ECUADORIAN POSTAL STATIONERY AND WATERLOW & SONS

Georg Maier

The only two pieces of postal stationery produce by Waterlow & Sons of London for Ecuador are two wrappers (HG E3, E4) which were released for sale in 1898. Although no official documentation has ben discovered regarding the origin, date of issue, number issued, etc. it has been readily assumed that Waterlow & Sons was the author of these wrappers because of the design of the stamps which is similar to many other stationery items it produced for other Latin America nations.

The wrappers were issued in two values, a two cents copy for internal use and a three cents copy for international mail. Both wrappers were used extensively as envelopes with the text appearing on the inside. The two cents wrapper is known in a variety of color shades from lemon yellow to deep orange yellow. Likewise, the three cents copy varies from an ultramarine to a pale grey degenerating to an almost albino impression. 

In a recently discovered wrapper used as an envelope, a member of a prominent Guayaquil family, Ernesto B. Blum reports to Senf of the appearance of the wrapper on the market. This letter reads as follows:

"Guayaquil

Oct. 15, 1898

"Mrs. Gebrueder Senf, Leipzig

"Since I have as yet to see the anouncement of the issuance of this card [wrapper] in your journal, I have the pleasure to send you a copy so that you can report it if you so desire.

"I would also like to order the high values of Borneo ($ 5, 10 and 35) and the 1 Sol from Arequipa wich you offer in your publication No. 18. I also hope that I shall receive shortly the catalogue which I have ordered for quite some time.

Yours truly,

Erenesto B. Blum

The card [wrapper] is produced by Waterlow and arrived here with the set from 1897 [Scott 127-134]. It did not go on sale, however, until now."

From the contens of the letter we can surmise that the wrappers arrived in Ecuador in 1897 along with a set of on armas issue (Scott 127-134) which was released for sale June 23. For some inknown reason the wrappers were held back and did not see the light of day until a year later. Taking into consideeration the date of the message, October 15, 1898, we can readily assume that this was the date of release, or at least close to that date.

The production of these two stationery items begins and ends the history of Waterlow & Sons in the field of Ecuadorian stationery.

For comments on the subject please write to our e-mail actualidadfilatelica@gmail.com.