1/8c Babyhead issues

1/8 c issues

1890 1/8 c dark violet

Cliché Type I, Gum Type A.

Sheets of 100 (10 x10) inscribed IMPRESOS 4,000,000 from 40,000 sheets issued 1 January 1890

The colour of this issue was generally described as “brown violet” or “violet” by early catalogues. Bartels et al (1904) describe the colour as "dull blackish violet" and "dull deep violet", whereas Palmer (1912) records colour shades of "violet" and “blackish violet”. Contemporary authors in Madrid differ slightly in their colour descriptions. Cotter (1897) records the colour as carmine, possibly a typographical error (the following entry in the catalogue is the 1890 2c carmine). Both Vives (1897 and Galvez (1898) report a “brown” or “chestnut brown” colour.

Modern day catalogues generally describe the colour as a dark violet.

#MP115 1/8c dark violet

This was the first stamp issued for impresos or newspaper/printed matter use. The stamp was issued on 1 January 1890 whilst other denominations were not released until June of that year. The 1/8c 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 2m values) to be re-issued and made available for postage, along with the new 1892 issues of that date. It is recorded that 3,167,556 stamps of the 1/8c dark violet were re-issued. These are not listed separately as they can only be distinguished by dated postmarks.

The Stanley Gibbons catalogue reports that the stamp was issued on 12 June 1890 (with the 1m issued on 1 Jan 1890). However, this contradicts other accounts of that period.

Galvez (E) records that all the issue 1890 issues were on thin semi-transparent paper and although examples of this paper type are known, the 1/8 c stamp was typically issued on ‘normal’ paper.

Sheet header for 1/8c indicating usage as “IMPRESOS”

Only known example of single 1/8c die proof, in dark blue on card

Shade varieties

Edifil: #77 black violet ‘violeta negruzco’ (1 Jan 1890)

Scott: #P5 dark violet (1890)

SG: #P172 deep purple (12 Jun 1890)

1892 1/8 c pale green

1893 1/8 c dark green

Cliché Type I, Gum Type A.

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

Sheets of 100 (10 x10) inscribed IMPRESOS 90,000 from 900 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.

#MP116 1/8c pale green and #MP117 1/8c 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. However, it appears that a variety of gum types exist for this issue:

gum type C – i.e. with a distinct cracked appearance to the gum
gum with a high gloss

Peterson (PPJ 2012-2) indicates the sheet configuration of this issue as uncertain although Palmer (1912) reports the sheets to be of 100 in size (10 x 10). Blocks are known to exist which would suggest that sheets were of a 10 x 10 format.

Large block of 10x10 confirming sheet configutation of this issue

Edifil: #91 light green ‘verde claro’ (1 Jan 1892)

Scott: #P6 green (1892)

SG: #P189 pale green (1 Jan 1892); #193 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 1/8c orange brown

Cliché Type I, Gum Type B.

Sheets of 100 (5 x10 - 5 x10 with gutter) inscribed CORREOS 2,500,000 from 25,000 sheets issued 1 January 1894

Mencarini (1897) similar to the contemporary Spanish catalogues describes the colour of this issue as “dark flesh” carne oscuro, whereas as those catalogues in English and the current Edifl catolouges describe the colour variously as “red-brown”, “yellow brown”, “light brown” or “orange brown”.

Bartels et al (1904)suggested a range of shades (“pale red-brown” and “red-brown”).

#MP118 1/8c orange brown

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

However, examples of this issue on thin semi-transparent issues are also known to exist.

The 1/8 c impresos sheet format comprises two panes of 50 separated by a gutter. (Note that Peterson (PPJ 2005-1) incorrectly suggested that Palmer F (1912) had reported that sheets of 1/8 c impresos occurred in a configuration of 10 x10 and the correction is made in Peterson (PPJ 2012)).

Agustin (IPPS News 1992-1) and Peterson (PPJ 2005-1) record the occurrence of a 1/8 c impresos sheet labelled for CORREOS which is believed to be a printing error. The sheet described by Peterson is numbered 15,289. Similar sheets numbered 110 and 2,214 exist, suggesting that all sheets may have been printed with the incorrect inscription.

Despite being for ‘impresos’ use the upper selvedge was inscribed with “CORREOS”. The sheets comprised two panes of 50 and this example represents the upper portion of the right hand pane.

Examples of 1/8c orange brown shade varieties,

Edifil:        #108 light brown ‘castano claro’ (1894)
Scott:       #P7 orange brown (1894)
SG:           #P198 red-brown, thick paper (1 Jan 1894)

Agustin, S. 1992. Correspondence on 1/8c Newspaper Stamp with ‘Correos’ Heading on Sheet. International Philippine Philatelic Society Newsletter, vol 12 no. 1, p 5.

Peterson, D. 2005. Unusual Printings and Other Odd Ball Variations of the 1890s Issues. Philippine Philatelic Journal, vol 27 no 1, pp 4-7.

1896 1/8c dull blue

Cliché Type IV, Gum Type C and Gum Type D.

Sheets of 200 (6 x 10 - 8 x 10 - 6x10 with gutters) inscribed CORREOS 1,200,000 from 6,000 sheets issued 1 January 1896

The colour of this issue is generally described as “blue” or “dull blue” with no significant shade variations mentioned. Mencarini (1897) described the colour “slate blue” and Bartels et al (1904) described the colour as indigo blue.

#MP119 1/8c dull blue

Previous issues of the 1/8c value comprised type I clichés. However, the 1896 issue was created using a different die. Other newly created plates of this period comprise stamps which are characteristic of cliché type III (Palmer, PPJ 2015-1). The clichés of the new 1/8 c impresos stamp display some similarities of type III but do not appear to be fully developed and are therefore described as type IV.

The sheet format for this format was not until recently known. Palmer (1912) noted that the setting of this value is not definitely known. Harradine, records the existence of gutter pairs indicating that the sheet comprises more than one pane. Palmer (PPJ 2015-1) suggested that the sheet format possibly comprised 200 stamps in three panes of 60-80-60 arrangement and similar to that of the 1896 1mil impresos issue.

Gutter Pair

More recently it has been confirmed that the sheet format did indeed comprise 200 stamps in three panes 60-80-60 and that the sheet included the inscription CORREOS rather than impressos which is more common for the newspaper issues

Sheet inscription

Many of the clichés appear to display retouching of the left hand side of the oval frame evidenced by thick white banding around the extrados of the frame.

Pronounced retouching (?) on the left hand side of the oval frame

Although stamps are normally found with the characteristic ‘cracked gum’ of gum type C, gum variations also occur. These include gum type D applied vertically and a gum type comprising a white high gloss gum.

Edifil: #120 blue ‘azul’ (1896)

Scott: #P8 dull blue (1896)

SG: #P206 blue (1 Jan 1896)

Palmer, M. 2015. Cliché types in the Babyhead Issues. Philippine Philatelic Journal, vol 37 no. 1, pp 32-34.

Postal Usage