WELCOME!

This blog shares my stamp collections and highlights individual items which I feel might be of interest to others.

While my focus is on the stamps of the Philippines, you will find classic stamps, aviation covers, postal history, and many others included.

I hope you enjoy my blog, and please visit often!

Dedicated to Almira and our children, Jimmy, Ana, Lance, and Isabella.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

SPANISH PHILIPPINES - 5 CUARTOS, "CABEZA GRANDE" (Large Head) ISSUE of 1855, Type 1

5 CUARTOS, "CABEZA GRANDE" (Large Head) ISSUE of 1855
(Philippines Scott #6; Edifil #5) USED. Vermilion. Type 1.
VERY SCARCE THIS NICE!
Printed in blocks of four types; with each stamp surrounded by a frame line. A total of 5,000 stamps, (1,250 of each variety), were printed.  The stamps were lithographed on medium to thick, white wove paper by the firm of Plana, Jorba y Cia, Manila.  On this issue, the inner circle is broken by the labels at the top and bottom of the stamp.

SPANISH PHILIPPINES - 1 REAL FIRST ISSUE of 1854, USED. Pale Blue Grey. Position 38

1 REAL FIRST ISSUE of 1854
FINE ENGRAVING, thin paper
(Scott #4; Edifil #3b) USED. Pale Blue Grey. Position 38.
with bottom margin
SCARCE!

SPANISH PHILIPPINES - 5-CUARTOS (ISS. OF JAN.1863) OVERPRINTED "HABILITADO POR LA NACION" with municipal crown cancel "DIST. DE YLOYLO, MOLO"

5-CUARTOS (ISSUE OF JAN. 1863)
OVERPRINTED "HABILITADO POR LA NACION" AND ISSUED JAN. 24, 1872
(Philippines Scott #30; Edifil #20H) USED
This stamp displays a portion of the scarce municipal crown cancel "DIST. DE YLOYLO, MOLO"
"In early 1872, five obsolete values were overprinted "HABILITADO POR LA NACION" in black and issued. By that time, the first printing of the 1871 issue was sold out, and new supplies from Spain were not available. Therefore, the authorities were once again forced to seek recourse to this measure, surcharging the remaining stocks of stamps at hand, and re-validating them for postal use."  (Ref. Nigel Gooding's website, "SPANISH-PHILIPPINES PHILATELIC SITE", at http://nigelgooding.co.uk/)
 
Molo is one of the six districts of Iloilo City, in the Philippine province of Iloilo. It was built by Spaniards and was formerly called the Parian (Chinatown) due to its large number of Chinese residents and their business establishments in the area at the time. Its name was later changed to Moro during the frequent arrival of Muslim pirates from Mindanao until it later evolved into Molo. It is also home to the historic Molo Church (St. Anne Parish) which lies in front of the town square. (Ref. Wikipedia, photo from www.visita-iglesia.com)

Monday, March 22, 2010

SPANISH PHILIPPINES - 1 REAL FIRST ISSUE of 1854, Rare CORROS error stamp, Position 26

1 REAL FIRST ISSUE of 1854
FINE ENGRAVING, thin paper
(Scott #4c; Edifil #3br) USED. Pale Bluish Grey.
The rare CORROS error stamp,
Position 26, with wide left margin.
Ex. Lange.
The Jewel of my Spanish Philippine Collection!
Very Rare!
It is believed that approximately 50 to 75 sheets of the 1 real value of 1854 were printed.  Since the CORROS error only occurs in Position 26 of the forty stamps on each sheet, there can be no more than 50 to 75 stamps with this error possible.

