Honduras issued its first stamps in 1865; they were inscribed CORREOS DE HONDURAS and were worth 2 reales. At the time, Honduras’s currency system was 1 peso = 8 reales. Two cities in Honduras, Tegucigalpa and Comayagua, re-used these stamps in 1877 with new overprinted surcharges; collectors often have at least one example of each in their collections.
In 1878, Honduras stamps reflected the updated currency system of 1 peso = 100 centavos. By this time, a more comprehensive and aggressive stamp-issuing program had begun, and in the ensuing decades several designs and denominations of stamps would be issued.
Honduras revised its currency again in 1933; 100 centavos was now equal to 1 lempira. Stamps have sometimes used CORREOS DE HONDURAS and sometimes REPUBLICA DE HONDURAS as their inscriptions; eventually the inscription would be simplified on most stamps and postal collectibles as HONDURAS. The value was originally often written out in Spanish rather than in digits (so, for example, DIEZ CENTAVOS instead of 10 CENTAVOS); this too has been simplified in recent times.
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Interestingly, most Honduras stamps after 1944 are in fact air post stamps. Since 1984, a few “regular” stamps have again been issued but the majority remains air post. In addition to these stamps, there have been other special items such as semi-postals and official stamps.
Collecting Honduras stamps is easy in today’s marketplace; there are several interesting issues and even types of stamps available for sale. Collectibles, such as stamp minisheets and full sheets, souvenir sheets, overprinted stamps, and interesting covers to, from and within Honduras are also widely available. Check the current listings and return often for the latest!
Note: Honduras is not to be confused with Belize, which used to be called British Honduras.
