1947 First Definitives issue

The first definitives of the Republic era were pictorials. These were issued as a set on different dates in 1947.

On March 23, the initial two values came out (10c, 20c), followed on June 19 by three (12c, 16c, 50c), and on August 1 by two more (4c, P1).

Quantities printed:
4c black Rizal Monument (140,000,000)
10c orange Bonifacio Monument (40,000,000)
12c blue Jones Bridge (12,000,000)
16c gray Santa Lucia (10,000,000)
20c brown Mayon Volcano (33,000,000)
50c green Colonnade of Palm Trees (9,000,000)
P1 violet Colonnade of Palm Trees (5,000,000)

Quantities for the 4c, 10c, 16c, 20c and 50c were reduced by later overprints, and in the case of the 16c by a further recall.

The 16-centavo value has a design error; it depicts Puerta Real, not Santa Lucia. Because of this, the remaining stocks of both the regular and O.B. overprinted stamps were withdrawn from sale on July 26, 1950.

Printing method: Engraved
Printers: American Bank Note Co.
Perforation measurement: 12
Unwatermarked paper

Possible shades of color in all 7 values.

Perforation freaks:
10c horizontal shifted downward
20c horizontal shift, vertical shift, vertical shift slanted to the right

The 20c and P1 have accordion flaws.

If not properly stored, the 10c is prone to oxidation; the orange ink turns to brown and eventually to black.

I have a hibrite paper variety of all seven values.

[Data taken from various sources.]

World Stamp Expo '89

World Stamp Expo '89 was held from November 17 to December 3 at Washington, DC.

It was held in conjunction with the 20th Universal Postal Congress.

Philippines issued three stamps for this event. These stamps-on-stamps issue picture the following:

P1 -- the first stamps of the Spanish era and Revolutionary period
P4 -- the first stamps of the US administration and Commonwealth period
P5.50 -- the first stamps of the Japanese occupation and Republic era

The P1 errs in design in that the Queen Isabella II stamp is perforated!

1988 Philatelic Week FDC

Nope, there was no Philatelic Week issue for 1987.

So, we come to 1988...with a design error on one of the se-tenant stamps!

The top left stamp of the block of four was inscribed 1938 instead of 1988. This error, however, was corrected later when another block of four was printed.

Rizal's hair

The top stamp was issued in 1941, and the bottom stamp in 1946.

Top stamp portrays Rizal with hair parted to the left, and bottom stamp shows him with hair parted to the right!

one peso two peso

Shouldn't the surcharge read TWO PESOS?

false falls

This stamp pictures the Pagsanjan Falls.

True or false?

(Answer: False.)
It pictures Vernal Falls in the United States.

CORROS error

Here's a love story about the CORROS error written by Jaime Laya (former Central Bank governor, and chairman of his high school philatelic society), published in the Manila Bulletin of today's date:

http://www.mb.com.ph/its-the-spirit-that-counts/

Have fun!

1947 first definitives

With Manila Variety Store Co. cachet

With stamp dealer Rogelio de Jesus cachet

With stamp dealer Rogelio de Jesus cachet

The first definitives of the present republic were pictorials and issued as a set on different dates in 1947.

On March 23, the initial two values came out, followed on June 19 by three, and on August 1 by two more.

Denominations:
4 centavos black Rizal Monument
10c orange Bonifacio Monument
12c blue Jones Bridge
16c grey Santa Lucia (design error; it depicts Puerta Real)
20c brown Mayon Volcano
50c green Colonnade of Palm Trees
P1 violet Colonnade of Palm Trees

Printing method: Engraved
Printers: American Bank Note Co.
Perforation: 12
Unwatermarked

The stamps are common, despite thousands recalled of the 16c value.

Varieties to look for: Possible shades of color in all 7 values.
Shifted perforation of 10c and 20c.
I have a hibrite paper variety of the 4c, 20c, 50c and P1.

The 4c was overprinted O.B. in 1948 and surcharged in 1959.
The 10c was overprinted O.B. in 1948 and overprinted with a new value in 1954.
The 16c was overprinted O.B. in 1948.
The 20c was overprinted O.B. in 1949 and overprinted with a new value in 1954.
The 50c was overprinted O.B. in 1949 and overprinted with a new value in 1954.

NVM Gonzalez

New Issue alert:

(Note misspelling of name Gonzalez)

N.V.M. Gonzales Birth Centenary: National Artist for Literature 

September 8, 2015

The NVM Gonzales Birth Centenary: National Artist for Literature Stamps and Official First Day Covers will be available starting September 5, 2015 at the Post Shop, Philately and Museum Division, Manila Central Post Office, Door 203, Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila and at all Regional Offices of the Philippine Postal Corporation.

(press release added later)

(note: spelling in press release corrected)

PRESS RELEASE: PHLPost releases NVM Gonzalez Birth Centenary commemorative stamps

September 11, 2015

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) released new commemorative stamps in honor of the Birth Centenary of National Artist for Literature Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez (September 8, 1915 – November 28, 1999), popularly known as "N.V.M”.

"PHLPost pays tribute to National Artist N.V.M. Gonzales and his contribution to the preservation and promotion of the arts in our country and to the world”, Postmaster General Josie Dela Cruz said.

His literary works and photos were featured in the background of the postage stamps.

According to his biography, “NVM” was a son of a school supervisor and a teacher. Gonzalez attended Mindoro High School from 1927 to 1930, and although he studied at National University in Manila, he never obtained a degree. While in Manila, Gonzalez wrote for the Philippine Graphic and later edited for the Evening News Magazine and Manila Chronicle. His first published essay appeared in the Philippine Graphic and his first poem in Poetry in 1934.

In 1950, he began a long teaching career, beginning with a position at the University of Santo Tomas. Gonzalez also taught at the Philippine Women's University, but it was his length of service at the University of the Philippines that gave distinction to Gonzalez's career - as a teacher at the University for 18 years. Because of his immense talent in creative writing, Gonzalez was one of the only two people to teach in UP at that time sans a degree.

Gonzalez made his mark in the writing community as a member of the Board of Advisers of Likhaan: the University of the Philippines Creative Writing Center, founder of The Diliman Review and as the first president of the Philippine Writers' Association.

The special commemorative stamp will be sold at P10.00 each and about 65,000 copies were printed by Amstar Company, Inc. measuring 40X30mm.

The stamps and official first day cover are now available at the Post Shop, Central Post Office, Door 203, Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila and area post offices nationwide. For inquiries, please call 527-01-08 or 527-01-32.

Wikipedia article

This Wikipedia article about postage stamps and postal history of the Philippines has some interesting facts --


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postage_stamps_and_postal_history_of_the_Philippines