She is the third vessel on the Argentinean stamp. Most probably she is also depict on the stamps of 1975 sg 769/771 all 1p issued by Chile.
Where built and first owner is not know so far, but she was a American armed brig, most probably a privateer, under command of Charles Whiting Wooster she arrived 25 April 1818 in Valparaiso, under the name COLUMBUS. (Chili navy website gives COLOMBO.)
Wooster had been during the war with England a commander of the famous American privateer SARATOGO.
After arrival the Chilean Government bought her on 06 August 1818.
Renamed ARAUCANO (2). She is than given as a brigantine with a tonnage of 270 tons, and an armament of 16 guns.
Under command of Lieutenant Raimundo Morris, (Wooster was still captain on board he got the rank of captain in the Chilean Navy, on the Chilean Navy website his name is given as Gullermo Wooster) she was used together with the SAN MARTIN, LAUTARO, and the corvette CHACABUCO to intercept a Spanish convoy that was expected around Cape Horn under way to Callao. The Spanish convoy of 11 transports was under escort of the frigate MARIA ISABEL. The transports carried 2000 troops as well as weapons, supplies and ammunition.
The first squadron under command of Manuel Blanco Encalada sailed out on 10 October 1818, only one transport with on board 100 troops arrived in Callao, the others were captured one by one by the Chilean Navy ships.
The frigate MARIA ISABEL was captured after her captain beached her in the port of Talcahuano, she was refloated. The MARIA ISABEL, a Russian built, 1200 ton frigate with an armament of 44 guns, was renamed O’HIGGINS and thereafter used by the Chilean Navy. (on a stamp of Chile 1986 35c sg 1063 and Argentina 1970 26p sg 1344.)
The squadron suffered 27 men killed and 22 wounded.
When Lord Cochrane was given command-in-chief, in 1819 of the Chilean Navy, Wooster resigned; he refused to serve under him. When Cochrane resigned in 1822 he returned to the Chilean Navy, in the rank of post-captain.
In 1822 the ARAUCANO sailed in a Chilean squadron under command of Admiral Thomas Alexander Cochrane in pursuit of two Spanish frigates the PRUEBA and VENGANZA.
The squadron sailed north up to Acapulco, without finding the two Spanish frigates.
When in Mexico he sent two ships the INDEPENDENCIA and ARAUCANO under command of Captain Wilkenson for an expedition to Baja California. During this expedition, which was very successful, she attacked Spanish Royalist forces all along the coast. One brig was captured, and they even proclaimed the Independence of California at San José del Cabo on 17 Feb. 1822.
During this voyage a mutiny broke out on board the ARAUCANO, and the crew took over the ship, first she sailed up the Californian coast before heading for Hawaii and later Tahiti on a piracy voyage.
They were discovered and captured off the island of Tubai, and the ARAUCANO brought to Tahiti.
The Government of Chile never requested her return, and eventually the natives destroyed her for her woods.
Argentine 1970 26c sg1344
Chile 1910 10c sg123, scott87, 12c sg124, scott88.
Chile 1976 1p sg771, scott487
Chile 1993 80p sg1541, scott1073
Source. http://historicaltextacchive.com/naval/two.htm http://www.famousamerican.net/davidwooster
http://www.armada.cl/site/unidades_navales/019.htm