ALFONSO XIII - BABY HEAD stamps of the PHILIPPINES
Catalogue
15c surcharges
1897 15c blue surcharge on 1892 15c red brown
Cliché Type II, Gum Type A.
Sheets of 100 (10 x10) inscribed COMUNICACIONES 12,000 from 120 sheets issued 1897
(earliest known postal usage 30 March 1897)
In 1897, surcharges were applied to some of the babyhead issues for official postal usage to make available the remainders of obsolete issues which had previously been withdrawn from use. For this reason, the new value surcharged is generally the same as that of the original stamp itself.
The surcharged postal issues were produced in Manila. The surcharge reads: HABILITADO CORREOS PARA 1897 (Enabled for postage 1897).
Forgeries of this stamp exist, but most examples appear to be genuine. However, examples where the surcharge occurs in black or violet inks are more common and are either reprints/forgeries using the original handstamp or a forged handstamp.
Inverted surcharges are recorded.
#204 15c blue surcharge on 1892 15c red brown
partial and smudged surcharges are common
Boxed Certificado cancel and Correos Manila Circular Date Stamp (30 March 1897)
Edifil: #130E 15c blue surcharge on 15c red brown (1898)
Scott: #182 15c blue surcharge on 15c red brown
SG: #213 15c blue surcharge on 15c cinamon (1897)
1897 15c black surcharge on 1894 15c rose
Cliché Type II, Gum Type B.
Sheets of 100 (10 x 10) inscribed CORREOS possibly 11,690 from ~117 sheets issued 1897
Hanciau (1905) suggests that a total of 11,690 stamps were issued for the 15c black surcharge on 15c rose and the 15c red brown. The precise number for this issue is therefore uncertain, in particular as the black surcharge on the 15c red brown stamp is considered to be a reprint (the postal issue occurring as a blue surcharge) and therefore not an official issue.
Inverted and double surcharges are recorded.
Forgeries of this issue exsit. A number of examples also exist in a violet and black ink which are generally considered to be reprints although some could have been caused by the mixing of ink pads in the production of the 15c violet surcharge on the 15c rose issue.
#205 20c black surcharge on 1894 dark violet
Boxed Certificado cancel
Edifil: #130F 15c black surcharge on 15c rose (1898)
Scott: #188 15c black surcharge on 15c rose (1897)
SG: #208 15c black surcharge on 15c rose (1897)
1897 15c violet surcharge on 1894 15c rose
Cliché Type II, Gum Type B.
Sheets of 100 (10 x 10) inscribed CORREOS unknown quantity issued 1897
(earliest known postal usage 14 August 1897)
This stamp is not recorded in all catalogues. Bartels et al (1904) record that this issue comprises a violet surcharge on the 15c rose issue. Galvez (1942) records the surcharge as ‘blue violet’ in colour.
Double surcharges are recorded.
Forgeries of this issue exsit and a number of examples exist in a violet and black ink which are generally considered to be reprints.
#206 15c violet surcharge on 1894 15c rose (note common to show some black tinge to the surcharge, which potentially makes it difficult to be confident to distnguish from those stamps considered as reprints)
Boxed Certificado cancel
Edifil: not listed
Scott: #191 15c violet surcharge on 15c rose (1897)
SG: #211 15c violet surcharge on 15c rose (1897)
Catalogue
Postal Issues
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