Postage stamps and postal history of the Canal Zone

Last updated
Early Canal Zone postage stamp
issue of 1911 Canal Zone Postage, Issue of 1911.jpg
Early Canal Zone postage stamp
issue of 1911
Panama Canal Zone Map, 1911 Panama Canal relief and cross section map.jpg
Panama Canal Zone Map, 1911

Postage stamps and postal history of the Canal Zone is a subject that covers the postal system, postage stamps used and mail sent to and from the Panama Canal Zone from 1904 up until October 1978, after the United States relinquished its authority of the Zone in compliance with the treaty it reached with Panama.

Contents

The Canal Zone was a strip of territory 50 miles (80 km) long and 10 miles (16 km) wide across the Isthmus of Panama, and was ceded to the United States for the purpose of constructing and operating the canal which connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Upon the establishment of the Canal Zone in 1903, [lower-alpha 1] seventeen Post Offices had also been established and were operated by the U.S. Government. [lower-alpha 2] The Canal Zone and its post offices, with the main distributing office in Cristobal, operated as an independent government agency under the direct authority of the President of the United States. In the towns where there were railroad stations, the station agents of the Panama Railroad functioned as postmasters. Along with ships and freight, domestic mail and mail from around the world moved through the canal. The Canal Zone Post Office began operating and issued its first postage stamps on June 24, 1904. [2] Initially these were the current stamps of Panama or (less often) the U.S., overprinted with 'CANAL ZONE' in various styles. Philatelists have identified over 100 varieties, some of them quite rare (and counterfeited).

First issues

The Republic of Panama was formally part of Colombia, and after it broke away from Colombia, with assistance from the United States, it established itself as a separate nation where it immediately became necessary to establish its own post offices and issue its own postage stamps. [3] The Canal Zone Post Office was inaugurated on June 25, 1904. Beforehand the domestic rates of postage in the United States were made applicable to all possessions of the United States on June 20, 1904, which henceforth included the Canal Zone. [4]

The first Panama stamps consisted of existing Colombian stamps, which were overprinted with Panama. These in turn were used for Canal Zone postage and were again, overprinted with CANAL ZONE with a red bar at top blocking out the name Colombia. [3] Many varieties of the overprinting of PANAMA and CANAL ZONE exist, including doubled overprinting, complete inverts and stamps with the letter A inverted or completely missing. [5] The coloring of the overprinting varies from violet to bluish-violet, with the overprinting measuring 18 mm. [6] The first comprehensive study of these issues was conducted by George L. Toppan, and his classification of the various varieties that occur in these issues is the most feasible one yet presented. [7]

2-cent, Issue of 1904 Canal Zone postage, CZ1, 1904 Issue.jpg
2-cent, Issue of 1904
5-cent, Issue of 1904 Canal Zone postage, CZ2, 1904 Issue.jpg
5-cent, Issue of 1904
10-cent, Issue of 1904 Canal Zone postage, CZ3, 1904 Issue.jpg
10-cent, Issue of 1904

The first stamps issued for Canal Zone postage consisted of three values, 2c, 5c and 10c, which were first issued on June 24, 1904, but were only used for twenty-four days, until July 17, 1904, and were removed from sale after that date. They were overprinted with a rubber handstamp. [3] Dr. J. C. Perry, a surgeon in the U. S. Marine Hospital, and a philatelic student was stationed at Ancon at this time, whose investigations provided much information concerning this and some of the later series. In regard to the first stamp issues he said: [8]

The first issue of stamps was authorized by executive order of the Governor of the Canal Zone, which provided that a limited number of stamps of the Panama Republic should be secured and surcharged "Canal Zone" in order to meet the demands of the postal service until the United States stamps properly surcharged could be obtained from Washington.

These first issues were carefully guarded and purchases were limited to the amount of one dollar in silver or fifty cents in U.S. currency. The executive order also cautioned anyone about buying or keeping large quantities of these stamps, as they would not be available for postage after the above date. However, this cautionary measure was unnecessary. [8] This first series of Canal Zone overprint issues is the one with the most plentiful fakes. [6]