SPANISH PHILIPPINES - 1 REAL FIRST ISSUE of 1854, USED VERT. PAIR, Pale Grey. Positions 10, 15

1 REAL FIRST ISSUE of 1854
FINE ENGRAVING, thin paper
(Scott #4; Edifil #3b) USED VERT. PAIR. Pale Grey. Positions 10, 15.
with wide right margin
VERY SCARCE!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

SPANISH PHILIPPINES - 5 MILs DE PESO IMPRESOS, USED IMPERF. PROOF, SCOTT #P17

5 MILs DE PESO, IMPRESOS
ISSUE OF JUNE 12, 1890
(Philippines Scott #P17proof) USED IMPERF. PROOF, Horiz. Pair. Black Violet.
With CORREOS, MANILA inverted date postmark of 1897 
VERY SCARCE!
The paper of these stamps is thin, fine, and white; quite different from the paper used on the regular issues.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

SPANISH PHILIPPINES - 1 REAL ISSUE OF JANUARY 1856, USED WITH RARE "CAVITE, LUZON" CDS

1 REAL ISSUE OF JANUARY 1856
(Philippines Scott #8; Edifil #6a) USED WITH RARE "CAVITE, LUZON" CDS
VERY SCARCE CANCEL!

As the 1 real and 2 reales stamps of January 1856 were in simultaneous use in the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Cuba, the only way to confirm that the stamps were actually used in the Philippines is to obtain used copies showing an identifiable postmark linking them to the Philippines. 

This stamp displays a portion of the very scarce "CAVITE, LUZON" town cancellation, shown below:
Applied as departure cancellations in Cavite, this cancel is only known to exist on the 1-real value, applied directly on the stamp (at least one cover with this cancel is known to exist). 
A very scarce cancel!

(Special Thanks to Nigel Gooding and his website, "SPANISH-PHILIPPINES PHILATELIC SITE", at http://nigelgooding.co.uk/ . 
Please visit his website to learn more about these beautiful and scarce Spanish Philippine stamps!)

SPANISH PHILIPPINES - 2 REALES ISSUE OF JANUARY 1863

2 REALES ISSUE OF JANUARY 1863
(Philippines Scott #17) MINT. Bright Blue.
VERY SCARCE THIS NICE!

SPANISH PHILIPPINES - 1 REAL ISSUE OF OCTOBER 1863, MINT

1 REAL ISSUE OF OCTOBER 1863
(Philippines Scott #20) MINT. Emerald Green.
SCARCE COLOR!
This issue was the last of the Spanish Philippine stamps to be printed in Manila.  All later Spanish Philippine stamps were printed in Spain.

PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC - RARE PROGRESS PROOF OF PHILIPPINE SCOTT #575

Rare progress proof of Philippines Scott #575
From the archives of the American Bank Note Company
Engraving printed in black, with incomplete design
Dated October 29, 1951

Philippines Scott #575
Commemorating the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Philippine Education System
Issued on January 31, 1952

Thursday, March 11, 2010

SPANISH PHILIPPINES - 1 REAL ISSUE OF JANUARY 1863, MINT

1 REAL ISSUE OF JANUARY 1863
(Philippines Scott #16) MINT. Reddish Violet.
SCARCE!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

SPANISH PHILIPPINES - 5 CUARTOS FIRST ISSUE of 1854, USED, Position 8

5-CUARTOS, FIRST ISSUE of 1854
RE-ENGRAVED Coarse Shading
(Scott #1; Edifil #1) USED. Reddish Orange. Position 8.
SCARCE THIS NICE!

SPANISH PHILIPPINES - 1 REAL FIRST ISSUE of 1854, USED HORIZ PAIR, Positions 36, 37

1 REAL FIRST ISSUE of 1854
REENGRAVED Coarse Shading
(Scott #4; Edifil #3) USED HORIZ PAIR. Blue. Positions 36, 37.
Ex. CASPARY
VERY SCARCE!

