Rare 1943 Souvenir Sheet from WWII

This beautiful souvenir sheet is similar to Scott PH NB8 from 1944 and was released during the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines. Around 200,000 copies were printed but they were never released. Some copies were looted from the Manila Central Post Office on the 22nd February 1945 during the battle for liberation of Manila. The majority of copies were unfortunately destroyed as fire swept through the post office building in the aftermath of the battle. It is often reported that only 100 copies survived the fire undamaged, salvaged from the vaults by American G.I’s – making this a special and very scarce souvenir sheet.

Unlike Scott PH NB8, the imperforate stamps on this souvenir have a distinct double border around each. The sheet is also printed on a yellow paper instead of white. The other major difference is the green writing on the souvenir sheet. The writing down the left roughly translates to “Printed by the Palatiyaklupaan and Talatubigan office with the assistance of the Printing Bureau.” Down the right hand side reads “With the birth of patriotic feelings in the Philippines” – the same phrase printed across the bottom of PH NB8. Across the top the writing declares that the souvenir sheet was printed “With the permission of Kgg. QUINTIN PAREDES, Member of Public Works and dispatch” (exactly as it appears across the top of PH NB8).

A great piece of history and a true survivor.