1904 issues, second series

These stamps consisted of existing U.S. regular issues of 1902–1903 and were overprinted in 1904 with CANAL ZONE and PANAMA in vertical fashion, for use as Canal Zone postage: Issued in denominations of 1c, 2c, 5c 8c and 10c. Benjamin Franklin became the first historical figure to appear on Canal Zone Postage. [9] The overprinting was conducted in Washington D.C. [10] These were the first U.S. stamps overprinted for use in the Canal Zone, and consisted of a huge quantity on 10-million stamps. As the stamps featured American historical figures, such as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, they were generally not well received by the largely Panamanian population in and around the Canal Zone. These issues were briefly used for less than five months and were taken off sale as a result of the "Taft Agreement". This agreement was brought about as a result of an investigation into the protests made by Panama officials and business. These issues were in use from July 18 to December 11, 1904. Only a small percentage were actually sold, with the greater bulk of them destroyed on January 2–3, 1906, supervised by the Director of Posts, Tom M. Cooke. [11]

Selected Issues :
US regular Issue, 1c, overprinted Canal Zone CZ4, Issue of 1904.jpg
US regular Issue, 1c, overprinted
US regular Issue, 5c, overprinted Canal Zone CZ6, Issue of 1904.jpg
US regular Issue, 5c, overprinted
US regular Issue, 10c, overprinted Canal Zone CZ8, Issue of 1904.jpg
US regular Issue, 10c, overprinted

Two years after they were issued they were withdrawn from sale with the remainders of all values destroyed on January 2 and 3, 1906. Their withdrawal was arranged through an agreement between the Secretary of War, William Taft, and the Government of the Republic of Panama. The arrangement between the two governments resulted in many varieties for two reasons: One was due to the fact that the Canal Zone surcharge was printed on small quantities of stamps, with copper faced type which was reset at least five times for some of the values. The other was because many of the stamps used were those which had already been surcharged by the Panama authorities, and which were again surcharged with the Canal Zone overprinting. [10] The last of these overprints were issued in 1939. [12]

1904 issues, third series

In 1904, the Taft agreement required that Canal Zone stamps be produced by overprinting Panama stamps, and that 40% of their face value was to be paid to Panama. Somewhat similar to the map design of the first issues of 1904, the Third Series of Canal Zone stamps went on sale December 12, 1904. This issue was first overprinted by Mr. C. Bertoncini who was the Chief of the Canal Zone Division of Map Making, and then transferred to the Printing Bureau of the Engineering Department, also known as the 'Commission Printing Office', in August 1905. The Third Series is very interesting because of the myriad combinations in the overprints. The Canal Zone Director of Posts, sent a memorandum to all postmasters instructing them to sell these stamps for their face value in gold, or in Colombian silver at the rate of two for one. All the stamps in this series were overprinted in black from the same style of Canal Zone plates, in several different stages, with slight changes in the lettering for each stage. The overprinting plate was set up to overprint a full sheet of 100 stamps in one pass. new plates were brought in after several printings as needed, with each plate resulting in variations or errors in the overprinting. [13] [14] [15]

Canal Zone stamps, third series of 1904.jpg

8-cent surcharge

8-cent surcharge of 1904 Canal Zone-8c, 14, 1904 Issue.jpg
8-cent surcharge of 1904

In December 1904 the Canal Zone postal authorities requested from Panama a supply of 8¢ stamps for to be employed as registration fee stamps. Panama at the time did not have an 8¢ denomination in its current series of postage, making it necessary to prepare an 8¢ surcharge stamp to existing stocks of postage stamps. To this end Panama used their regular 50¢ stamp from their current series of issues. The 8¢ surcharge was made in Panama on Colombian stamps already overprinted with a red colored bar and the word PANAMA and occurs in varying thickness and forms. [16] There are three varieties of the '8' in the surcharge. [17]

1906–1909 issues

Postage stamps issued in 1906–1907 were printed by the Hamilton Bank Note Engraving and Printing Co, in New York; Those issued in 1909 were issued by the American Bank Note Company. This series of stamps features portraits of statesmen, educators and other prominent men involved in Panama's early history. There were ten designs in all. Some of the issues were printed with the portrait inverted. [18] The 1909 overprints were printed at the Isthmian Canal Commission’s Printing Office in Panama City. [19] The overprinting in the first printing places the word CANAL near the left side of the stamp, reading upward. Successive printings were issued with CANAL at the right, reading downward. [20] Some of the issues have missing or partially missing overprints, doubled overprints and inverted overprinting. A specialized catalog is needed to determine which values have the various oveprinting errors. [18]

Selected issues:
Vasco Nunez de Balboa
Issue of 1906 Canal Zone Postage CZ22, Issue of 1906.jpg
Fernandez de Cordoba
Issue of 1906 Canal Zone 2 cent Cordoba, 1909 Issue.jpg
  Fernandez de Cordoba
Issue of 1906
Arosemena
Issue of 1909 Canal Zone, Arosemena, 5c, 1909 Issue,.jpg
    Arosemena
Issue of 1909
Jose de Obaldia
Issue of 1906 Canal Zone, de Obaldia, 10c, 1906 Issue.jpg
Jose de Obaldia
Issue of 1906

