Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue. Two singles and horizontal pair; each bearing a red "Cuenca Franca" in oval pre-adhesive cancel; right stamp in pair with tiny thin, otherwise Very Fine, very scarce as this provisional handstamp was only used for a short time before the introduction of the new handstamps.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $400 - 600. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue. Three singles bearing fancy handstamps; includes red "Cuenca Franca" oval (stampless period), two strikes of fancy Chimbo flower circular handstamp tying to piece, and the Pelileo "wheel" found only on stamps from the first period printing, Very Fine.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $250 - 350. Est. $250-350 (Image)

Est. $250-350

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue. Full strike of boxed "P.P." handstamp of French origin, margins ample to in at left, a Very Fine strike, extremely rare with only two examples known, ex-Olgieser.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue. With unknown straight line handstamp believed to be "(PO)RTOVIE(JO)"; small flaws, F.-V.F. appearance, a unique usage of this straight line handstamp, ex-Olgieser.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue. Partial strike of "Otavalo Franca" two-line handstamp, large margins, Very Fine, fewer than five stamps known bearing this provisional handstamp.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue. Four singles bearing manuscript cancels; with two different style "Cuenca", "Rio" of Riobamba (corner margin single) and pen cross; one with slight margin thin, otherwise Very Fine.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue. Three singles bearing provisional handstamps; includes Ambato in dotted hexagon in black and red and boxed Latacunga; first two with thins, F.-V.F., these stampless period postmarks where forced into limited use as the new postmarks, including date stamp, where not available yet to be used on the recently introduced stamps.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue. Manuscript "Jipp" for Jipijapa of Manabí Province, margins large to just in, couple small thins, Very Fine appearance, fewer than ten examples known of the Jipijapa manuscript.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $100 - 150. Est. $100-150 (Image)

Est. $100-150

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue. Manuscript "Jipp" for Jipijapa of Manabí Province, full margins, couple small thins, Very Fine appearance, fewer than ten examples known.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $100 - 150. Est. $100-150 (Image)

Est. $100-150

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue. Manuscript "Babahoyo" cancel of Los Ríos Province, large margins with small margin nick at bottom, F.-V.F., a rare postmark with fewer than five examples known.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $100 - 150. Est. $100-150 (Image)

Est. $100-150

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue. Partial manuscript "Esmeraldas" cancel of Esmeraldas Province, few tiny thin specks, Very Fine appearance, rare with fewer than five examples known.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $100 - 150. Est. $100-150 (Image)

Est. $100-150

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue. Three singles in shades, each with full manuscript "Chimbo" cancel in different orientation, mostly ample to large margins, Very Fine.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $100 - 150. Est. $100-150 (Image)

Est. $100-150

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue. Early first printing. Two singles, one with full top margin, each with manuscript "Alausí" cancel, margin single with small tear at bottom, otherwise Very Fine.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $100 - 150. Est. $100-150 (Image)

Est. $100-150

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue. Manuscript "Píllaro" cancel of Tungurahua Province, ample to large margins, Very Fine and choice, very scarce, with fewer than ten examples known.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $75 - 100. Est. $75-100 (Image)

Est. $75-100

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue. Manuscript "Ibarra" cancel of Imbabura Province, margins large to just in at right; thin, F.-V.F. appearance, a scarce small town cancel.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $75 - 100. Est. $75-100 (Image)

Est. $75-100

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue, Embossed Arms. Early first printing, top left stamp in top margin block of 4 (positions 2-3, 14-15) showing half of embossed seal at left, o.g., never hinged, ample to mostly large margins, very fresh, Extremely Fine, this variety occurs in only one or two positions in some of the sheets printed, the oval outer frameline of the embossed coat of arms is visible on front, due to a little humidity left by the gum.
Scott No. 2d, 2; Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

ONLY FOUR MULTIPLES IN UNUSED CONDITION ARE BELIEVED TO EXIST OF THE ½R FIRST PRINTING. THIS BEING UNIQUE WITH THE EMBOSSED COAT OF ARMS.

