1. History of Philippine Postal Stationary

Size Guide for Historic Envelopes

Envelope sizes have evolved over time. Many of the envelopes detailed below were produced over 120 years ago. It is therefore important to understand the different envelope sizes of the era. Here’s your guide to envelope sizes (with dimensions in inches for my American friends):

#	Size (WxH)	#	Size (WxH)
#1	134 x 73mm 5.27 x 2.87 inches	#9	257 x 111mm 10.12 x 4.37 inches
#5	160 x 89mm 6.30 x 3.5 inches	#10	117 x 90mm 4.60 x 3.54 inches
#6	165 x 93mm 6.49 x 3.66 inches	#11	132 x 108mm 5.19 x 4.25 inches
#7	225 x 98mm 8.86 x 3.86 inches	#13	171 x 95 mm 6.73 x 3.74 inches
#8	241 x 105mm 9.49 x 4.13 inches	#14	160 x 95mm 6.30 x 3.74 inches

Paper Types and Colors

With envelope sizes out of the way, let’s take a quick look at paper types and colors:

Wove paper – Identified by a uniform surface, no texture.
Laid paper – Will typically have small vertical ridges in the paper, left behind by the paper machine during the manufacturing process.
Manila paper – Originally made from manila hemp. Can be rough and strong with a brownish finish.

Sample of white paper as used on Philippine Postal Stationary.

Sample of buff paper as used on Philippine Postal Stationary.

Paper Color	Example	Paper Types Used
White		Laid Wove Manila??
Buff		Laid Wove Manila??
Amber		Laid Wove Manila??
Blue		Laid Wove Manila??

Watermarks

Add information on the different watermarks

Die Types

Probably need to cover this off also.

Corner Cards

The last critical piece of information for the collector before delving into the actual postal stationary is the concept of Corner Cards. When present, Corner Cards appear in the upper left hand corner of the envelope. The presence of a corner card often indicates a scarcer, more valuable and more collectable envelope – due entirely to the limited quantities of envelopes that have this type of overprint. There are some exceptions to this rule.

Corner cards were either printed on postal stationary for general public use or were considered privately printed.

CC#	Example

U.S. Administration

This page is still a work in progress, if you’ve stumbled across it then please check back later.

1908 – dies were especially created for the Philippines, no more “PHILIPPINES” over prints.

Notes:

Scott # / Year	Image	Notes
U1 1900 (size #5) 1901 (size #1)	U1 Size #5 (UPSS:3)	1c Franklin oval printed in green on white paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Watermark 13. Size #1 (UPSS: 1) – 30,000 copies. Size #5 (UPSS: 2) – 30,000 copies. Size #5 (UPSS: 3) – Left and right folded tabs on rear do not overlap in the centre. Size #5 (UPSS: 3a) – Identical to UPSS-3 though the overprint is in red.
U2 1901		1c Franklin oval printed in green on amber paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Watermark 13. Size #1 (UPSS: 4) – 500 copies. Size #5 (UPSS: 5) – 500 copies.
U3 1902	U3 with “Francisco Gonzales” private print	1c Franklin oval printed in green on amber paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed in red. Watermark 13. Size #5 (UPSS: 6) – 500 copies.
U4 1901	U4 Size # 13 (UPSS 8)	1c Franklin oval printed in green on buff paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Watermark 13. Size #13 (UPSS: 7) – 500 copies. Size #13 (UPSS: 8) – 500 copies. Left and right folded tabs on rear do not meet in the centre.
U5 1899	Not acquired yet	1c Franklin oval printed in green on buff paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed in red. Watermark 13. Size #13 (UPSS: 9) – 500 copies.
U6 1901	U6 with “Francisco Gonzales” private print	1c Franklin oval printed in green on blue paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Watermark 13. Size #13 (UPSS: 10) – 1,000 copies.
U7 1902	U7 with “Francisco Gonzales” private print	1c Franklin oval printed in green on blue paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed in red. Watermark 13. Size #13 (UPSS: 11) – 500 copies.
U8 1899 (#5) 1901 (#7, #8)	U8 (UPSS: 13)	2c Washington oval printed in carmine on white paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Watermark 13. Size #5 (UPSS: 12) – 1,160,000 copies. Size #5 (UPSS: 13) – left and right folded tabs on rear do not overlap in the centre. Size #5 (UPSS: 13a) – same as #13 above but ‘.’ missing after “PHILIPPINES”. Size #7 (UPSS: 14) – 10,000 copies. Size #8 (UPSS: 15) – 10,000 copies.
U9 1900	U9 Size #5 (UPSS: 16) with “Francisco Gonzales” private print	2c Washington oval printed in carmine on amber paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Watermark 13. Size #5 (UPSS: 16) – 21,000 copies.
U10 1901	U10 Size #5 (UPSS: 17)	2c Washington oval printed in carmine on buff paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Watermark 13. Size #5 (UPSS: 17) – 10,000 copies.
U11 1901	U11 size #5 (UPSS: 18)	2c Washington oval printed in carmine on blue paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Watermark 13. Size #5 (UPSS: 18) – 10,000 copies.
U12 1901	Not acquired yet	4c Lincoln oval printed in brown on amber paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Watermark 13. Size #7 (UPSS: 19) – 500 copies.
U13 1901	Not acquired yet	4c Lincoln oval printed in brown on white paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Uses die C which omits the bumps/notches from the inner oval around Lincoln. Watermark 13. Size #7 (UPSS: 20) – 10,000 copies. Size #8 (UPSS: 21) – 10,000 copies.
U14 1901	U14 size #7	4c Lincoln oval printed in brown on amber paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Uses die C which omits the bumps/notches from the inner oval around Lincoln. Watermark 13 Size #7 (UPSS: 22) – 500 copies. Size #7 (UPSS: 22a) – same as above but paper was laid horizontally. Very scarce.
U15 1901	U15 Size #5 (UPSS: 23)	5c Grant oval printed in blue on white paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Watermark 13. Size #5 (UPSS: 23) – 20,000 copies.
U16 1901	Not acquired yet	5c Grant oval printed in blue on amber paper with greenish blue “PHILIPPINES.” overprint. Watermark 13. Size #5 (UPSS: 24) – 500 copies.
U17 1903	U17 Size #5 (UPSS: 25)	1c Franklin round printed in green on white paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. All with watermark 14. Size #5 (UPSS: 25) – 300,000 copies. Size #5 (UPSS: 26) – 500 copies with no gum. Size #5 (UPSS: 26a) – 500 copies with no gum. Left and right folded tabs on rear do not overlap in the centre.
U18 1903	U27 with “Guillermo Perrera” private overprint	1c Franklin round printed in green on amber paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Watermark 14. Size #5 (UPSS: 27) – 1,000 copies.
U19 1903	U28 with “Guillermo Perrera” private overprint	1c Franklin round printed in green on buff paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Watermark 14. Size #5 (UPSS: 28) – 500 copies. Size #13 (UPSS: 29) – 1,000 copies.