A second series of stamps was issued in 1909, honoring the same figures depicted above in the 1906 issues, with same color themes for a given stamp, but with different border designs. [21]

Selected issues:
Fernandez de Cordoba,
Issue of 1906 Canal Zone CZ 23, 1906 Issue.jpg
Fernandez de Cordoba,
Issue of 1906
Justo Arosemena Quesada,
Issue of 1906 Canal Zone 5c cz24, 1906 Issue.jpg
Justo Arosemena Quesada,
Issue of 1906
Manuel Jose Hurtado,
Issue of 1909 Canal Zone Postage-8c, cz29, 1909 Issue.jpg
Manuel José Hurtado,
Issue of 1909

1915 and 1917 pictorial issues

A set of four pictorial stamps were issued by the Canal Zone authorities on March 1, 1915 to commemorate the opening of the Panama Canal. These series of stamps were very different from any of the previous issues in both shape and design. The designs consists of a black picture (a vignette) in the center framed by a colored border design. [22]

1915 Issues
1915 Commemorative issue, 1c
Map of Panama Canal Canal Zone CZ42, 1915 Issue.jpg
1915 Commemorative issue, 1c
Map of Panama Canal
1915 Commemorative issue, 2c
Balboa taking possession of the Pacific Ocean Canal Zone CZ43, 1915 Issue.jpg
1915 Commemorative issue, 2c
Balboa taking possession of the Pacific Ocean
1915 Commemorative issue, 24c
Gatun Locks Canal Zone CZ44, 1915 Issue.jpg
1915 Commemorative issue, 24c
Gatun Locks
1915 Commemorative issue, 12c
Culebra Cut Canal Zone CZ45, 1915 Issue.jpg
1915 Commemorative issue, 12c
Culebra Cut
1917 Issues

A second series of three pictorial commemorative stamps were issued in January 1917. On November 27, 1916, Executive Secretary McIlvaine wrote to Panama's Secretary of Foreign Affairs Narciso Garay, informing him that the official name of the cut had been changed from 'Culebra Cut' to 'Gaillard Cut' but by then the 24c stamp commemorating this had already been printed with the former title. Most of the 1917 issues were never sold and were destroyed. [23]

1917 Commemorative issue, 12c
S.S. Panama in Culebra Cut Canal Zone CZ49, 1917 Issue.jpg
1917 Commemorative issue, 12c
S.S. Panama in Culebra Cut
1917 Commemorative issue, 15c
S.S. Panama in Culebra Cut Canal Zone CZ50, 1917 Issue.jpg
1917 Commemorative issue, 15c
S.S. Panama in Culebra Cut
1917 Commemorative issue, 24c
S.S. Cristobal in Gatun Locks Canal Zone CZ51, 1917 Issue.jpg
1917 Commemorative issue, 24c
S.S. Cristobal in Gatun Locks

1921 issues

In 1921, the Republic of Panama planned to issue a Centennial commemorative series in honor of the 100th anniversary of Panama's independence from Spain. The Canal Zone was invited to participate in a postal way and the Canal Zone's Executive Secretary was pleased to accept their invitation. By the middle of January 1924, all the stamps of the 1¢ and 2¢ denominations were nearly exhaustedwhich prompted the next production of stamps, issued that year. [24]

Selected issues :
Vallarino, 1c, 1921 Issue Canal Zone, Vallarino, 1c, 1921 Issue.jpg
Vallarino, 1c, 1921 Issue
Bolivar's Tribute, 5c, 1921 Issue Canal Zone, Bolivar's Tribute, 5c, 1921 Issue.jpg
Bolivar's Tribute, 5c, 1921 Issue

1924 Coat of Arms issue

Coat of Arms Issue
Only the 1C/ & 2C/ issues were released for postage in 1924. Canal Zone, coat of arms, 1c & 2c, 1924 Issue.jpg
Coat of Arms Issue
Only the 1¢ & 2¢ issues were released for postage in 1924.

