interest to Guatemala collectors. The articles come from many sources, including magazines that have not been published in many years. These have now been scanned and indexed, and may currently be viewed and downloaded in the Document Library (Non-ISGC Articles in the Non-ISGC Publications folder) by members after logging in. The first PDF in the folder (Jonza Documents Contents) was prepared from a spreadsheet containing information on the documents, including author, publication, publication date, catalog numbers, etc. Download it, then use the links in the titles to go to the individual documents that interest you.

El Quetzal

Rod Haenni assumed duties as the editor of El Quetzal, starting with issue #387. A PDF of the entire March 2017 issue has been made accessible on-line to the public to serve as an example of what is available to members.

The cover of the current issue of El Quetzal, #394, July, 2023, including the table of contents, is available for viewing. Members may sign in to view the entire issue online in the Library section of this website. All past issues are also available to members.

News

Mazepa's "Colonial Central America" Crowned Champion of Champions

8/26/2017 James P. Mazepa's "Colonial Central America", depicting the development of the postal system in the Kingdom of Guatemala, was crowned Champion of Champions at the APS Stampshow in Richmond, Virginia. Read>>

A Note on PayPal Payments

Please use the email address listed on the Join/Renew ISGC Button on the Menu to make dues payments via PayPal. The email address for the Treasurer on the Contact Us area is for communication with the Treasurer, not for payments.

Exhibits

Exhibits now available for viewing: The Quetzal Airmails (Jaime Marckwordt), A Selection of Guatemalan Postmarks, 1871-1902 (Cécile Gruson), Collecting Guatemala (David Jickling, coordinator), Guatemalan Auxiliary Markings, 1898-1967 (David Fine), and Guatemala Airmail 1924-1945 (Dr. Andrew Cheung). Also available: PDF file of the Perforation Gauge Presentation from Washington 2006.

Quick Links

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