The United States of Colombia (1862-85) consisted of nine original States: Antioquia, Bolivar, Boyaca, Cundinamarca, Panama, Santander, Cauca, Magdalena, and Tolima. Although Magdalena and Cauca did issue stamps but they are not in the Scotts catalog.

Most became sovereign states around 1858, by recognition as Estado de la Federación in the constitution of the Granadine Confederation. With the Constitution of 1886, the sovereign states became departments but continued with their postal services and stamps until 1906, when the national government took over all the services previously performed by the departments.

 

The small quantity of stamps issued, the lithographic printing and the variety of papers used make Antioquia a very special and interesting area of Colombian philately. With many stamps no complete sheet exists and with some stamps the largest multiple is only a pair. There was often a very small quantity of stamps printed, only 258 of some and no more than 1,000 of others. Covers of that period are even scarcer than the classic Colombian covers that are recorded.

Only very few hand stamps (postal markings) were used, and most stamps were cancelled in manuscript with the name of the town of origin.

There are a lot of issues possible for the collector of Colombian States and I don’t think it is a very popular area to collect so there are opportunities there. Most are inexpensive although the scarcer issues are, obviously, more expensive.

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  Antioquia:

  Pre-Columbian era: Indigenous cultures inhabited the region.

  1541: Spanish settlement in the area.

  1810: Antioquia played a role in the Colombian independence movement.

  Postal History:

  1856: Introduction of postage stamps in Colombia, including Antioquia.

• 

  Bolivar:

  History:

  1819: Bolívar’s campaign and the Battle of Boyacá.

  1821: Bolívar’s role in the creation of Gran Colombia.

  Postal History:

  1856: Adoption of postage stamps in Bolivar.

• 

  Boyaca:

  History:

  1819: Battle of Boyacá led by Bolívar.

  1821: Creation of Gran Colombia.

  Postal History:

  1856: Introduction of postage stamps in Boyaca.

• 

  Cundinamarca:

  History:

  1810: Independence movements in Cundinamarca.

  1819: Integration into Gran Colombia.

  Postal History:

  1856: Introduction of postage stamps in Cundinamarca.

• Panama:

  History:

  1821: Independence from Spain.

  1903: Independence from Colombia.

  Postal History:

  Shared postal history with Colombia until 1903.

• 

  Santander:

  History:

  1819: Francisco de Paula Santander played a crucial role in the Battle of Boyacá.

  1857: Creation of the state of Santander.

  Postal History:

  1856: Adoption of postage stamps in Santander.

• Cauca:

  History:

  1810: Cauca’s participation in the independence movement.

  1821: Integration into Gran Colombia.

  Postal History:

  1856: Introduction of postage stamps in Cauca.

• Magdalena:

  History:

  1810: Independence movements in the Magdalena region.

  1821: Integration into Gran Colombia.

  Postal History:

  1856: Adoption of postage stamps in Magdalena.

• 

  Tolima:

  History:

  1821: Formation of Gran Colombia.

  1857: Creation of the state of Tolima.

  Postal History:

  1856: Introduction of postage stamps in Tolima.