Panama had ordered the new permanent coat of arms set both for use in Panama and for the Canal Zone. When stocks of the 1¢ Vallarino stamp were nearly used up it became imperative to have a new supply of 1-cent stamps at once. The Canal Zone Postal Authority requisitioned 50,000 of the 1¢ stamp from Panama for overprinting at Mount Hope and Panama sent over the Vallarino 1¢ stamp. On January 28, 1924, these stamps were overprinted at Mount Hope. Panama was billed for the cost of this overprinting. Before Panama was sent its order for its coat of arms series from the American Bank Note Company, it sent a letter of inquiry to the Canal Zone Administration informing them of their pending order and requested estimates of Canal Zone's stamp requirements for the next year. The Canal Zone overprints were shipped from the United States in January and February 1924 and delivered to the Canal Zone. [25] The Coat of Arms stamps were printed in denominations ranging from 1-cent to 50-cents, however, only the 1-cent and 2-cent issues were ever released for use as postage. [26]

Selected issues :
Panama Coat of Arms, overprinted for Canal Zone postage, 1924 Issue
printed but never released for postage Canal Zone, 3 Coat of Arms, 1924 Issue.jpg
Panama Coat of Arms, overprinted for Canal Zone postage, 1924 Issue
printed but never released for postage

1924–1925 overprints

U.S. Regular Issues printed on the flat plate press in 1922 were overprinted with the words CANAL ZONE and converted to Canal Zone Postage. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing received the first order of stamps from the Canal authorities in 1924. [18]

Selected Issues :
Canal Zone 71, 1924 Issue.jpg    Canal Zone 73, 1924 Issue.jpg Canal Zone 74, 1924 Issue.jpg    Canal Zone 79, 1924 Issue.jpg    1925 Canal Zone Stamp.jpg
Regular Issues of 1922–1931
Overprinted and issued for Canal Zone postage in 1924–25

1928 permanent issues

Maj. Gen. George W. Goethals, 1928 permanent issue Canal Zone 2c-Gothals, 1928 Issue.jpg
Maj. Gen. George W. Goethals, 1928 permanent issue
Maj. Gen. William C. Gorgas Canal Zone 1c Gorgas, 1928 Issue.jpg
Maj. Gen. William C. Gorgas

On October 1, 1928, the first permanent issue Canal Zone stamp, 2 cent Goethals, was placed on sale. Other permanent issues followed, designed to honor new members of the Isthmian Canal Commission established on the Isthmus during 1907: Lieut. Col. George W. Goethals, Chairman and Chief Engineer; The denominations of the stamps honoring the various members of the Commission, were: 1¢, Gorgas, 2¢ Goethals, 10¢ Hodges, 12¢ Gaillard, 14¢ Sibert, 15¢ Smith, 20¢ Rousseau, 30¢ Williamson, and 50¢ Blackburn. Canal Zone permanent and provisional issues have since replaced all overprinted United States stamps and stamped paper. [27]

1939 25th anniversary issues

On August 15, 1939 the Canal Zone Post Office issued a series of 16 stamps commemorating the 25th anniversary of the canal's completion, depicting "before" and "after" views of various points along the canal. [9] Thereafter stamps appeared at an average rate of about two per year, with a commemorative set in some years and no stamps in others. The inscriptions were changed to just "CANAL ZONE" in the 1960s. This paralleled the abandonment of the word "POSTAGE" on many United States stamps, as the United States ceased to issue revenue stamps. [28] The last such item replaced was the 2 cent postal card on November 1, 1958. In 1928, the Zone issued a definitive series inscribed "CANAL ZONE POSTAGE" depicting various persons involved in the construction of the canal, as well as a 5 cent value showing the Gaillard Cut.

Balboa, before Balboa, after Canal Zone, 1939, 1c and 2c Issues.jpg
   Balboa, before                                                          Balboa, after
Other selected issues :
Pedro Miguel Locks CZ, 1939 Issue, 20c.jpg
Pedro Miguel Locks
Gatun Spillway CZ, 1939 Issue, 25c.jpg
Gatun Spillway

1946–1949 issues

Between 1946 and 1949 five notable figures connected with the promotion and construction of the Canal Zone were commemorated on its postage. [29]

Davis, Magoon, Roosevelt, Stevens, Wallace Canal Zone 1946-1949 Issues, strip5.jpg

Gold rush issues

On June 1, 1949, the Canal Zone issued four stamps commemorating the 100th anniversary of the California gold rush. Printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the stamps underscored the Isthmus of Panama's significant role as a major crossing point for gold seekers en route to California. They remained on sale until August 11, 1952, after which remaining stocks were destroyed. [30] [31]

