On the podium: Bolivia 1a & Bolivia C82 (1867-68 + 1941)

Bolivia 274-80

This nice set of 7 values was issued by Bolivia in 1942. They all show the same two stamps: the 1st official Bolivian stamp (Bolivia 1), and an air mail stamp from 1941. Bolivia 1 shows a stylized Andean condor - the national symbol of Bolivia and several other South American countries. The air mail stamp shows a boat on Lake Titicaca with the shadow of an airplane on the water. It also gives us the information that Lake Titicaca is situated 3812 meters above sea level. The set was issued one year after the event it's supposed to illustrate - which was the first school philatelic exhibition in La Paz in October 1941. It's unknown why the particular green air mail stamp was chosen for a stamp on stamp issue, but the probable reason is that Lake Titicaca is a world famous tourist attraction and a national pride.

Bolivia 1a + Bolivia C82

In the Scott world catalogue of 2009 I find the information that there are 72 varieties of the 5 centavos Bolivia 1 stamp, and, I quote: "The plate of the 5c stamps was entirely reengraved 4 times and retouched at least 6 times." So the one I have is probably only one of the varieties, and also slightly damaged on one side margin. It could even be a forgery for all I know, as there seems to be many forgeries of these rather primitive early unperforated stamps around. But the back looks very old and yellowed by time, so I do believe it is authentic. If it's a forgery, then it has to be a very old forgery. As can be seen, the printing on the air mail stamp is seriously off-center, making it a nicely flawed companion to the damaged condor stamp.

Here is more info on the 1942 set and other stamps on stamps from Bolivia:

Bolivian stamps on stamps