ALFONSO XIII - BABY HEAD stamps of the PHILIPPINES

Catalogue

2c issues

1890 2c dark claret

 

Cliché Type I, Gum Type A.

Sheets of 100 (10 x10) inscribed UNION GENERAL POSTAL  1,020,000 from 10,200 sheets issued 1 January 1890

The colour of this issue is generally described as "lake”, "carmine" or "claret". A second printing in a similar colour was made in 1894 which comprised a different sheet format and included stamps of cliché type I and type II. The second printing also has a different gum type. In general, the 1890 issue is darker in colour than the 1894 printing.

 

#MP06 2c dark claret

Mencarini (1896) suggested that the 1890 issue was a “light carmine red” and the 1894 issue a “deep carmine red”. Peterson (PPJ 1998-1), perhaps repeating Mencarini’s description, also indicated that the colour of the 1890 issue was “light claret” compared to the later 1894 issue which he described as “dark claret” However, both these descriptions appear to be misleading, as in general, it is the 1890 issue which is a darker or deeper shade of claret. Bartels et al (1904) describe the colour of the 1890 issue as “lake”.

The clearest distinctions between the 1890 and 1894 issues is the gum type, the 1890 issue having gum type A, and that although stamps of cliché type I occur in both issues stamps of cliché type II only occur in the 1894 issue.

Harradine (1987) records a colour variety of “yellowish carmine” although this variety is not recorded by earlier authors. Galvez’s specialised catalogue (1942) records a variety ‘carmin sobre amarillento’ i.e. carmine on a yellowish paper. It seems possible that this description has perhaps been incorrectly translated by Harradine. Galvez (E) lists a higher price for the variety on yellowish paper suggesting it was relatively less common. However, it should be noted that discolouration due to toning, which is quite common, means that is difficult to be certain whether stamps were originally printed on yellowish paper or whether the colour has resulted from toning.

Stanley Gibbons and Galvez (1942) indicate that this issue was printed on thin paper. These descriptions are generally relative to the later 1894 issues which tend to be on thicker paper. In this respect the 1890 2c claret is generally on thinner paper than the 1894 issues, including the 1894 2c claret. Galvez actually uses the description 'thin semi-transparent paper' however, this does not appear to be the case in the sense used in this catalogue. Harradine (1987) also records that the issue was entirely printed on thin semi-transparent paper, although this may be just a repeat of Galvez's description.

2c dark claret (1890) on yellowish paper

Scott’s 1895 catalogue described both issues of the 2c claret stamp the first in 1889 (in early catalogues an issue date of 1889 was assigned to the 1890 stamps) and the second in 1894. However, the current Scott catalogue does not differentiate the 1890 issue from the second 1894 issue.  From 1900 Scott records only one issue with the date of issue as 1890 (or 1889 in 1900). However, after about 2000 the details for the ‘2c claret’ entry was amended as being issued in 1894.

The 1890 issue is less common than the 1894 issue; Mecarini recorded approximately 1 million stamps of the 1890 issue compared to approximately 6 million for the 1894 issue. Even taking this ratio into account, the 1890 issue is not as frequently found as one might expect.

 

Edifil:   #80 carmine ‘carmin’ (1890)

Scott:  not differentiated from later 1894 issue, (#144 claret, 1894)

SG:      #162 claret (thin paper) (1 Jan 1890) 


1892 2c pale violet

1892 2c violet

 

Cliché Types I and II, Gum Type A

Sheets of 150 (5 x 10 - 5 x 10 - 5 x 10 with gutters )

(pale violet) inscribed UNION GENERAL POSTAL: 1,000,000 from 6,666 sheets issued 1 January 1890 (666,600 Cliche Type I; 333,300 Cliche Type II)

(violet) inscribed COMUNICACIONES: 6,000,000 from 40,000 sheets issued 1 January 1890 (4,040,000 Cliche Type I; 1,960,000 Cliche Type II)

There were two printings of the 2c stamps both issued in January 1892. The first printing (#07) on sheets labelled UNION GENERAL POSTAL and the second printing (#08) on sheets labelled COMUNICACIONES. If the top selvedge is available then the first printing can be identified from different margin inscriptions. The colours of the first printing are generally reported by early authors to be "light violet" with those of the second printing as "deep violet". Of the popular modern catalogues only Stanley Gibbons differentiate between the two printings.