June 1949 Issues Canal Zone, June 1949, Issues.jpg
June 1949 Issues

1951–1960 issues

75th anniversary of Gorgas Hospital
1957 Issue CZ, 1957 Gorgas Hospital Issue, 3c.jpg
75th anniversary of Gorgas Hospital
1957 Issue
100th Anniversary Roosevelt
1958 Issue Canal Zone,100 Anniversary Roosevelt, 4c, 1958 Issue.jpg
100th Anniversary Roosevelt
1958 Issue
100th Anniversary of Canal Zone railroad
1955 Issue Canal Zone, Locomotive, 3c, 1955 Issue.jpg
100th Anniversary of Canal Zone railroad
1955 Issue
Boy Scouts
1960 Issue Canal Zone, Boy Scouts, 4c, 1960 Issue.jpg
Boy Scouts
1960 Issue

Air mail issues

Canal Zone Airmail cover, franked with 25c overprint on Goethals 1928 issue, Postmarked Feb. 12, 1931 CZ Airmail cover, 25c Goethals, 1931.jpg
Canal Zone Airmail cover, franked with 25c overprint on Goethals 1928 issue, Postmarked Feb. 12, 1931

The first Canal Zone air mail stamps were issued in 1928—1929, with rates of postage over-printed on existing Canal Zone permanent issue stamps, issued in 1929. [32]

Canal Zone's air mail stamp, issue of 1929 CZ airmail 15c, 1929 Issue.jpg
Canal Zone's air mail stamp, issue of 1929

25th anniversary air mail issues

In 1938 the Canal Zone Postal Authorities issued a series of stamps commemorating the 25th Silver Jubilee anniversary of the opening of the Panama Canal, and the 10th anniversary of airmail service there. This series was printed on the flat plate printing press. [32]

CZ Air Mail, 25th Anv, 5c.jpg CZ Air Mail 25h Anv, 10c.jpg CZ Air Mail, 25th Anv, 15c.jpg CZ Air Mail, 25th Anv, 25c.jpg CZ Air Mail, 25th Anv, 30c.jpg CZ Air Mail, 25th Anv, $1.jpg
25 cent Canal Zone Air mail plate proof  (detail of entire plate) Panama Canal C18.jpg
25 cent Canal Zone Air mail plate proof  (detail of entire plate)

Winged globe issues

The Globe and Wing airmail stamps were issued 1951—1958 a six-stamp series replacing the Gaillard Cut permanent series with a more modern depiction of a winged airmail allegorical image. The image is superimposed on a depiction of a map of the Americas centered on the Canal Zone. Printed on the flat plate printing press, of 1951—1958, in denominations ranging from 4-cents to 80-cents. Printed in 1963, he 8-cent Winged Globe is the only Winged Globe printed on the rotary press. [33] The 25-cent Globe and Wing stamp, issued on August 16, 1958, intended to pay the new airmail rate on letters to Europe. [34]

Selected Issues :
Canal Zone Air Mail C30.jpg Canal Zone Air Mail C31.jpg           Canal Zone Air Mail C34.jpg


Canal Zone Air Mails, 1965--1976 Issues Canal Zone Air Mails, 1965 Issue.jpg
Canal Zone Air Mails, 1965—1976 Issues

Canal Zone seal and jet, issues of 1965–1976

The Canal Zone Seal and Jet airmails were printed on the Giori press, issued in two series at intervals between 1965 and 1976. The first series (6-, 8-, 15-, 20-, 30-, and 80-cent) replaced the previous series of airmails on July 15, 1965. The 10-, 11-, and 13-cent stamps were printed to meet airmail rate changes to the United States, while the 22-, 25-, while 35-cent stamps covered the new air mail rates to the rest of the world. Each denomination in this series of twelve-stamp stamps represents a specific postal rate with the exception of the 80-cent, used to cover general and larger postage costs, usually used in conjunction with one or more of the lower rate stamps. [35] [36]

Selected Issues :
Canal Zone Air Mail, 6c
1965 Issue Canal Zone Air Mail, 6c, 1965 Issue.jpg
Canal Zone Air Mail, 6c
1965 Issue
Canal Zone Air Mail, 8c
, 1965 Issue Canal Zone Air Mail, 8c, 1965 Issue.jpg
Canal Zone Air Mail, 8c
, 1965 Issue
Canal Zone Air Mail, 30c
1965 Issue Canal Zone Air Mail, 30c, 1965 Issue.jpg
Canal Zone Air Mail, 30c
1965 Issue
Canal Zone Air Mail, 80c
1976 Issue Canal Zone Air Mail, 80c, 1976 Issue.jpg
Canal Zone Air Mail, 80c
1976 Issue

