Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-06-19

Twenty centavos-Bust of George
Washington.
Twenty-six centavos-Bust of Car
REDO. the Spanish pbilanthropist, whose
benefactions provided Manila with its
water supply. re.
Thirty centavOs-Bust of BENJAMIN
Franklin. ,..
zone. two. four and 10 pesos bear the
coat or arms .of'the Filipinos, having
no portraits.
Special delivery stainp-Figure of a
Filipino messenger boy at one end OF
the stamp; the famous Mt. Mayor at
the other end.
The question naturally arsises, Why
should Admiral Sampson be honorad
by a pace on the stamps rather than
Admiral Dewey? The explanation is
simple. ar,
The policy Of tho government does
not permit the placing, of portraits of
persons still living upon postage
stamps. The scheme Of The insular bu-
reau contemplated representation or
the series of stamps Of American Off
GERS who participated IN the land and
sea operations which resulted in the
Admiral Sampson was the only COM
handing officer of high grade not now
living.
The placing of Franklin and Wash
ington on the stamps of the Philippines
Is also bit Of sentiment. The first
two postage stamps eyer issued by the
u. S. government wrr" the five cent
face Of Franklin and the 10 cent face of
Washington in 1917. Since that date
these two faces have appeared on
every series of postage stamps issuol.
and 1t is fitting that they should now
be continued on the stamps of the
colonies.
Postage stamps have been i'm use in
the Philippines since 1851. They were
Spanish stamps until the United States
took charge in 1898. since which time
the United States stamps with the wor.l
philippines" printed diagonally across
the face of the stamp have been used.
From 1854 Until 1880 the stamps bare
the portraits OF Queen Isabella ana
King Alfonso XII. followed by the face
of the 4year-od King Alfonso XIII.
These were known as the baby heal
stamps, and colonial stamps until 1898
when the portraits of the young king,
then Il years of age. appeared. These
stamps had just gona into circulation
in the Philippines when the United
States took possession Of the archi-
pelagO.
When the designs FOR the Philippine
coins was under Consideration a yea:
ago the sketch submitted by a native
Filipino was accepted, and in the selec-
ton and preparation Of the designs for
the new Philippine stamps Influential
Filipinos We're consulted ana their sug
gestions approved.
While the stamps Will he Distinctive
ly Filipino in a way, Jrnole Sam will
still indicate his int crest in the postal
system OF his ward by the use of an in
scription in small letters at the top of
each stamp, substantially as follows
Government Of the Philippines, U. S.
A." and although the Spanish currency
will be the basis-centavos and pesos
the English language will be applied
as for example, two centavos," rather
than dos centavos."
The Filipl:o stamp Of the denomina
ton Of one milesima is worth in our
currency only one-twcntic1h of a cent |
Grading upward from enc milesima !
there are five intermediate denomina-
tons before the value of two centavos. |
the equivalent of our che cent is
reached.
But this stamp. small in value as it
is, does not hold the record In 1873, |
for special purpose, ~ stamp was is
sued worth less than Ole. thirtieth Of & |
cent In an unused condition It is now
very rare stamp and collectors will