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

famous Mount Mayor at the other, end
The question naturally arises Why should
Admiral Sampson be honored by piacs
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
still 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 Washin gton
on the stamps Of the Philippines Is also a
bit OF sentiment. The first two postage
stamps ever issued by the United States
Government we're the FIVE cent face Of
Franklin and the ten cent face Of WASH
ington In iS47. 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 COLONIES.
Postage stamps have been In use In the
Philippines since 1854 They were Spanish
stamps until tho United States took charge
in 1898, since which time the United States
stamps with the word Philippines printed
diAgonally across the face OF the stamp
From 1854 until 1890 the stamps bore the
portraits OF Queen Isabella and King Al
lonso XII, followed by the face Of the
four year-old King Alfonso xii. These
we're known as the baby head stamps, and
this design continued on all Spanish and
colonial stamps until 1893, when the portrait
OF the young King, then ~ yearB Of age. APP
peared These stamps had just gone into cir, :
oulAtion In the Philippines when the United
States took possession Of the archipelago,
When the design for the Philippine coins
was under consideration a year ago the ?
sketch submitted by native Filipino
was accepted, and in the selection and
preparation Of the designs for the new
Philippine stamps influential Fihpinos were
consulted and their suggestions approved.
While the stamps will be oistnctively'
Filipino in a way, Uncle Sam will still
indicate his interest 10 the postal System b.
Of his ward by the use Of an inscription in
small letters at the top Of e1ch stamp,
substantially as follows: Government Of
the Philippines, L. $. A. and although
the spanish currency will be the basis
oentavos and pesos-the English hngua go
will be applied as for example, two centa-
vos : rather than sdos centavos.'
The Filipino stamp Of the denoninh tion
Of one milesima IS worth In our currency
only one-twentieth Of cent. Grading up.
ward from one milesima there are five
intermediate denominl tons before the
va lue Of two cent? Nos, the equivalent of
our one cent Is reached,
But this stamp. small in value as II ts.
does not bold the record. In 1873, for q
special purpose, a stamp was issued worth
less than one-thirtleth Of n cent In an
unused condition It h now a very rare
stamp and collectors will pay IS each for
copies, and Il Is worth 50 after having been
used.
The STAMPS Of the United States sur
charged 'Philippines' have al been Of the
watermarked variety. In 1898 few sheets
Of the 80 cent value were by mistake sur
charged Philippines on the unwater-
ma ked paper stll remaining in the vault
Of tho Bureau Of Engraving and Printing
each.
The early stamps Of the Philippines are
very rare and worth 10 collectors from
SIS 10 t6S each for stamps intrinsically o.
The Taius Of two and a bali oents. -. ..-.