Postage due

For several years after the United States assumed authority of the Canal Zone and its post offices no postage due stamps had yet been issued. Letters that were lacking in sufficient postage when received at the office of delivery were simply hand stamped "postage due", with the appropriate amount due indicated. Prior to its delivery, any such letter was affixed with a postage stamp in the amount of the postage due and then cancelled in the standard fashion. Then in 1908, Gerald D. Bliss, the postmaster at Pedro Miguel post office conceived the idea of precancelling entire sheets of stamps with the Postage Due cancelling stamp. This was not official method and was done simply to save time. To save time it soon became necessary to print and use specific Postage Due stamps without having to stop and treat every such letter lacking in sufficient postage. The ten cents stamp was the one most used but all of the denominations of the 1906, 1909 and 1910 issues were precancelled in such a manner. By 1914, Postage Due stamps were finally issued. These were the current Postage Due stamps of the United States, consisting of the denominations of one, two and ten cents overprinted with the words "canal zone" in one line, diagonal fashion along the bottom area of the stamps. The regular issue of U.S. Postage Due stamps were overprinted again in 1925, with a variation in the overprint, with CANAL over the word ZONE. Postmasters in the Canal Zone received strict orders not to sell any of these stamps to the public in unused condition. These orders were apparently followed as none of the unused Postage Due stamps had surfaced. [12] [37]

1914 Issue, plate strip of 3 Canal Zone Postage Due-1c, J3, 1914 Issue, plate strip of 3.jpg
1914 Issue, plate strip of 3
Canal Zone Postage Due stamps, 1915 Issue, made by overprinting U.S regular U.S. Postage Due stamps issued in 1898 Canal Zone Postage Due, 1c, J1 blk4.jpg
Canal Zone Postage Due stamps, 1915 Issue, made by overprinting U.S regular U.S. Postage Due stamps issued in 1898
Variation of Canal Zone Postage Due, Issued in 1924 Canal Zone Postage Due-1c, J12, 1924 Issue.jpg
Variation of Canal Zone Postage Due, Issued in 1924

In April, 1915, these stamps were replaced by a set of Postage Dues supplied by the Panama Government, and those remaining in the Post Offices were called in and destroyed. The new stamps had a pleasing appearance, consisting of three values: one, two, and ten centesimos de balboa; Printed by the American Bank Note Company all three of these stamps were of the same color, olive brown. [37]

Cristopher Columbus depicted on Postage Due, 1915 Issue
Printed by the American Bank Note Company Canal Zone Postage Due-2c, J8, 1915 Issue.jpg
Cristopher Columbus depicted on Postage Due, 1915 Issue
Printed by the American Bank Note Company
U.S. Regular Issues of 1922 overprinted for use as Canal Zone Postage Due Canal Zone overprints - postage due.jpg
U.S. Regular Issues of 1922 overprinted for use as Canal Zone Postage Due

Final years

Last stamp issued by the Canal Zone, 1978 Issue Canal Zone, Towering Locomotive, 15c, 1978 Issue.jpg
Last stamp issued by the Canal Zone, 1978 Issue

The final years of the Canal Zone saw few stamps issued—those that were issued were mainly for new first-class postal rates (the first-class rates paralleled those of the United States) The last stamp (fifteen cents) of the Zone was issued on October 25, 1978, and depicted one of the towing locomotives and a ship in a lock. Thereafter Panama took over the administration of postal service and, after a brief transition period, Canal Zone stamps became invalid. [38]

Dredge cascades, 13c, 1976 Issue Canal Zone, Dredge cascades, 13c, 1976 Issue.jpg
Dredge cascades, 13c, 1976 Issue

1975 reprints

In 1975 three stamps originally issued in 1928—1929, and one issued in 1946, were reprinted on the rotary press as coil stamps. [39]

4-cent Thatcher Ferry Bridge

A 4-cent Thatcher Ferry Bridge commemorative stamp (Scott 157) was issued on Columbus Day, October 12, 1962, commemorating the opening of the new bridge over the Panama Canal at Balboa. [40]  (See below image, left)

Famous error

One pane of fifty stamps was released without the silver ink used to depict the Bridge. This error is likely to have made this issue the most famous Canal Zone stamp. Three additional sheets of this error were discovered in the Philatelic Agency at Balboa, which attempted to print an additional 100,000 copies in an effort to reduce its value to collectors. The sheet was unknowingly sold in a group of 5,000 to a Boston stamp dealer, H.E. Harris, who successfully sued in federal court to stop the additional printing. Today, examples of this famous error are still owned by collectors and are valued at many thousands of dollars. The National Postal Museum is in possession of two of these fifty-stamp sheets. [41]  (See below image, right)

