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)