U20 1903	U20 with “Guillermo Perrera” private overprint U20 with “Carlos Media” private overprint	1c Franklin round printed in green on blue paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Watermark 14. Size #5 (UPSS: 30) – 500 copies. Size #13(UPSS: 31) – 1,000 copies.
U21 1903	Not acquired yet	1c Franklin round printed in green with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed on manila paper with no gum. Watermark 14. Size #5 (UPSS: 32) – 500 copies.
U22 1903	U22 Size #5	2c Washington rectangle printed in carmine on white paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Watermark 14. Different shades of carmine are known to exist. Size #5 (UPSS: 33) – 100,000 copies. Size #8 (UPSS: 34) – 50,000 copies. Size #10 (UPSS: 35) – 500 copies.
U23 1903	Not acquired yet	2c Washington rectangle printed in carmine on amber paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Watermark 14. Size #5 (UPSS: 36) – 500 copies. Size #7 (UPSS: 36a) – 500 copies.
U24 1903	U24 with “Guillermo Perrera” private overprint	2c Washington rectangle printed in carmine on buff paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Watermark 14. Size #13 (UPSS: 37) – 500 copies.
U25 1903	U25 with “Guillermo Perrera” private overprint	2c Washington rectangle printed in carmine on blue paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Watermark 14. Size #13 (UPSS: 38) – 500 copies.
U26 1903	UPSS: 39b error	4c Grant square printed in brown on amber paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Watermark 14. Size #7 (UPSS: 39) – 500 copies. Size #7 (UPSS: 39b) – 40 copies. Error where the “Philippines.” overprint was omitted – these are very rare.
U27 1903	Not acquired yet	5c Lincoln oval printed in blue on amber paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Watermark 14. Size #5 (UPSS: 40) – 500 copies.
U28 1906	U28 Size # 5	2c Washington rectangle printed in carmine on white paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. Watermark 14. 2 dies were used (type 32 and type 101). *See details on dies used.* Size #5 (UPSS: 41) – die 32 used. Size #5 (UPSS: 41a) – die 32 used same as above though printed in red not carmine. Size #5 (UPSS: 41b) die 101 used.
U29 1907	U29 Size #7	2c Washington rectangle printed in carmine on buff paper with “PHILIPPINES.” over printed. *See details on dies used.* Size #7 (UPSS: 42) – 495 copies. Die 102 used. Size #7 (UPSS: 42a) – 4 copies known. Die 121 used.
U30 1908-	U30 Size #5 with Corner Card U30 Size #5 Money Order and Corner Card U30 Size #5 (UPSS 44c) U30 Size #5 (UPSS: 51) Albino U30 Size #5 (UPSS: 58a) U30 Size #7 (UPSS: 60) U30 Size #11 (UPSS: 67)	2c Rizal oval in green on white paper. Multiple configurations exist for this envelope with various combinations of watermarks, sizes, folds and corner cards. UPSS numbers range from 43 to 68. Size #5 (UPSS: 43-59b) – on white laid or white woven paper. All varieties of Corner Cards exist (CC-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) and also with the Money Order overprint. Multiple watermarks were also used. Size #5 (UPSS 44c) – watermark 28, left and right rear folds do not overlap (knife 81), Money Order envelope with CC-1. Size #5 (UPSS: 51) – Albino on white wove paper, watermark 20. Size #5 (UPSS: 58a) – watermark 30, CC-1, left and right rear folds overlap (knife 90). My example is very lightly embossed. Size #7 (UPSS: 60) – on white wove paper – 1911, watermark 15. Size #8 (UPSS: 61-66) – unknown copies on white woven paper. Size #11 (UPSS: 67) – 1,500 copies on white laid paper, watermark 15. Size #13 (UPSS: 68) – 1,000 copies on white laid paper.
U31 1911	U31 Size #7 (UPSS: 71)	2c Rizal green in an oval on amber paper. Watermark 15 (unless otherwise specified below). Size #5 (UPSS: 69) – 2,000 copies on amber laid paper. Size #5 (UPSS: 70) – 4 copies on amber woven paper with watermark 19. Size #7 (UPSS: 71) – 1,000 copies on amber laid paper.
U32 1908	U32 Size #5 (UPSS: 72) with “Theodore Siddal” private overprint. U32 Size #5 (UPSS: 73a) with “Theodore Siddal” private overprint.	2c Rizal oval in green on buff paper. Watermark 15 (unless otherwise specified below). Size #5 (UPSS: 72) – 2,000 copies on buff laid paper. Size #5 (UPSS: 72a) – same as above but with Money Order. Size #5 (UPSS: 73) – 2,500 copies on buff laid paper. Left and right folded tabs on rear overlap in the centre. Size #5 (UPSS: 73a) – on buff wove paper. Left and right folded tabs on rear overlap in the centre. Watermark 19. Size #7 (UPSS: 74) – 1,000 copies on buff laid paper. Size #8 (UPSS: 75) – on buff laid paper. Size #13 (UPSS: 75a) – buff laid paper. “Theodore Siddal” corner cards exist either printed over 2 or 3 lines.