Mencarini (1897) reports the quantity of the first printing to be 1,000,000. Bartels et al (1904) appear to have erroneously reported the quantity as 6,000,000. Palmer (1912) repeats this error although he indicates that the source of the quantities reported is from Mencarini.

 

#MP07A 2c pale violet - cliche type I (1892) #MP07B 2c pale violet - cliche type II (1892)

#MP08A 2c violet - cliche type I (1892) #MP08B 2c violet - cliche type II (1892)

This printing was made in a new, larger sheet of 150 stamps comprising three panes of 50 stamps (5x10) each pane separated with a gutter. In addition, the central pane included a new cliché (i.e. cliché type II). Each pane was separated by a gutter.

A gutter pair with cliche type I - cliche type II

The left and right panes of each sheet comprise cliché I stamps, these appear to have been assembled from the deconstructed panes and clichés that made up the 1890 2c claret issue as those stamps showing constant flaws appear in completely new positions in the new 1892 sheet. Strangely, despite the new, cliché type II central pane, the cliché type II stamps in both the first and second printings commonly show signs of plate wear evidenced by line breaks and missing portions in the right side of the oval frame. Whereas, the cliché I stamps are generally in better condition in this respect.

Common example of cliche type II with worn oval frame

There are minor differences in the constant flaws present in the two printings which can be used to determine the different printings. In addition, in the second printing the central pane has been repaired such that the cliché at position {82} was removed and replaced. However, the removed cliché of type II was replaced with a cliché of type I, which therefore stands out juxtaposed against the neighbouring cliché II stamps.

 

se-tenant strip of three from central pane of second printing (2c violet) showing cliche type II - cliche type I - cliche type II

Edifil:   #93 brown violet ‘violeta castano’ (1891-1893)

Scott:  #145 violet (1892)

SG:      #177 light violet (1 Jan 1892) and #177a deep violet (1 Jan 1892)

Palmer, M. 2013. King Alfonso XIII, the 1892 to 1894 issues of cliché Type II: 2c claret (Scott #144), 2c violet (#145) and 2c dark brown (#146). Philippine Philatelic Journal, vol 35 no. 3, pp 16-20.

Peterson, D. 1999. First and Second Printings of the 1890-1896 Postal Issues. Philippine Philatelic Journal, vol 21 no. 3, pp 9-15. (superseded by Peterson, 2000)


1894 2c claret (two printings)

 

Cliché Types I and II, Gum Type B.

Sheets of 100 (5 x10 - 5 x10 with gutter) inscribed CORREOS 

Sheets of 100 (10 x 10 ) inscribed CORREOS 

6,000,000 from 60,000 sheets issued 1 January 1894 (3,000,000 cliche type I; 3,000,000 cliche type II).

This is the second and third printings of a 2c claret stamp. An earlier printing was issued in 1890 which comprised a 10 x 10 sheet format and stamps only of cliché type I. The first printing also has a different gum type. In general, the 1894 issues are lighter in colour than the 1890 printing.

 

#MP09A 2c claret - cliche type I (1894) #MP09B 2c claret - cliche type II (1894)

Mencarini (1896) suggested that the 1890 issue was a “light carmine red” and the 1894 issue a “deep carmine red”. Peterson (PPJ 1998-1), perhaps repeating Mencarini’s description, also indicated that the colour of the 1890 issue was “light claret” compared to the later 1894 issue which he described as “dark claret” However, both these descriptions appear to be misleading, as in general, it is the 1890 issue which posses a darker or deeper shade of claret. Bartels et al (1904) describe the colour of the 1890 and 1894 issues as “lake”.

