Manila-San Fernando RPO

Manila-San Fernando railway post office cancel on 1947 special delivery stamp.

1947: Special Delivery

The first special delivery stamp of the Republic era was issued on December 22, 1947. It shows a letter carrier on a bicycle leaving the Manila post office, presumably to deliver special delivery mail, and I would say only to addresses in Manila (and probably Rizal City) kasi nakabisikleta lang.

It also is the last issue for 1947. Catalogs say the color is rose lilac, with shades of the color.

Quantity printed: 11,000,000
Printing method: Engraved
Printers: American Bank Note Company
Perforation measurement: 12
Unwatermarked paper

[Data taken from various sources.]

special delivery section

Special delivery stamp with a Special Delivery Section cancel.

Manila-Legaspi RPO

A partial railway post office cancel of the Manila-Legaspi route.

This special delivery stamp must have been cancelled in Legaspi because of the NORTH below the RAILWAY POST OFFICE, otherwise if it said SOUTH it would have been cancelled in Manila.

The RPO operated in a mail car of the Philippine National Railways and served way post offices along the way.

The route up north was Manila-San Fernando (in La Union).

special delivery

The first time special delivery stamps were issued by the Philippines also came out during the American administration.

These were initially released in 1901.

Depicted on the stamp is a Special Delivery messenger. Mount Mayon is in the background.