The first printing plate stamps were issued on January 1st, 1865. These are characterized by a detailed impression with clear lines, when the plate was clean. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Gray Blue, Roland Frérès Watermark. Watermark showing portion of "OL" in Roland, neat red 1866 town cancel, ample to large margins, Very Fine and choice, rare with fewer than ten examples recorded.
Scott No. 2e; Estimate $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Gray Blue, Roland Frérès Watermark. Watermark showing portion of the "S" in Frérès, red dotted lozenge cancel, ample to large margins; few small thins at top, Very Fine appearance.
Scott No. 2e; Estimate $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue. Manuscript "Portoviejo" of Manabí Province; couple tiny thins, Fine appearance, fewer than ten examples known of this small town manuscript.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $100 - 150. Est. $100-150 (Image)

Est. $100-150

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue, Right Margin Strip of Four. Positions 33//36 with position 33 showing large break in frameline at top right. Mostly huge margins with full sheet margin, tied by "Guayaquil, 3 Dic, 66" cds's on folded letter sheet to Lima, Peru, carried by PSNC vessel to port when it entered the Peruvian mails with "Callao, 10 Dic, 66" transit cds applied to front and same day receiving backstamp, Very Fine and choice, ex-Olgieser.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $2,500 - 3,500.

A WONDERFUL ½R MARGINAL MULTIPLE USAGE TO LIMA, PERU BEARING THE CALLAO TRANSIT POSTMARK ON FRONT. Est. $2,500-3,500 (Image)

Est. $2,500-3,500

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Dark Blue, Right Margin Single. Wide margins showing rule in sheet margins, on folded letter datelined "Ventanas 18 de Mayo de 1866" to Guayaquil, entered the mails with manuscript "Porto viejo" two-line cancel, Very Fine and choice, Ventanas (Los Ríos Province) was a tiny town at the time and did not have a Post Office, this cover was taken to the neighboring province of Manabí and posted at the Portoviejo Post Office, this is the only cover known originating from Ventanas, ex-Dujmovic, Longhi and Olgieser, with 2009 Moorhouse certificate.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

A UNIQUE ON COVER USAGE BEARING THE MANUSCRIPT PORTOVIEJO CANCELLATION. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue, Bottom Left Margin Horizontal Strip of Nine. Early first impression, positions 73//81. Ample to mostly large margins showing full marginal rules in sheet margin, on Judicial cover front and part back to Guaranda paying the up to 9 ounce parcel rate, canceled by manuscript "Riobamba - Riobba" town cancel, manuscript "Cilviles" and "8¾oz" rating, light "9 Enero 1865" pencil archive date, Very Fine and choice, ex-Saá, Bustamante, Longhi and Lund, with 2009 and 2013 Moorhouse certificates.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

THE LARGEST RECORDED STRIP OF THE ½ REAL ISSUE ON A JUDICIAL WRAPPER. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue. Clear to mostly ample margins, on March 1866 dateline folded letter to Guayaquil canceled by manuscript cross and tied by "Naranjal" town name cancel, Very Fine, it is believed that this tiny locality did not possess postal handstamps at this time, ex-Dujmovic and Longhi, with 2011 Moorhouse certificate.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

ONE OF TWO KNOWN ON COVER USAGES FROM NARANJAL DURING THE CLASSIC PERIOD. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue. Large margins, on early February 1865 docketed folded letter sheet addressed to Guayaquil, just tied by manuscript "Babahoyo" town name cancel, Very Fine, many postal employees when applying manuscript town names deliberately tried to just cancel the stamps, ex-Dujmovic, Longhi and Olgieser.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

A UNIQUE MANUSCRIPT CANCEL USAGE FROM BABAHOYO. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

Ecuador, 1865, ½r Blue, Horizontal Pair and Single. Early first printing in slightly different shades. Clear to large margins, tied together by manuscript "Cuenca" town name cancel on folded letter sheet to Loja paying the up to three ounce parcel rate, Very Fine, this is one of only two covers recorded showing a manuscript usage at Cuenca, ex-Longhi and Olgieser, with 2009 Moorhouse certificate.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000