U33 1908	U33 Size #5 (UPSS: 76)	2c Rizal oval in green on blue paper. Watermark 15 (unless otherwise specified below). Size #5 (UPSS: 76) – 1,500 copies on blue laid paper. Size #5 (UPS: 77) – 4,500 copies on blue wove paper with watermark 19. Size #7 (UPSS: 78) – 1,000 copies on blue laid paper. Size #8 (UPSS: 79) – 1,000 copies on blue laid paper. Size #9 (UPSS: 79a) – on blue laid paper.
U34 1918	U34 Size #5 (UPSS: 80)	2c Rizal oval in green on manila paper. Watermark 15. Size #5 (UPSS: 80) – 1,000 copies on manila laid paper.
U35 1908	U35 Size #5 (UPSS: 82) U35 size #5 (UPSS: 84) U35 Size #5 (UPSS: 84a) U35 Size #5 (UPSS: 86a) U35 Size #5 (UPSS: 87d) U35 Size #8 (UPSS: 90) U35 Size #11 (UPSS: 96)	4c McKinley in carmine on white paper. Multiple configurations exist for this envelope with various combinations of watermarks, sizes, folds and corner cards. UPSS numbers range from 81 to 96 Size #5 (UPSS: 81-88) – 250,000 copies on white laid paper; also with CC-1, CC-7, CC-8. Also on white wove paper with CC-1, CC-7, CC-8, CC-9, CC-10. Size #5 (UPSS: 82) – white paper, watermark 28, CC-1. Size #5 (UPSS: 84) – white paper, watermark 33. Size #5 (UPSS: 84a) – white wove paper, watermark 27, CC-1. Size #5 (UPSS: 86b) – white wove paper, watermark 27, CC-9. Size #5 (UPSS: 87d) – white wove paper, watermark 30 with CC-10. Size #8 (UPSS: 89-95a) – on white laid paper; also on white wove paper. Size #8 (UPSS: 90) – on white wove paper, watermark 33. Size #11 (UPSS: 96) – on white laid paper, watermark 15.
U36 1908	U36 size #5	4c McKinley in carmine on amber paper. Various shades of carmine are known to exist. Size #5 (UPSS: 97) – 1,500 copies on amber laid paper. Watermark 15. Size #8 (UPSS: 98) – on amber wove paper. Watermark 19.
U37 1908	U37 size #5 (UPSS: 99)	4c McKinley in carmine on buff paper. Watermark 15. Size #5 (UPSS: 99) – 1,000 copies on buff laid paper. Size #8 (UPSS: 100) – 1,000 copies on buff laid paper.
U38 1908	U38 Size #5 (UPSS: 101) Official Envelope (document in new section focused on “officials”)	4c McKinley in carmine on blue paper. Watermark 15. Size #5 (UPSS: 101) – 2,000 copies on blue laid paper. Size #8 (UPSS: 102) – 1,000 copies on blue laid paper.
U39 1926	U39 Size #5 (UPSS: 103a)	4c McKinley in carmine on manila paper. Watermark 15. Size #5 (UPSS: 103) – 500 copies on manila paper. Size #5 (UPSS: 103a) – 500 copies on manila paper (same as above), no gum.
U40 1927	U40 Size #6 (UPSS 104a) with CC-1	2c Rizal green to dark green on white paper. Not embossed. Issued in the Philippines. Size #6 (UPSS: 104). Size #6 (UPSS: 104a) with CC-1. Size #6 (UPSS: 104b) with MO-2. Note: some first day releases exists with a barrel and numeral cancellation dated April-5 1927, Manila P.I.
U41 1935	U41 size #5 (UPSS: 105/106/107) U41 size #5 U41 size #5 (UPSS: 105b) U41 size #5 (UPSS 106a) U41 size #8 (UPSS: 109)	2c Carmine Juan de la Cruz on different papers with 2 different watermarks. Size #5 (UPSS: 105) on white paper, watermark 33. Size #5 (UPSS: 105a) with Reply-Paid Corner Card on white paper, watermark 33. Size #5 (UPSS: 105b) with Money Order on white paper, watermark 33. Size #5 (UPSS: 105d) on pale Manila paper, watermark 33. Size #5 (UPSS: 106) on white paper, watermark 36. Size #5 (UPSS: 106a) on white paper with reply paid corner card, watermark 36. Size #5 (UPSS: 106b) on white paper with Money Order corner card, watermark 36. Size #5 (UPSS: 107) on white paper, watermark 39. Size #5 (UPSS: 107a) on white paper, with reply paid corner card, watermark 39. Size #8 (UPSS: 108) on white paper, watermark 33. Size #8 (UPSS: 109) on white paper, watermark 36.
U42 1935	U42 size #5 (UPSS: 110) U42 size #5 (UPSS: 110b) U42 size #8 (UPSS: 112)	4c Olive Green Juan de la Cruz (with varying shades of green being known). Size #5 (UPSS: 110) on white paper, watermark 33. Size #5 (UPSS: 110a) on white with reply paid corner card, watermark 33. Size #5 (UPSS: 110b) on white with reply-paid corner card on 3 lines, watermark 33. Size #5 (UPSS: 111) on white, watermark 36. Size #5 (UPSS: 111a) on white with reply-paid corner card on 3 lines, watermark 36. Size #8 (UPSS: 112) on white, watermark 33.

