ALFONSO XIII - BABY HEAD stamps of the PHILIPPINES
Catalogue
15c surcharges
1897 15c blue surcharge on 1892 15c red brown
Cliché Type II, Gum Type A.
Sheets of 100 (10 x10) inscribed COMUNICACIONES 12,000 from 120 sheets issued 1897
(earliest known postal usage 30 March 1897)
In 1897, surcharges were applied to some of the babyhead issues for official postal usage to make available the remainders of obsolete issues which had previously been withdrawn from use. For this reason, the new value surcharged is generally the same as that of the original stamp itself.
The surcharged postal issues were produced in Manila. The surcharge reads: HABILITADO CORREOS PARA 1897 (Authorised for postage 1897).
Forgeries of this stamp exist, but most examples appear to be genuine. However, examples where the surcharge occurs in a black inks are found and these are forgeries.
Inverted surcharges are recorded.
#204 15c blue surcharge on 1892 15c red brown
partial and smudged surcharges are common
Boxed Certificado cancel and Correos Manila Circular Date Stamp (30 March 1897)
Edifil: #130E 15c blue surcharge on 15c red brown (1898)
Scott: #182 15c blue surcharge on 15c red brown
SG: #213 15c blue surcharge on 15c cinamon (1897)
1897 15c black surcharge on 1894 15c rose
Cliché Type II, Gum Type B.
Sheets of 100 (10 x 10) inscribed CORREOS possibly 11,690 from ~117 sheets issued 1897
Hanciau (1905) suggests that a total of 11,690 stamps were issued for the 15c black surcharge on 15c rose and the 15c red brown. The precise number for this issue is therefore uncertain, in particular as the black surcharge on the 15c red brown stamp is considered to be a reprint (the postal issue occurring as a blue surcharge) and therefore not an official issue.
Inverted and double surcharges are recorded.
Forgeries of this issue exsit. Examples also described of a reprint in violet-black ink (and in a violet and black ink). However, those examples in violet and black ink are probably due to the use of an aniline ink (described by Galvez, 1933 and 1942). These examples appear to be what some catalogues refer to as a 15c violet surcharge on the 15c rose.
#205 20c black surcharge on 1894 dark violet
Boxed Certificado cancel
Edifil: #130F 15c black surcharge on 15c rose (1898)
Scott: #188 15c black surcharge on 15c rose (1897)
SG: #208 15c black surcharge on 15c rose (1897)
1897 15c violet surcharge on 1894 15c rose
Cliché Type II, Gum Type B.
Sheets of 100 (10 x 10) inscribed CORREOS unknown quantity issued 1897
(earliest known postal usage 14 August 1897)
This stamp is not recorded in all catalogues. Bartels et al (1904) record that this issue comprises a violet surcharge on the 15c rose issue. Galvez (1942) records the surcharge as ‘blue violet’ in colour. The colour of this surcharge appears to vary greatly and typically occurs in a mix of violet and black ink with varying proportions. In practice, it seems that even stamps that appear to comprise a violet surcharge on close inspection may include some touches of black.
Double surcharges are recorded.
Reprints are described as occuring in a violet black ink and it is possible that there is confusion between reprints (of which no examples have been seen) and the genuine examples. Palmer (1912) speculates that the violet 15c surcharge may have been caused by an occasional accidental striking die upon a black ink pad whilst surcharging in red. It is not clear how this would apply to the violet surcharge unless Palmer (1912) is referring to those in violet and black. In this case it seems more likely that the violet and black ink varieties have been caused by the use of an aniline ink as described by Galvez (1933, 1943). Galvez (1933) did not originally record the violet surcharge (although the black-violet surcharge is recorded) but was added in Galvez (1943).
Galvez (1933, 1942) indicated that the black surcharges were made with a ‘grasa’ (greasy) ink and the black-violet in an aniline ink (and is therefore water soluble), this may account for the variety in appearance in the ink colours of these violet-black / violet and black surcharges.
As examples of violet and black surcharged stamps with postal cancels (mainly CERTIFICADO type) can be found it seems credible that these stamps were postally used.
Forgeries of this issue exist.
#206 15c violet surcharge on 1894 15c rose (note common to show some black tinge to the surcharge)
Boxed Certificado cancel
Edifil: not listed
Scott: #191 15c violet surcharge on 15c rose (1897)
SG: #211 15c violet surcharge on 15c rose (1897)
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