ALFONSO XIII - BABY HEAD stamps of the PHILIPPINES
Catalogue
20c surcharges
1897 20c blue surcharge on 1892 20c grey brown
Cliché Type I, Gum Type B.
Sheets of 100 (10 x10) inscribed COMUNICACIONES 2,000 (?) from 20 sheets issued 1897
(earliest known postal usage 14 February 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babyhead issues for official postal usage to make available the remainders of obsolete issues which had previously been withdrawn from use.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).
Bartels et al (1904) indicate that this issue comprises a blue surcharge on the 1893 20c brown stamp. This description is repeated by Palmer (1912) and Galvez (1942) similarly reports that the surcharge occurs on the second printing. Therefore, the base stamp would be expected to comprise examples with the repaired and generally intact oval frame and have gum type B.
However, examples of this surcharge appear to occur instead on the 1892 20c grey brown issue with worn oval frame and gum type A
Hanciau (1905) suggests that a total of 2,000 stamps were surcharged. However, the stamp is more common in occurence than suggested by a total of 2,000. Inverted, double and diagonal surcharges are recorded, this may suggest that 'reprints' of this issue may exsit which are indistinguishable from the original issue.
Forgeries of this issue are common.
#207 blue surcharge on 1892 20c grey brown
Diagonal and inverted diagonal surcharge.
Edifil: #130G 20c blue surcharge on 20c grey brown (1898), Edifl does not differentiate the 1892 and 1893 printings
Scott: #183 20c blue surcharge on 20c grey brown (1897), Scott does not differentiate the 1892 and 1893 printings
SG: #214 20c blue surcharge on 20c grey brown (1897)
1897 20c black surcharge on 1894 20c dark violet
Cliché Type I, Gum Type B.
Sheets of 100 (10 x 10) inscribed CORREOS 1,400 from 14 sheets issued 1897
Hanciau (1905) suggests that a total of 1,400 stamps were surcharged. However, the stamp although scarce is more common in occurence than suggested by a total of 1,400. Inverted and double surcharges are recorded, this may suggest that 'reprints' of this issue may exsit which are indistinguishable from the original issue.
Forgeries of this issue are common.
#208 20c black surcharge on 1894 dark violet
double and inverted surcharge
Edifil: #130H 20c black surcharge on 20c violet (1898)
Scott: #189 20c black surcharge on 20c dark violet (1897)
SG: #216 20c black surcharge on 20c dark violet (1897)
1897 20c black surcharge on 1890 25c brown
Cliché Type I, Gum Type A.
Sheets of 100 (10 x10) inscribed CORREOS 1,000 from 10 sheets issued 1897
This stamp is scarce and forgeries also exsit. Inverted, sideways and double surcharges are recorded.
#209 20c black surcharge on 1890 25c brown
Edifil: #130J 20c black surcharge on 25c brown (1898)
Scott: #190 20c black surcharge on 25c brown (1897)
SG: #210 20c black surcharge 25c brown green (1897)
Catalogue
Postal Issues
Newspaper Issues