ALFONSO XIII - BABY HEAD stamps of the PHILIPPINES
Details
Gaceta de Madrid - 17 March 1891
The price differences in equivalent services between the Philippines and Spain compared to correspondence sent to the Philippines from Spain were a criticism of those who asked for the reform and lowering of Philippine mail rates. In addition, correspondence from the Philippines to countries of the UPU were cheaper than sending letters to Spanish territory.
These would be the reasons given for the tariff modification that occurred in March 1891.
On the 17 March 1891 the Gaceta de Madrid published the Royal Decree of the Queen Regent on behalf of King Alfonso XIII as proposed by the Ministry of Overseas issued 13 March 1891 signed by the Minister of Overseas, Anotonio Maria Fabie.
The decree modified the rates for correspondence within the Philippine Islands and Spain, the only difference being the currency in which the rates were expressed. Note - 5 Spanish peseta = 1 Philippine peso.
The non-existence of the postcard service from Spain to the Philippines was another of the regrets on the part of the Minister of Overseas, who apparently was not very successful in his invitation to the Minister of the Interior to introduce this service. Even in 1897 the possibility of sending postcards to the Philippines was still not contemplated.
Extract from Gaceta de Madrid, 17 March 1891
Translation
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MINISTRY OF OVERSEAS ROYAL DECREE |
| At the proposal of the Overseas Minister, in agreement
with the Council of Ministers; In the name of My August Son,
KING D. Alfonso XIII, and as QUEEN Regent of the Kingdom, I come
to decree the following: |
| Article 1. Postal rates in the Philippine
Islands, for correspondence addressed to the Peninsula, are
declared equal to those that govern in this one for those
destined for said islands; establishing equal amounts, although
adjusted to the relationship between the peso and the peseta.
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| Article 2. For the interior of the
Philippine Archipelago, the same postal rates in force in the
interior of the Peninsula are also declared established, with
the relationship indicated in the previous article. Exception
from this provision is the carriage of ordinary letters, which
is set, for every fifteen grams, at 2 cents in weight. |
| Article 3. The Ministry of Overseas will be
invited to the Ministry of the Interior to arrange what is
convenient for the Peninsular Administration to establish the
postcard service to the Philippines. |
| Given in the Palace on 13 March 1891. MARIA CHRISTINA. The Ministry of Overseas, Antonio María Fabié. |
The Royal Decree was not accompanied by the explanatory table with the new rates. However, this was published in the Gazeta de Manila on 6 May 1891, along with the "compliance" note from the General Government of the Philippines dated April 22.
The preamble to the above Royal Decree set out the explanation for the changes by the Minster of Overseas Antonio Maria Fabie:
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"MADAM: Among the reforms demanded by the postal service
in the Philippine Islands, there are some that can only be
completed with the passage of time, since they depend on the
execution of a system of highways and local roads, as extensive
and perfect as It would be necessary to increase the number of
expeditions and properly organize land transportation. The Government, however, expects that this part of the service will experience notable improvement, converting those for foot drivers into set-up spots, according to the trial already begun in the current year. Just as important, and even more urgent than the reform of land conduits, is the postal rates in force in the Philippines, which are, in general, excessively high, and which, among other anomalies, mean that the carriage of a letter or Any object of correspondence addressed to the Peninsula is 50 percent more expensive than that of the same letter or object destined to any other object in the Postal Union. On the other hand, there is no reason to justify the great disparity that exists between the Postal rate in force on the Peninsula for the Philippines, and the one that governs these islands for Spain, since the natural and logical thing is that between the mother country and its overseas provinces pay the same shipping costs on the way out as on the return. It is also inequitable that the Philippine press, a model of good sense, which brings enlightenment and Spanish speaking to the last corners of that Archipelago, continues to pay stamp duties higher than those charged in the rest of the world; rights that rise to 10 pesetas per for every 10 kilograms of weight in the internal service and 37 pesetas 50 cents for packages addressed to the Peninsula, while the Peninsular press pays 3 pesetas for the same weight in the interior and 20 pesetas for the Philippines. It is also worth noting that the certificate fee charged in the Philippines, which rises to one peseta 25 cents, is also not on par with the 75 cents, already perhaps too high, that is in force in the Peninsula. Finally, it is the case that with the Philippine Administration having established the postcard service for Spain, the peninsular Administration does not admit this form of correspondence, a lack of reciprocity that, in the case of territories of the same nation, has no possible explanation. Correcting these anomalies and inequalities, equating Philippine postal rates with those of the Peninsula, is a measure that is highly recommended for reasons of good administration, and to contribute effectively to the progress of those remote Spanish provinces and the increase in their family and commercial relations with the Peninsula, without thereby affecting the income of the Post Office in the Philippines; Well, it is because with every reasonable and well- considered reduction in postal rates, an increase in traffic occurs shortly thereafter, which sustains and in the long run raises revenue. For whose considerations, the undersigned Minister has the honor to submit to the approval of Your Majesty. the attached draft decree". Madrid March 13, 1891. Madam: A.L.R.P. de V.M. Antonio María Fabié. |
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To illustrate some of the differences alluded to above: In the earlier amendments made in 1888, the Certfication (or Registration) fee had remained unchanged at 25 centimos of peso, equivalent to 1.25 Spanish pesetas. This was very high when compared to fee of only 75 centimos of peseta that were paid in Spain at that time. Similarly a letter sent from Spain to the Philippines required a rate of 50 cents of a Spanish pesetas, while in the opposite direction a stamp of 12 4/8 cents of a Philppiine peso - the equivalent to 62.5 cents of a Spanish peseta. |
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