ALFONSO XIII - BABY HEAD stamps of the PHILIPPINES

Catalogue

2mil issues

1890 2mil dark violet

 

Cliché Type I, Gum Type A.

Sheets of 100 (10 x10) inscribed IMPRESOS  1,000,000 from 10,000 sheets issued 12 June 1890

The colour of this issue was is generally described as “deep violet” or “dark violet”.

Bartels et al (1904) and Palmer (1912) and Galvez (1942) also describes a “black violet” shade.

The 2m impresos issue was not initially intended for postal use, although postally used examples can be found.  However, a telegraphic order from the Minister of Colonies, dated of 13 June 1892 permitted the unused remainders of this issue (and also the 1890 1m and 1/8 c values) to be re-issued and made available for postage, along with the new 1892 issues of that date. It is recorded that 801,255 stamps of the 2m dark violet were re-issued. These are not listed separately as they can only be distinguished by dated postmarks.

#MP106 2mil dark violet

Galvez (1942) records that all the 2m issue was printed on thin semi-transparent paper. Although various paper thicknesses are known the occurence of thin semi-transparent paper has yet to be confirmed (although may exist).

The 2m dark violet stamp normally has gum type A. However, examples with a high gloss gum are also known to exist

Shade varieties

 

Only known example of single 2mil die proof, in carmine rose on card

 

Edifil:   #77 deep violet ‘violeta oscuro’ (12 Jun 1890)

Scott:  #P13 dark violet (1890)

 SG:     #P173 deep purple (12 June 1890)


1892 2mil pale green

1893 2mil dark green

 

Cliché Type I, Gum Type A.

Sheets of 100 (10 x10) inscribed IMPRESOS  6,000 from 60 sheets pale green issued 1 January 1892

Sheets of 100 (10 x10) inscribed IMPRESOS  15,000 from 150 sheets dark green issued 13 June 1893

There were two issues of this printing, the first issued in January 1892 and the second approximately 18 months later on 13 June 1893.  Mencarini (1896) describes the colour of the first printing as “pale green” and the second printing as “dark green”. Bartels et al (1904) similarly reports a colour differentiation: the first printing as “pale dull green” and the second as “bright emerald green” or “pale emerald green”.

The Spanish catalogues of that period do not record or differentiate the two printings. Of the popular modern catalogues only Stanley Gibbons differentiates between the two issues.

#MP107 2mil pale green and #MP108 2mil dark green

Peterson (PPJ 1999-3) also describes the two printings, although this largely repeats the information recorded by Mencarini and Bartels et al. However, Peterson suggests that the second printing was printed in late 1892 but not issued until 1893.

Peterson also provides a description of the gum type and reports this to be gum type A for both printings.

Edifil:   #89 light green ‘verde claro’ (1 Jan 1892)

Scott:  #P14 green (1892)

SG:      #P190 pale green (1 Jan 1892); #P194 emerald green (13 Jun 1893) 

Peterson, D. 1999. First and Second Printings of the 1890-1896 Postal Issues. Philippine Philatelic Journal, vol 21 no. 3, pp 9-15. 


1894 2mil olive grey

 

Cliché Type I, Gum Type B.

Sheets of 100 (5 x10 - 5 x10 with gutter) inscribed IMPRESOS  500,000 from 5000 sheets issued 1 January 1894

In general, the colour of this issue is described as “olive grey”. 

Mencarini (1896) described the colour simply as “grey”. Bartels et al (1904) provide a description of shades varying between “olive-grey” and “grey-olive” with also “deep olive-grey”.

Cotter (1897) describes the colour as “violet” but this appears to be a typographical error.

#MP109 2mil olive grey

Stanley Gibbons record the issue to be on thick paper. Similarly, Galvez (1942) notes that the stamps are on opaque paper.

Gum Type B is the normal gum type for this issue.

The 2m olive grey issue comprises a different sheet format from the earlier issues as the sheet is divided in to two panes (5x10 – 5x10) separated with a gutter.

 

Examples of 1mil olive grey shade varieties,

the last example shows the significant effects on shade caused by toning, common in this issue

 

Edifil:  #105 olive grey ‘gris oliva’ (1894)

Scott: #P11 olive gray (1894)

SG:     #P197 olive-grey, thick paper (1 Jan 1894)


1896 2mil brown

 

Cliché Type I, Gum Type C and Gum Type D

Sheets of 100 (10 x10) inscribed IMPRESOS  700,000 from 7,000 sheets issued 1 January 1896

The colour of this issue is generally described as “brown” or “pale sepia”. Edifil describe the colour as "grey brown". Bartels et al (1904) also describe darker "sepia" and  "deep sepia" shade variations. 

 

#MP110 2mil brown

Palmer (1912) noted that the sheet format of this issue as uncertain. Peterson in his description of sheet formats (PPJ 2012-02) provides no additional information on this matter and the sheet format has yet to be corroborated.

The normal gum type is Type C. However, a examples are known with a plain uncracked gum (Gum Type D)

Shade varieties

Edifil:  #118 grey brown ‘castano grisaceo’ (1896)

Scott: #P16 brown (1896)

SG:     #P207 sepia (1 Jan 1896) 


Postal Usage

 

 Circular Correos date stamp [1891] on 1m dark violet

 Circular Correos Manila date stamp [25 April 1892] on 2m pale green

 

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