The clearest distinction between the 1890 and 1894 issues is the gum type, plus stamps of cliché type II only occur in the 1894 issue. Notwithstanding the above observations, colour variations do occur and there are darker shades of this issue.

 

Left and centre - 'normal'  and 'dark' shade for 1894 2c claret; Right -  'shade' for 1890 2c claret

note that the 1890 issue appears to have a coarser pigmentation

(remember that the 1890 issue has Gum Type A and the 1894 issue, Gum Type B)

The plate wear evidenced by line breaks and missing portions in the right side of the oval frame apparent in the cliché II panes of 1892 2c violet stamps appears to have been corrected for the 1894 issues probably following retouching of the plates, as the oval frames are largely intact.

Palmer (1912) describes two sheet formats for this 1894 2c claret issue. One comprising two panes of 5x10 separated by a gutter, with the left pane comprising cliché I and the right pane cliché II (note Palmer appears to have incorrectly transpossed the position of the two panes). The second format comprises a single pane of 10x10 with the left half comprising cliché II and the right half cliché I.  The more commonly found sheet format comprises two 5x10 panes with the left pane comprising cliché II and the right pane cliché I.

There were three printings of 2c stamps in 1894, the two 2c claret printings described here and the 2c grey-brown (inscribed UNION GENERAL POSTAL). The 2c grey brown, similar to the second 2c claret printing comprised a 10x10 pane of 100 stamps, with a configuration comprising the left half cliché II and the right half cliché I, with no gutter.

The second sheet format of the 1894 2c claret is very scarce (Palmer PPJ 2020-??) with only one example that can be attributed to this printing currently known (although proof sheets are also known to exist in this format (Pamer PPJ 2019-2)).

From studies of plate flaws (Palmer PPJ 2019-2) it seems likely that the printing from the 10x10 plate was undertaken towards the end of the run for 2c printing. In addition, the known example of the 10 x 10 sheet format has a sheet number “60.112”. Curiously this possibly suggests that the total number of 2c claret stamps may have been greater than the 6,000,000 reported to be issued (i.e equivalent to 60,000 sheets).

5 x10 - 5 x 10 sheet format with the left half comprising cliche type II and the right pane cliché I

10 x 10 sheet format with the left half comprising cliche type II and the right pane cliché I

It is clear that the plate was modified and was used for the later 1894 2c grey brown issue. It is possible therefore that a there was a limited number of additional sheets were printed in claret before commencing the 2c grey brown issue. There were only 3,000 sheets printed for the 2c grey brown issue and is seems postualted that the third printing of the 2c claret in the 10 x 10 format may have only comprised a few hundred sheets.

Similar to the 1892 2c dark violet issue, the cliché II pane contains a cliché type I stamp which is juxtaposed against the neighbouring cliché II stamps at position {32} reflecting the replacement affected in 1892. Palmer (1912) reports that the anomalous occurrence of a cliché I stamp occurring in the cliché II half pane is present in the 10x10 sheet format (but not in the 5x10-5x10). However, the anomalous cliché I stamp in the cliché II is known to occur in sheets of 5x10-5x10 format (Palmer, PPJ 2013-3).

Stanley Gibbons and Galvez (1942) indicate that this issue was printed on thick (or opaque) paper. These descriptions are generally relative to the earlier 1890 issues which tend to be on thinner paper. In this respect the 1894 2c claret is generally on thicker paper that the 1890 issues.

Peterson (PPJ 2005-1) describes a thin paper variety occurring on #09B (i.e. a cliché II stamp). However, as this example was a used stamp the interpretation may be unreliable as it is considered that the removal of the stamp from the envelope and the loss of gum is likely to restrict an accurate assessment. 

Edifil:    not differentiated from 1890 issue (#80 carmine ‘carmin’)

Scott:   #144 claret (1894) (not differentiated from 1890 issue)

SG:       #189 carmine, thick paper (1 Jan 1894)

Palmer, M. 2013. King Alfonso XIII, the 1892 to 1894 issues of cliché Type II: 2c claret (Scott #144), 2c violet (#145) and 2c dark brown (#146). Philippine Philatelic Journal, vol 35 no. 3, pp 16-20.