Thatcher Ferry Bridge, 4c, Commemorative Issue of 1962 CZ Thatcher Ferry Bridge, 4c, 1962 Issue.jpg
Thatcher Ferry Bridge, 4c, Commemorative Issue of 1962
Thatcher Ferry Bridge, printing error, Issue of 1962 CZ Thatcher Ferry Bridge error, 4c, 1962 Issue.jpg
Thatcher Ferry Bridge, printing error, Issue of 1962

See also

Notes

  1. The actual canal wasn't completed until 1914.
  2. These Post Offices were located at Ancon, Cristobal, Culebra, Empire, Pedro Miguel, La Boca, Gatún, Paraiso, Bas Obispo, Bohio, Corozal, Gorgona, Las Cascadas, Miraflores, Matachin, San Pablo, and Taberuilla. [1]

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This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of Fezzan and Ghadames, both now part of Libya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presidents of the United States on U.S. postage stamps</span> History of U.S. presidents on postage stamps

Presidents of the United States have frequently appeared on U.S. postage stamps since the mid-19th century. The United States Post Office Department released its first two postage stamps in 1847, featuring George Washington on one, and Benjamin Franklin on the other. The advent of presidents on postage stamps has been definitive to U.S. postage stamp design since the first issues were released and set the precedent that U.S. stamp designs would follow for many generations.

1930 <i>Graf Zeppelin</i> stamps

The 1930 Graf Zeppelin stamps were a set of three airmail postage stamps, each depicting the image of the Graf Zeppelin, issued by the United States Post Office Department in 1930, exclusively for delivery of mail carried aboard that airship. Although the stamps were valid for postage on mail sent on the Zeppelin Pan American flight from Germany to the United States, via Brazil, the set was marketed to collectors and was largely intended to promote the route. 93.5% of the revenue generated by the sale of these stamps went to the Zeppelin Airship Works in Germany. The Graf Zepplin stamps were issued as a gesture of goodwill toward Germany. The three stamps were used briefly and then withdrawn from sale. The remainder of the stock was destroyed by the Post Office Department. Due to the high cost of the stamps during the Great Depression, most collectors and the general public could not afford them. Consequently, only about 227,000 of the stamps were sold, just 7% of the total printed, making them relatively scarce and prized by collectors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Revenue stamps of the United States</span>

The first revenue stamps in the United States were used briefly during colonial times, among the most notable usage involved the Stamp Act. Long after independence, the first revenue stamps printed by the United States government were issued in the midst of the American Civil War, prompted by the urgent need to raise revenue to pay for the great costs it incurred. After the war ended however, revenue stamps and the taxes they represented still continued. Revenue stamps served to pay tax duties on items that came under two main categories, Proprietary and Documentary. Proprietary stamps paid tax duties on goods like alcohol and tobacco, and were also used for various services, while Documentary stamps paid duties on legal documents, mortgage deeds, stocks and a fair number of other legal dealings. Proprietary and Documentary stamps often bore these respective designations, while in several of the issues they shared the same designs, sometimes with minor variations. Beginning in 1862 the first revenue stamps were issued, and would continue to be used for another hundred years and more. For the first twelve years George Washington was the only subject featured on U.S. revenue stamps, when in 1875 an allegorical figure of Liberty finally appeared. Revenue stamps were printed in many varieties and denominations and are widely sought after by collectors and historians. Revenue stamps were finally discontinued on December 31, 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington–Franklin Issues</span> American postage stamp series

The Washington–Franklin Issues are a series of definitive U.S. Postage stamps depicting George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, issued by the U.S. Post Office between 1908 and 1922. The distinctive feature of this issue is that it employs only two engraved heads set in ovals—Washington and Franklin in full profile—and replicates one or another of these portraits on every stamp denomination in the series. This is a significant departure from previous definitive issues, which had featured pantheons of famous Americans, with each portrait-image confined to a single denomination. At the same time, this break with the recent past represented a return to origins. Washington and Franklin, after all, had appeared on the first two American stamps, issued in 1847, and during the next fifteen years, each of the eight stamp denominations available featured either Washington or Franklin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">US Regular Issues of 1922–1931</span>

