The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07
FIRST SERIES OF PHILIPPINE STAMPS
To B. Used on Jolly Next-American and Filipino Patriots
to Figure Them.

famous Mount Mayor at the other end
The question naturally arises Why should
Admiral Sampson be honored by a piaod
on the stamps rather than Admiral Deweyi
The explanation Is simple.
The policy Of the Government does not
permit the placing OF portraits Of persons
sdll living upon postage stamps. The
scheme Of the Insular Bureau contemplated
representation on the series Of stamps Of
American officers who participated In the
land and sea operations which resulted
In the acquisition Of the Philippines and
Admiral Sampson was the only commanding
Officer Of high grade not now living.
The placing OF Franklin and Washington
on the stamps Of the Philippines Is also q
bit Of sentiment. The first two postage
stamps ever issued by the United States
Government were the FIVE cent face Of
Franklin and the ten cent face Of WASH
ington, In lsi7. Since that date these two
faces have appeared on every series Of
postage stamps issued, and il is fitting
tina the sho Id now lie continued on the ,
stamps Of the colontos.
Postage stamps have been In use in the
Philippines since 1854 They we're Spanish
stamps until the United States took charge
in 1895, sinoe which time the United States
clamps with the word Philippines printed
diAgonally across the face OF the stamp
have been used.
From 1854 until 1890 the stamps bore the
portraits OF Queen Isabella and King Al
ionso XII, followed Dy the faoe Of the
four year-old King Alfonso Alll, These
were known as the baby head stamps, and
this design continued on all Spanish and
colonial stamps until 1895 when the portrait
OF the young King, then u yearB Of age, APP
peared. These stamps had just gone into CTS y
culation in the Philippines when the United
States took possession OF the archipelago,
f,r ha
was under consideration a year ago the
sketch submitted by a native Filipino
was accepted, and In the selection and
preparation Of the designs for the new
Philippine stamps Influential tihpinos were
consulted and their suggestions approved
While the stamps will be uistinctiveiy'
Filipino in q way, Uncle Sam will still
indicate his interest In the postal System
OF his ward by the use Of an inscription in
small letters at the top Of eaoh stamp,
the Philippines, L. s. A., and although
the Spanish currency will he the basis
oentavos and pesos-the English hngua go
will DO applied as for example, two centa-
vos,E rather than Hdos centavos.r
The Filipino stamp Of the denomination
Of one miesima Is worth In our currency
only one-twentieth Of cent, Grading up.
ward from one milesima there are five
intermediate denominS tons before the
va lue Of two cent? vos, the equivalent Of
our one cent Is reached.
But this stamp. smal in value as II Il.
does not bold the record. In 1873, for q
special purpose a stamp was issued worth
less than one-thirtieth Of cent IN an
unused condition Il Il now a very rare
stamp and collectors will pay S. euch for
copies, and Il Is worth 50 after having been
used.
The STAMPS Of the United ST. ties sur
charged "Philippines' have al been Of the
watermarked variety. In 1898 q few sheets
Of the 90 cent value we're by mistake sur
charged Philippines on the unwater-
ma ked paper stil m1ining in the vault
Of the Bureau Of Engraving and Printing.
These stamps sell to collectors for $3.50
each.
The early stamps Of the Philippines arc
very nre and worth 20 collectors from
SIS 10 t6S each for stamps intrinsically OF