 Palmer, M. 2019. Study of Three Imperforate Proofs Confirms Sheet Format. Philippine Philatelic Journal, vol 41 no. 2, pp 16-18.

Peterson, D. 1998. The Two Designs of the 1890-1897 Philippine “Babyhead” Issue. Philippine Philatelic Journal, vol 20 no. 1, pp 18-21.

Peterson, D. 1999. First and Second Printings of the 1890-1896 Postal Issues. Philippine Philatelic Journal, vol 21 no. 3, pp 9-15. (superseded by Peterson, 2000).

Peterson, D. 2005. Unusual Printings and Other Odd Ball Variations of the 1890s Issues. Philippine Philatelic Journal, vol 27 no 1, pp 4-7.

Peterson, D. 2007. Scott #144 – Sheet of Second Printing Quite Revealing. Philippine Philatelic Journal, vol 29, no. 2, pp 24-25.

Peterson, D. 2012. Spanish Philippine Sheet Configurations, 1854-1898. Philippine Philatelic Journal, vol 34 no. 2, pp 25-29. 


1894 2c grey brown

 

Cliché Types I and II, Gum Type B.

Sheets of 100 (10 x10) inscribed UNION GENERAL POSTAL  300,000 from 3,000 sheets issued 1 January 1894 (153,000 cliche type I; 147,000 cliche type II).

The 1894 2c grey brown issue is difficult to distinguish using colour from the 1896 issue of similar colour, despite the two printings being differentiated by colour in a number of catalogues. Bartels et al (1904) describe the colour as “pale sepia or sepia” (and the 1896 issue as “light grey brown”). The Stanley Gibbons and Edifil catalogues do not differentiate between the 1894 and 1896 issues. The Scott catalogues describes the 1894 issue as “dark brown” and the 1896 issue as “grey brown”. Peterson (PPJ 1998-1) suggested that the description “dark brown” used by Scott was darker than the typical colour of this description and suggested that the colour should be amended to “gray-brown” (and the description of the 1896 issue to “light gray brown”).

Bartels et al (1904) described the colour and shade varieties as “pale sepia” and "sepia".

#MP10A 2c grey brown - cliche type I (1894) #MP10B 2c grey brown - cliche type II (1894)

Harradine (1987) suggests that a 2c issue of “pale sepia” colour was released between January and April 1894, and that a second shipment containing a small consignment of 2c “dark brown” arrived later in June 1894.

Bartels et al describe 'pale sepia' and "sepia" shades; Harradine suggests that a "pale sepia" variety was released between January and April 1894, whilst a smaller second shipment was arrived in June 1894.

Fortunately, there are easier and more reliable ways to determine the difference between the 1894 and 1896 ‘grey brown’ printings. Firstly, the 1894 printing has a gum of type B, whereas the 1896 printing has a gum type C.

The second identifying feature between the two printings can also be applied to stamps with no gum. The 1894 printing utilises clichés derived from die I and die II (with the base plate constructed from clichés used for earlier plates) whereas the 1896 printing was constructed afresh using a new die, die III. Stamps of cliché type I are clearly from the 1894 printing. The 1896 printing displays clichés of type III where an imperfection of the oval frame at the 12 o’clock position can be used to determine the difference between cliché type II and cliché type III (Palmer PPJ 2015-1).

differences in oval frame in (1894) cliché II and (1896) cliché III

The 1894 printing comprised a pane of 100 stamps (10x10). However, unusually the left half of the pane comprised stamps from die II with the right half made up of stamps from die I. These sheets were essentially similar to the 1894 2c claret sheets (which comprised two panes of 5x10 separated with a gutter) except that the gutter has been omitted. Therefore, it is possible to find a number se-tenant pairs within a sheet of cliché II-cliché I (#10B/#10A). In addition, similar to the 1892 2c dark violet and the 1894 2c claret issues, the cliché II pane contains a cliché type I stamp which is juxtaposed against the neighbouring cliché II stamps reflecting the replacement affected in 1892.

