ALFONSO XIII - BABY HEAD stamps of the PHILIPPINES
Details
Gaceta de Manila - 5 May 1888
The Gaceta de Manila on 5 May 188 published an Order of the Governor General dated 3 May and signed by the director of the Communication administration, Enriqu Asensi.
The order introduced the use of "alcance" proceedures. The “alcance” was originally introduced in Madrid in 1869, where letters were franked with an additional amount so that they would be treated preferentially by the Post Office administrations.
The procedures, a predecessor of the express mail service, was introduced in the Philippines on 5 May 1888 for correspondence destined for Europe. The stamps corresponding to the value of the alcance were adhered to the envolpe leaving a separation distance with the rest of the ordinary postage to make their function visible. The envelopes would be deposited in special boxes during a specific time interval. In the case of Manila the authorities had to take the letters as quickly as possible to the first steamship destined for Europe.
Extract from Gaceta de Manila, 5 May 1888
Translation
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GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF COMMUNICATIONS, FROM PHILIPPINES.
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| His Excellency the Governor General, in agreement with the
General Directorate of Civil Administration and at the proposal
of this Communications Administration, has seen fit to agree on
the establishment of ‘alcances’” for the postal service of
Europe. |
| By virtue, of this, on the days of
departure of official mail, a mailbox will be installed in the
lobby of the Central Administration in which from seven to seven
forty-five minutes in the morning, ordinary letters can be
deposited, which will be object of a first alcance
provided that in addition to the corresponding postage they bear
a two-cent stamp; from seven forty-five until eight fifteen
minutes, the admission of letters for a second alcance
will continue, but these must carry an envelope worth four
cents; раst this last hour the mailbox will be removed. |
| For these purposes, 2 cent stamps can be used, which should
be placed somewhat separately from those corresponding to
ordinary postage and always on the front of the letters. |
| Manila May 3, 1888. - Enrique Asensi. |
Sheets of the 1890 2c claret issue are reported to carry the inscription "UNION GENERAL POSTAL" that is, they were intended for overseas use, and their intended use for alcance to Europe may explain this detail.
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