Japanese Occupation

Scott # / Year	Image	Notes
NU1 1943	Not acquired yet	Overprinted and surcharged to 5c, using the 2c Carmine Juan de la Cruz envelopes from the Commonwealth. Overprints in black and large horseshoe shaped bar obliterates previous “United States of America” text. Size #5 (UPSS: 114) overprinted on UPSS: 106 – carmine on white paper. 50,000 copies. Size #5 (UPSS: 114a) overprinted on UPSS: 106a – carmine on white paper with reply paid corner card. Size #5 (UPSS: 115) overprinted on UPSS: 107 – carmine on white paper with watermark 39. Size #5 (UPSS: 115a) overprinted on UPSS: 107a – carmine on white paper with reply paid corner card, watermark 39.
NU2 1944	NU2 Size #5 (UPSS: 117)	Overprinted and surcharged to 5c, using the 2c Carmine Juan de la Cruz envelopes from the Commonwealth. Overprints in black and large horseshoe shaped bar obliterates previous “United States of America” text and “Republika Ng Pilipinas” text was added. Size #5 (UPSS: 116) overprinted on UPSS: 106 – carmine on white paper, watermark 36. 50,000 copies. Size #5 (UPSS: 116a) overprinted on UPSS: 106a – carmine on white paper with reply paid corner card, watermark 36. Size #5 (UPSS: 117) overprinted on UPSS: 107 – carmine on white paper with watermark 39. Size #5 (UPSS: 117a) overprinted on UPSS: 107a – carmine on white paper with reply paid corner card, watermark 39. First day issues exist for 116 and 117 dated Feb 17, 1944 – Manila. First day issues exist for 116a and 117a dated June 12, 1944 – Manila.

Victory Overprints

Limited quantities of envelopes from the Commonwealth series were hand stamped with the word “VICTORY”. These are typically scarce envelopes – especially if they bear the first day cancellation. Handstamps were applied in Tacloban, Leyte on 8th November, 1944. Victory handstamps were applied to postage stamps before postal stationary. For this reason the rubber stamps showed clear signs of wear and at least 1 failed fix. All postal stationary therefore has the well known Victory stamp that appears curved and with a blank space in the letter ‘T’.

Scott:U43 / UPSS:121 - 2c Juan de la Cruz Victory Handstamped

Scott:U43 / UPSS:121a - 2c Juan de la Cruz Victory Handstamped with CC-1

Scott # / Year	Image	Notes
U43 1944	U43 Size #5 (UPSS: 121) U43 Size #5 (UPSS: 121a) U43 Size #5 (UPSS: 121b) U43 Size #5 (UPSS: 122)	2c Carmine Juan de la Cruz with Victory handstamp. Size #5 (UPSS: 120) with reply-paid corner card, watermark 33, stamped over 105a. 6430 produced. Size #5 (UPSS: 120a) with reply-paid corner card and Money Order, watermark 33, stamped over UPSS-105b. 6430 produced. Size #5 (UPSS: 121) watermark 36, stamped over UPSS-106. Size #5 (UPSS: 121a) with reply-paid corner card (CC-1), watermark 36, stamped over UPSS-106a. Size #5 (UPSS: 121b) with reply-paid corner card and money order, watermark 36, stamped over UPSS-106b. Size #5 (UPSS: 122), watermark 39, stamped over UPSS-107. Size #8 (UPSS: 123), watermark 33, stamped over UPSS-108. 64 produced. First day issues exist dated November 8, 1944 and are very scarce.
U44 1944	Not acquired yet	4c McKinley carmine on white paper with Victory handstamp. Size #5 (UPSS: 124) with reply-paid corner card, watermark 33, stamped over UPSS-84a.
U45 1944	Not acquired yet	4c Olive Green Juan de la Cruz with Victory handstamp. Size #5 (UPSS: 125) on white paper, stamped over UPSS-110. 32 produced. Size #5 (UPSS: 125a) on white paper with reply-paid corner card, stamped over UPSS-111. 379 produced. Size #5 (UPSS: 125b) on white paper with reply-paid corner card (on 3 lines), stamped over UPSS-111a.