SPANISH PHILIPPINES - 5 CUARTOS ISSUE OF 1862, USED VERT. PAIR

5 CUARTOS ISSUE OF 1862
(Philippines Scott #13) Used Vert. Pair. Dull Red.
Good margins for this issue.
VERY SCARCE!

SPANISH PHILIPPINES - 5 CUARTOS ISSUE OF 1861, USED PAIR, 20 JAN 1863

5 CUARTOS ISSUE OF 1861
(Philippines Scott #12) Used Horiz. Pair. Red Vermillion. Good margins.
With small MANILA "Baeza" type CDS of 20 JAN 1863
VERY SCARCE!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

UNITED STATES - 1¢ Franklin of 1906, (US Scott #314H) imperforate horizontal coil

1¢ Franklin of 1906
(US Scott #314H) imperforate horizontal coil
MNH IMP HORIZ. PAIR
Purchased from The Stamp Gallery in Walnut Creek, CA in the 1990s
NICE!

UNITED STATES - 5¢ Franklin of 1847, US Scott #1, USED HORIZ. PAIR

5¢ Franklin of 1847
(US Scott #1) 5¢ Franklin of 1847, USED HORIZ. PAIR
with neat red ST. LOUIS MO. "10" CDS
Purchased from The Stamp Gallery in Walnut Creek, CA in the 1990s
SCARCE THIS NICE!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

PHILIPPINE AMERICAN WAR COVER - 13th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, 2 FEB 1899, MIL.STA. NO. 1

PHILIPPINE AMERICAN WAR COVER
Cover sent by Capt. William S. McWade of the
13th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry on 2 FEB 1899
just prior to the outbreak of the Battle of Manila.
US Scott #__ with MIL STA NO.1, PHILIPPINE ISLS., SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. cancel.
IMPORTANT COVER!
During the Battle of Manila in February 1899, the 13th Minnesota was part of the Manila Provost Guard, which consisted of the 2nd Oregon, 13th Minnesota, 23rd Infantry, and a small artillery battery.  Two companies of the 13th Minnesota were involved in heavy fighting to protect firefighters attempting to put out fires in the northern suburb of Tondo next to Manila Bay.
From the 13th Minnesota Infantry Roster (http://www.spanamwar.com/13mnroster.htm),
William S. McWade served in Company A. 
He passed away in April 16,1948, in Excelsior, Minnesota.

PHILIPPINE AMERICAN WAR - Troop K, 4th US Cavalry on 4 FEB 1899 at the Battle of Manila

PHILIPPINE AMERICAN WAR COVER
 Cover sent by Private Walter Mangus of
Troop K, 4th US Cavalry on 4 FEB 1899
at the outbreak of the Battle of Manila.
US Scott #279 with very early use of Manila A-6 type cancel,
of which this is a new time/date variety (ref. GOODALE).
VERY IMPORTANT COVER!

After almost half a year of negotiations, minor incidents, shootings, alarms, and unremitting tension, the impasse at Manila erupted into open hostilities on the night of 4 February 1899. 
The Philippine Army of Liberation, whose numbers have been estimated at anywhere from 15,000 to 40,000 men, had maintained a loose envelope around American positions in the city. 
At the beginning of February, the U.S. Army forces in the Philippines numbered some 800 officers and 20,000 men, of which about 11,000 were in a pentagonal defensive line which extended some sixteen miles around Manila. 
From Blockhouse 12 to Fort Malate on Manila Bay was Brig. Gen. Samuel Overshine's 2nd Brigade of ten companies of the 14th US Infantry, the 1st North Dakota, and six troops of the 4th US Cavalry. 
(adapted from The Philippine War, 1899-1902, by Brian McAllister Linn, 2000)



Monday, March 1, 2010

SPANISH PHILIPPINES - 1 REAL OF 1856, PAIR USED ON COVER, MANILA to LOGRONO, SPAIN, 24 DEC 1862

(Philippines Scott #8, Edifil #6A) 1 Real (pair) USED on cover: MANILA to LOGRONO, SPAIN
with small MANILA CDS dated 24 DEC 1862
and showing double overseas postage rate of 2 reales.
Purchased from Soler y Llach on February 15, 1995.
SCARCE DESTINATION!

Logroño is a city in northern Spain, on the Ebro River. It is the capital of the autonomous community of La Rioja, formerly known as Logroño Province.  The city is a centre of the trade in Rioja wine, for which the area is noted, and also produces wood, metal, and textile products.