Stamp Investment Tip: Paraguay 1963 Orchid Souvenir Sheet (Scott #C315)

In 1963, Paraguay issued a souvenir sheet picturing the Cattleya cigas Orchid (Scott #C315). Only 2,750 sheets were issued, and Scott prices it unused at $ 62.50. Flower topicals are extremely popular among collectors, so acquiring this rare orchid may turn out to be a smart way to invest in Paraguay.

The main drawback to investing in certain Paraguayan souvenir sheets from the '60s and later is the question of legitimacy: quite a few were issued solely to milk collectors and never saw any postal use. Scott does not list the most egregious issues, but it does list many which fall into a gray area. This sheet does seem to have been used postally, and the combination of low issuance quantity, low catalog value, and topical appeal make it a low-risk speculation.

With about 6 1/2 million people, Paraguay is an emerging market nation with the potential to become a major agricultural exporter. Its subtropical climate allows for 5 harvests every 24 months, and it has vast tracts of virgin arable land. In addition, manufacturing has shown strong growth in the production of edible oils, garments, organic sugar, meat processing, and steel. Annual GDP growth has averaged 4.5% over the past 5 years, and was steadily increasing until it experienced a recent slight decline due to the global financial crisis.

I have begun a new blog, "The Stamp Specialist", which will feature my buy prices for stamps which I am interested in purchasing. I've just posted a buy list for Paraguay, including the souvenir sheet recommended in this article. Viewing dealers' buy lists every now and then is an excellent way to keep current on the vagaries of the stamp market.

Phila-Trivia: Stamps That Began a War

Wars have sometimes been started for rather trivial reasons, but it's hard to come up with a more petty one than a postage stamp. Yet, postal propaganda was one of the factors leading to the Chaco War (1932-35), the bloodiest military conflict fought in the Americas in the 20th century.

Both Paraguay and Bolivia claimed an uninhabited desert region known as the Gran Chaco. Bolivia, landlocked after war with Chile, wanted the territory in order to give it river access to the Atlantic. Paraguay, having lost most of its territory to its neighbors during the War of the Triple Alliance, needed the Gran Chaco just to stay on the map. Both sides believed that there were rich oil reserves in region as well.

The dispute heated up considerably when Bolivia issued a stamp featuring a map of Bolivia that included the Gran Chaco, now marked as "Chaco Boliviano." Paraguay soon issued even bigger stamps than Bolivia, with an even bigger map of the Gran Chaco, but this time marked as "Chaco Paraguayo."

Bolivia then forcefully asserted its claim by moving troops into the Gran Chaco. Paraguay responded by doing the same. In 1932, philatelic warfare gave way to the real thing.

The Chaco War saw the use of armor and aircraft on both sides. British, American, French, and Italian arms makers took the opportunity to profit from the carnage by exporting some of their newest weapons to the combatants. German and Russian veterans of the First World War served as staff members and mercenaries on both sides, advising the armies of Bolivia and Paraguay on how to butcher one another more efficiently.

In the end, after casualties and losses numbering about 100,000 were sustained by both countries, the Paraguayans won. The Paraguayans got the Gran Chaco, but it turned out that the oil that everyone had thought was there didn't exist.

Funereal Paraguayan stamp honoring the Chaco Peace, a truce negotiated in 1938

Stamp Investment Tip: Paraguay 1931-35 Zeppelin Issues

Between 1931 and 1935, Paraguay issued five sets of stamps for use on the Graf Zeppelin flights to South America. All of these sets are inexpensive, scarce, and popular among collectors of both South America and Zeppelin stamps and covers. I've listed them below, along with their printing quantities and Scott '10 Catalog Values for unused.

C54-55 1931 Pictorial Zeppelin overprint (20,000;$ 30.00)


C74-78 1932 Triangular Zeppelin stamps (30,000; $ 23.00)


C79-83 1933 Zeppelins (15,000; $ 30.50) - counterfeits exist


C88-92 1934 Zeppelins, "1934" Overprint (7,500; $ 26.50 )


C93-97 1935 Zeppelins, "1935" Overprint (7,000;$ 47.50)


Zeppelin stamps and covers are extremely popular among "Zepp" collectors and Aviation topicalists, especially in Europe. Those issued by destination-countries which are likely prospects for rapid economic development are compelling investments, in my opinion.


With about 6 1/2 million people, Paraguay is an emerging market nation with the potential to become a major agricultural exporter. Its subtropical climate allows for 5 harvests every 24 months, and it has vast tracts of virgin arable land. In addition, manufacturing has shown strong growth in the production of edible oils, garments, organic sugar, meat processing, and steel. Annual GDP growth has averaged 4.5% over the past 5 years, and was steadily increasing until it experienced a recent slight decline due to the global financial crisis.