ALFONSO XIII - BABY HEAD stamps of the PHILIPPINES
Details
General notes 4 - Requirements for 1897 and Surcharges
Harradine (1987) reports that following the Royal Decree of 11 June 1896 that the Director General of the Post (in Manila) was advised in the forthcoming change in postage stamps and cautioned to order only those stamps which he considered absolutely neccessary to cover the period 1897-1898. He therefore only ordered three values, ommitting from this order any smaple or proff sheets, stating that only the stamps for printed matter were needed, one for ordinary rate, and the other two for heavy packages.
Harradine also reports that sometime in 1897 a 4cetaco de peso value in violet arrived but was never issued.
In the letter of transmittal covering the supply of printed matter stamps, the Miniter of Posts for Spain adivised him, in the case of any shortage to "get along the best way he could" until supplies of the new issue were available by surcharging any odd values of the remaining stcks with an appropriate catchet to meet the needs of the public.
Details of the supporting documentation to the above notes are not currently known.