EARLY SPANISH PHILATELIC
LITERATURE
José Ramón Moreno
1761
The “Itinerario” (Itinerary) from Rodríguez
Campomanes was published in 1761. It
was a book which explained from how to
write a letter, to how much it costed to
send it , the routes and the places where it
was possible to be sent.
It was intended for the general public as
well as for the postmen.
1835
Based on the book of Espinal published in
1785, Mr. José Freire issued in 1835, a
new version corrected, actualized, more
complete and compiled as a Dictionary
from A to Z.
EL INDICADOR DE LOS SELLOS
Was the first Spanish Philatelic Magazine.
Published in Madrid, on 15th July 1870.
To encourage its subscription it says:
“Today when in almost all families there is someone
who has the good taste of following the Fashion of
collecting stamps” …the need for a magazine that
can solve successfully any doubts the collector
may have is noted more than ever”.
These words does not appears to be very effective as it
was first and only number.
EL COLECCIONISTA DE SELLOS
A fortnightly magazine, its first number appears in
Madrid with the date 15th February 1871,
its editor being Balbino Cotter Cortes.
In all, four numbers of four pages each were
published.
FIRST SPANISH PHILATELIC LITERATURE BOOKLET
"Obliteration
Marks on Spanish Stamps”
Lecture given by Mr. Mariano Pardo de Figueroa “Dr.
Thebussem” at the The Philatelic Society, London on 6th
May 1871
This Leaflet was also the first Publication of the Royal
Philatelic Society (by then was not yet “Royal”), published
15th January 1873.
HIS PRESENTATION AT THE LONDON SOCIETY WAS
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH LANGUAGE FROM HIS FRIEND
VICTORIANO DE YSASI , WHO SOME YEARS LATER MOVED TO
LEAVE TO LONDON, BECOMING VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE
PHILELIC SOCIETY OF LONDON IN 1880
1860 Portrait of Mariano Pardo de Figueroa, “Dr. Thebussem”
He was born in Medina Sidonia, in the South of
Spain (Andalucía) in 1828.
He belongs to a rich and aristocratic family. After
become Doctor in Laws in Madrid ,he started
traveling for 9 years trough Africa, Australia, Great
Britain, and many European countries.
THE – BUSS – EM
< EM – BUS – TE
(IM – POS - TER)
Thebussem is a play on syllables intended to convey a
foreign (last) name which, read from back to front,
comes out as em-buss-the, i.e. as embuste (Spanish for
imposter)
At the age of 35 he went back to his home small
town and never went out of it except in1889 to visit
the Paris International Exhibition.
Because his active labour in promoting Philatelie,
he was granted with the title of Honorary Postman,
having the right of Sending all his letters on franchise
Other marks of Franchise used
by Doctor Thebussem, were:
“Fruslerías Postales” and “Epistolario”, two of the many philatelic
books published by Dr. Thebussem
As correspondent of Moëns from Bélgique ,
of Griebert from Great Britain and of
Maury from France, he published hundreds
of articles on "The Stamp Collector's
Magazine" and in the "Le Collectionneur
de Timbres-Poste“, being known over
12.000 letters from him on the work of the
Post and Philatelie.
Since the magazine “El Coleccionista”
dissapeared in 1871, there was no other
Spanish Philatelic Magazine for the next 20
years. The Spanish collectors had to use the
foreign publications.
Then on the 10th November 1891 was
published the first issue of the “LA ALIANZA
FILATELICA”
LA ALIANZA FILATELICA
In the front page of its first number, was written . “It is
surprising that in a country such as ours which is at the head
of philately due to its many issues, and there are so many
newspapers that are being published, no one would take
charge, exclusively, to announce to dealers and collectors
alike the changes which stamps undergo in all countries.
England, Germany, Rumania, Italy,and France, above all,
can count on a great number of these publications. Today
we undertake the task of publishing one, trusting that the
friends of philately will not be deaf to our voice, and will aid
us to become equals of other nations.”
Other philatelic magazines of the XIX Century were:
-EL ANUNCIADOR FILATÉLICO. The first number, the first number appeared in
Cadiz on the 5th April 1892, and the last in December 1892.
LA REVISTA FILATÉLICA. The only reference we have comes from the work of
Nathan and Gahl, mentioning that it was published also in Cadiz with Eduardo
Castulla as editor, with the first number having appeared in May, 1892.
-LA UNION FILATÉLICA. Published in Barcelona, with its first number dated
January 1893 . It had eight pages, It published 21 numbers, the last one
corresponding to November/December 1894.
- CÁDIZ FILATÉLICO. Could be considered the follower of the “El Anunciador
Filatélico”.Itsfirst number was published in August 1893, affirming that they were
certain of at least one year’s existence. Notwithstanding such goals only three
numbers were published.
-There were a dozen more of ephemeral Philatelic Magazines in these years until
the appearance of MADRID FILATÉLICO
MADRID FILATÉLICO.
This monthly journal appeared in Madrid
January 1st, 1897.
It is the only Spanish Philatelic Magazine from
the past century still in existence.
The owner and editor was Miguel Gálvez , followed by
his son ,the well-known dealer Manuel Gálvez.
1.224 issues has been published until now.
In December of the same 1897, a new Philatelic Magazine was launched: “La
Timbología Española”. Edited by the physician of the small town of Val de Santo
Domingo , Dr. José Alvarez Janáriz. For three years was issuing its montly
publication. According to Dr. Thebussem “was very well edited and used a paper
of very good quality”.
The first number of the Bulletin of the “Sociedad Filatelica Matritense” was
issued on August 1897. Then in 1900 changed its name to “El Eco de
Madrid”. The “Sociedad Filatelica Matritense” is the predecessor of the
present Madrid Philatelic Society “SOFIMA”.