The Regular Issues of 1922–1931 were a series of 27 U.S. postage stamps issued for general everyday use by the U.S. Post Office. Unlike the definitives previously in use, which presented only a Washington or Franklin image, each of these definitive stamps depicted a different president or other subject, with Washington and Franklin each confined to a single denomination. The series not only restored the historical tradition of honoring multiple presidents on U.S. Postage but extended it. Offering the customary presidential portraits of the martyred Lincoln and Garfield, the war hero Grant, and the founding fathers Washington and Jefferson, the series also memorialized some of the more recently deceased presidents, beginning with Hayes, McKinley, Cleveland and Roosevelt. Later, the deaths of Harding, Wilson and Taft all prompted additions to the presidential roster of Regular Issue stamps, and Benjamin Harrison's demise (1901) was belatedly deemed recent enough to be acknowledged as well, even though it had already been recognized in the Series of 1902. The Regular Issues also included other notable Americans, such as Martha Washington and Nathan Hale—and, moreover, was the first definitive series since 1869 to offer iconic American pictorial images: these included the Statue of Liberty, the Capitol Building and others. The first time (1869) that images other than portraits of statesmen had been featured on U.S. postage, the general public disapproved, complaining that the scenes were no substitute for images of presidents and Franklin. However, with the release of these 1922 regular issues, the various scenes—which included the Statue of Liberty, the Lincoln Memorial and even an engraving of an American Buffalo—prompted no objections. To be sure, this series presented pictorial images only on the higher-value stamps; the more commonly used denominations, of 12 cents and lower, still offered the traditional portraits.

Revenue stamps of Guyana refer to the various revenue or fiscal stamps, whether adhesive, directly embossed or otherwise, which have been issued by Guyana since its independence in 1966. Prior to independence, the country was known as British Guiana, and it had issued its own revenue stamps since the 19th century. Guyana used dual-purpose postage and revenue stamps until 1977, and it issued revenue-only stamps between 1975 and the 2000s. The country has also issued National Insurance stamps, labels for airport departure tax and excise stamps for cigarettes and alcohol.

References

  1. Evans, 1916, p. 3    Dade & Shay, 1949, p. 31
  2. Rossiter, Stuart & John Flower. The Stamp Atlas. London: Macdonald, 1986, p. 166. ISBN   0356108627
  3. 1 2 3 Bartles, 1906, p. 1
  4. Dade & Shay, 1949, p. viii
  5. Evans, 1916, p. 6
  6. 1 2 Zemer, 2002, pp. 53–54
  7. Evans, 1916, p. 4
  8. 1 2 Evans, 1916, p. 5
  9. 1 2 Scott's United States stamp catalogue, 1982, p.656
  10. 1 2 Evans, 1916, pp. 7–8
  11. Dade & Shay, 1949, p.10
  12. 1 2 Scott's United States stamp catalogue, 1982, pp. 655, 664
  13. Dada & Shay, 1946, pp. 12, 29
  14. Scott's United States stamp catalogue, 1982, pp. 656–657
  15. Smithsonian national Postal Museum, Third Series (1904–1906)
  16. Dade & Shay, 1946, p. 16
  17. Scott's United States stamp catalogue, 1982, p. 656
  18. 1 2 3 Scott's United States stamp catalogue, 1982, pp. 655–660
  19. Dade & Shay, 1909, p. 154
  20. Evans, 1916, p. 26
  21. Scott's United States stamp catalogue, 1982, p. 658
  22. Evans, 1916, pp. 30–31
  23. Smithsonian National Postal Museum, 24-cent S.S. Cristobal in Gatun Locks
  24. Dade & Shay, 1949, p. 36
  25. Dadae & Shay, 1949, p. 36
  26. Scott's United States stamp catalogue, 1982, pp. 660–661
  27. Dade & Shay, 1949, p. 73
  28. Scott's United States stamp catalogue, 1982, p.666—667
  29. Scott's United States stamp catalogue, 1982, p.667
  30. Scott's United States stamp catalogue, 1982, pp. 667–668
  31. Karrer, Essay, 2007, Smithsonian National Postal Museum
  32. 1 2 Scott's United States stamp catalogue, 1982, p.670
  33. Scott's United States stamp catalogue, 1982, p.671
  34. Smithsonian National Postal Museum
  35. Scott's United States stamp catalogue, 1982, p. 672
  36. Karrer, 2007, Smithsonian National Postal Museum
  37. 1 2 Evans, 1916, p. 31
  38. Scott's United States stamp catalogue, 1982, p.655
  39. Scott's United States stamp catalogue, 1982, pp. 663–664, 667
  40. Scott's United States stamp catalogue, 1982, p. 669
  41. Karrer, Essay, 2007

Bibliography