Christianization of the Philippines
This Souvenir Sheet was released in 1965 to commemorate the 4th centennial anniversary (400 years) since the Christianization of the Philippines. The souvenir sheet contains 2 x postage stamps and 2 x air mail stamps, all of which are imperforate. Perforated stamps of the same design were also available in this year (Scott #’s: PH 935, 936, C91, C92). Imagery of the stamps depict the journey of the Spanish to the Philippines, an early baptism of Filipinos and the Legazpi-Urdaneta Monument (as erected in 1929).
Due to its mass production, this souvenir sheet is a common sight in many Philippines stamp collections.
2 variations of this souvenir sheet were later produced. Both were released in 1976 to commemorate the American Revolution Bicentennial – 200 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Each sheet is identical except for the ink used in the overprinted markings and surcharges. Black ink was used on the first while red was used on the second.
Following the release of the souvenir sheets an exhibition card was produced bearing a strikingly similar design. These were not released by PhilPost or associated with any government agency.
The Asociacion Filatelica De Filipinas sponsored the CHRISQUAPIPEX philatelic exhibition in 1965 in Manila (the same year that the original souvenir sheet was released). An exhibition card was released jointly in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Christianization of the Philippines and to mark the appointment of the Asociacion Filatelica De Filipinas as Philatelic Agent of the United Nations. The association released this exhibition card as a means of funding their international philatelic exhibition. 10,000 copies were released with a price of P2.50 and each copy was individually numbered on the back. Not all copies were sold. The exhibition card contains 1 x United Nations (NT-NY 143) and 1 x Philippines postage stamp (PH 935). The central design on the card is similar to PH C92 though larger and with significant color changes.
For the 1966 United Nations Day Philatelic Exhibition (UNDAYPEX) held in Manila, 3000 copies of the original exhibition card from 1965 were overprinted in red with the words “UNITED NATIONS DAY PHILATELIC EXHIBITION” and hand stamped with an “UNDAYPEX” stamp.
In 1975 only 650 copies of the original exhibition card were overprinted in gold to commemorate the Golden Anniversary (50 years) of the Asociacion Filatelica De Filipinas. The exhibition card was sold exclusively to members to help fund the exhibition of 1975. This is obviously the scarcer and more highly sought exhibition card.
I wouldn’t ordinarily mix souvenir sheets and stamp exhibition cards in a single post but I feel that these so nicely compliment each other.