Chile

Chile’s first stamp was issued in 1853. It and the next 37 stamps of Chile featured Christopher Columbus with the inscription “Colon Chile”. The country was part of the Spanish Empire from the 1540s until 1818. It became an independent republic thanks to Bernardo O’Higgins and Jose de San Martin, who led Argentinian forces against those loyal to the King of Spain. (Who, by the way, was Napoleon’s brother Joseph.) According to Janet Klug, stamp collector, philatelic writer, and former APS president, Chile was one of the first countries to issue an acknowledgement of receipt stamp (avis de reception). Scott #H1 is inscribed “AR”.