This Ecuadorian postage stamp, issued in 1896, features a bold black overprint reading “1896 CORREOS 1 Cto” applied on a brown 4 centavos fiscal stamp originally from 1888. The overprint converted the fiscal issue for postal use during a shortage of regular postage stamps. The central design displays the national coat of arms of Ecuador, symbolizing the Andean landscape and prosperity. These provisional issues are prized for their historical significance and typographic variations, reflecting a transitional moment in Ecuador’s postal history.