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 werecertain 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”.