Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-01-02
Clamps
By James Waldo Fawcett

Stamps Of the Philippine Com
monwealth offered for sale at the
Philippine Philatelic Agency. 1917
Massachusetts, avenue NV, are re-
prints which have been manufac-
tured for the collecting public since
the conquest" of the Philippine
Islands by Japan.
This became known last week as
the result of investigation of rumors
circulated in Washington for several
months past Discovery of the
truth Of the reports was made pos
sihle by the intervention of Secre-
tary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes
himself a collector of Philippine is
sues.
The reprinted stamps were Or
dered by the Philippine Resident
Commissioner in letters dated Feb
ruary Is, August IL and November
10, 1912, and April 6, 1943. On the
authority of the director of the Divi-
sion of Territories and Islands Pos
sessions, the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing, acting solely as con-
tractor, did the work. Existing
plates were used.
First delivery was March 30, 1912
and consisted of ordinary stamps
overprinted Commonwealth series
OF 1884, 500 each, 2, and peso de-
nominations; series of 1897, 100, 20
peso; series of 1941, 100000, 2 CEN
tavo, plain, and 100000, 2 centavo
overprinted 20. B."
The second delivery, September
%, 1912, included; Series of 1894
1000 booklets $4,000 stamps, 2
centavo, overprinted Common
wealth, and series of 1941, 5000
booklets 144,000 stamps, 2 centavo
plain.
Nearly a year after the fall of
Bataan and Corregidor, specifically
on March 8, 1943. the bureau turned
over to the Philippine Philatelic
Agency third consignment of re-
prints, among which were. Ordinary
stamps, series of 1884, 1000 each,
2, 4, s, 8, 10, II, 16, 20, 26, 80 centavos,
l, 2, 4, and 5 pesos, and 1000 each,
and 5Npesos, overprinted Com
nlonWealth"; also the following
commemorative First anniversary
OF the Commonwealth, 1886, 20.Ol6
each, 2, and II centavo denomina-
tons; 33d international Eucharistic
Congress, 1887, l5,040 each, 2. 6, 10,
TO- So and so centavo; fourth an
niversarv of the Commonwealth,
"Triumphal Arch" 1889. 20.O32 each,
2, 6 and II centavo; same, "Mala-
canaan Palace 1889, 10000 each, 2
6 and II centavo, and same. "Presi-
dent Quezon Taking Oath of Office, -
1889, 10000 each, 2, and II CEN
tavo.
" The last delivery was on May IA,
1943, and consisted of 10000 copies
each of the l94l airmails-8, 20 and
so centavo and l peso values.
Further orders were cancelled
when inquiries concerning the legi-
timacy of the reprints reached high
officials.
Meanwhile, a representa- tive of the
Philippine Resident Commissioner
had told The Star: There has been
no necessity for reprints because we
have plentiful supplies of all the
stamps on sale at the Philippine
Philatelic Agency"
Questions addressed to the Treas
ury Department regarding the
rumors coincidentaily were referred
to the Philippine Resident Commits
sioner.
- The face or sales value of the re-
prints totals s85,740. Whether the
whole of that sum has been realized
from collectors purchases, of course,
is problematical. @ q. vsr1'.
A mystery in detail is constituted
by the reprinting of the single pane
of 100 copies of the small 2O-peso
Arms of the City of Manila stamp,
SCOTS No. 432. The cost of such
an operation must have been heavy
since it would involve cleaning a
press twice as we'll as special make
ready OF the plate. Selling in the
open market at $3.50 each, 100 in
sheet form might bring $1,000.
Leading Washington philatelists.
when Informed of the transactions
disclosed at Secretary Ickes' request.
agreed that the reprints should be
Withdrawn from sale Immediately.
All the stamps of the Philippine
Commonwealth. it was said, may be
rendered suspect by the dispersal
OF copies lacking the validity of de
facto government. The administra-
ton of Mr. Quezon has been CON
tlnued' by act OF Congress, but it
Is I'm exile" and has no power to
enter into any contract for the
transportation of mail so long as the
japanese military authorities are in
control OF the Philippine Islands. It's
right to revive exhausted sets of
stamps dating back to 1884 likewise
Is denied by collectors.
In memory of the late Walter j =.
+, Conrath. the American Airmail So
jciety has established an annual
award for outstanding service to
q ero-philately. The first recipient,
1T has been announced, will be
George w. Anglers, founder and for
smer president of the organization.
! Liberia is to have five new airmail
{adhesives. Collectors desiring de-
tails may write to Jacques Koerpel,
Roanoke Building, Forest Hills, N. Y.
Z Stamp meetings for the week are
listed as follows:
, Tomorrow evening at 8-Wood-
ridge Stamp Club, 2206 Rhode Island
avenue NE.
Tuesday evening at 8-Collectors
Club of Washington, Thomson
School, Twelfth and L streets NV.
STAMPS AND COINS.
ANTIQUES, cameras; highest. prices paid