Stanley Gibbons and Galvez (1942) indicate that this issue was printed on thick (or opaque) paper. These descriptions are generally relative to the earlier 1890 issues which tend to be on thinner paper. In this respect the 1894 2c grey brown is generally on thicker paper than the 1890 issues.

 

se-tenant pair, cliche type II - cliche type I

Edifil:  #110 brown ‘castano’ (1894) (not differentiated from 1896 issue)

Scott: #146 dark brown (1894)

SG:     #190 sepia, thick paper (1 Jan 1894) (not differentiated from 1896 issue)

 

Palmer, M. 2013. King Alfonso XIII, the 1892 to 1894 issues of cliché Type II: 2c claret (Scott #144), 2c violet (#145) and 2c dark brown (#146). Philippine Philatelic Journal, vol 35 no. 3, pp 16-20.

Palmer, M. 2015. Cliché types in the Babyhead Issues. Philippine Philatelic Journal, vol 37 no. 1, pp 32-34.

Peterson, D. 1998. The Two Designs of the 1890-1897 Philippine “Babyhead” Issue. Philippine Philatelic Journal, vol 20 no. 1, pp 18-21.


1896 2c grey brown

 

Cliché Type III, Gum Type C.

Sheets of 100 (10 x10) inscribed UNION GENERAL POSTAL  250,000 from 2,500 sheets issued 1 January 1896.

In 1896 two new 2c issues were released reflecting their intended use. The 1896 2c grey brown issue is very similar in colour to the 1894 2c grey brown issue and is difficult to distinguish using colour, despite the two printings being differentiated by colour in a number of catalogues. Bartels et al describe the colour as “light grey brown” (and the 1894 issue as “pale sepia or sepia”). The Stanley Gibbons and Edifil catalogues do not differentiate between the 1894 and 1896 issues. Scott describe the 1896 issue as “grey brown” and the 1894 issue as “dark brown”. Peterson (PPJ 1998-1) suggested that the colour should be “light gray brown” (and the 1896 issue amended to “gray-brown”). 

Bartels et al (1904) described the colour and shade varieties as “light grey brown” and "pale grey-brown".

#MP11 2c grey brown - cliche type III (1896)

Fortunately, there are easier and more reliable ways to determine the difference between the 1894 and 1896 ‘grey brown’ printings. Firstly, the 1896 printing has a gum of type C, whereas the 1894 printing has a gum type B.

The second identifying feature between the two printings can also be applied to stamps with no gum. A new set of clichés appears to have been prepared for the two 2c value stamps issued in 1896 (i.e. the 2c grey brown and 2c ultramarine). The earlier 1894 printing utilises clichés derived from die I and die II whereas the 1896 printing was constructed afresh using a new die, die III. The 1896 printing displays clichés of type III where an imperfection or ‘bulging’ of the oval frame at the 12 o’clock position can be used to determine the difference between cliché type III and cliché type II of the earlier printings (Palmer PPJ 2015-1).

Curiously the two 1896 printings were issued in sheets of different configuration. The 1896 2c grey brown was issued in a single 10x10 pane of 100 stamps. Whereas the 2c ultramarine was issued in a sheet format comprising 200 stamps. 

The constant flaws identified in the earlier 2c issues do not appear in the 1896 issues, again reflecting the completely new plate construction.

Edifil:  not differentiated from 1894 issue (#110 brown ‘castano’ (1894))

Scott: #148 grey brown (1896)

SG:     not differentiated from 1894 issue (#190 sepia (1894))

 

Palmer, M. 2015. Cliché types in the Babyhead Issues. Philippine Philatelic Journal, vol 37 no. 1, pp 32-34.

Peterson, D. 1998. The Two Designs of the 1890-1897 Philippine “Babyhead” Issue. Philippine Philatelic Journal, vol 20 no. 1, pp 18-21.

1896 2c ultramarine

 

Cliché Type III, Gum Type C.

Sheets of 200 (6 x10 - 8 x 10 - 6 x 10) inscribed CORREOS  4,000,000 from 20,000 sheets issued 1 January 1896.

In 1896 two new 2c issues were released. Both of the 1896 2c sheets (the 2c ultramarine and the 2c grey brown) were printed from newly constructed base plates and comprise stamps of cliché type III. Although the format of the 1896 2c grey brown sheets are of a normal format  (i.e. 10x10) the 2c ultramarine sheets exist in an unusual format comprising three panes: 6x10, 8x10 and 6x10 each separated with a gutter. 

 The colour of this issue is generally described as "ultramarine" or "blue". Bartels et al (1904) described the colour and shade varieties as “dull ultramarine", "blue" and "pale blue".

The gum type of this issue is typically type C; however, examples with gum type D, applied vertically, are also known

 

#MP11 2c grey brown - cliche type III (1896)

Palmer (1912) does not provide a description of the sheet format (apart from noting it is inscribed ‘Correos’). Harradine (1987) first notes the sheet format of 200 stamps in three panes. Peterson and Gooding (PPJ 2007-1) in describing the existence of gutter pairs suggested that the 2c ultramarine issue existed in two panes of 50. However, this is later amended in Peterson’s description of the 2c ultramarine sheet (PPJ 2011-4) and general sheet descriptions (PPJ 2012-2).

Lower half of left hand pane (of 6x10) of the full sheet - large blocks of this isse are rare

Shade varieties

Edifil:  #123 ultramarine ‘ultramar’ (1896)

Scott: #147 ultramarine

SG:     #198 blue (1 Jan 1896)

 

Palmer, M. 2015. Cliché types in the Babyhead Issues. Philippine Philatelic Journal, vol 37 no. 1, pp 32-34.

Peterson, D. & Gooding, N. 2007. ‘Gutter Pairs of the 1890 – 1898 Issues’. Philippine Philatelic Journal, vol 29 no. 1, pp 19-20.

Peterson, D. 2011. Scott #147 – A Significant Departure in the “Normal” Sheet Configuration. Philippine Philatelic Journal, vol 33 no. 4, pp 12-13.

Peterson, D. 2012. Spanish Philippine Sheet Configurations, 1854-1898. Philippine Philatelic Journal, vol 34 no. 2, pp 25-29.

Postal Usage

Correos circular Manila date stamp [1891] on 2c claret

Registration circular "Correos de Filipinas" cancel (Peterson Type 4) on 2c claret

Registration "Certificado" cancel (Peterson Type 6) on 2c claret in magenta

Correos circular Manila date stamp [November 1895] on 2c claret

Bacolor (Pampanga) Fancy Town Cancellation

The cancellation has been found on a few examples of the 1894 2c claret stamp.

 

 Comunicaciones circular Iloilo date stamp on 2c pale violet in blue ink

Correos circular Bacolod date stamp on 2c pale violet

Correos circular Manila date stamp [Feb 1892] on 2c pale violet

Registration "Certificado" cancel (Peterson Type 6) on 2c violet in blue ink

Registration "Certificado" cancel (Peterson Type 6) on 2c grey brown

Registration circular "Correos de Filipinas" cancel (Peterson Type 4) on 2c grey brown

 Circular "VISAYAS" cancel on 2c ultramarine in blue ink

Registration "Large R" cancel (Peterson Type 7) on 2c ultramarine

Dotted Star cancel on 2c ultramarine in blue green ink (believed to have been used in small towns primarily for interior mail)

Registration circular "Correos de Filipinas" cancel (Peterson Type 4) on 2c ultramarin in red ink

 

Catalogue

Postal Issues

1c issues

2c issues

2 4/8c issues

5c issues

6c issues

8c issues

10c issues

12 4/8c issues

15c issues

20c issues

25c issues

40c issue

80c issue

5c surcharge

15c surcharge

20c surcharge

Newspaper Issues

1mil issues

2mil issues

5mil issues

1/8c issues