My Collection of Philippine Specimen Stamps

What are Specimen Stamps?

Specimen stamps have the word “specimen” printed across them and usually have the face value struck out since they are not intended for postal use. Early specimen stamps would have the word “specimen” (or equivalent) applied via handstamp whereas later stamps were overprinted. Non English speaking countries would apply the word in their native language – for example “muestra” is used on Spanish era specimen stamps of the Philippines. Specimen stamps were once an important tool for member countries of the UPU (Universal Postal Union). Member countries of the UPU would send specimen stamps to each other so postmasters in each country could identify new international stamps. This helped postmasters to reduce the use of fraudulent stamps on international postage coming into their country. The sharing of specimen stamps across member nations started in 1879.

It should also be noted that not all specimen stamps were produced for the sole purpose of distribution to UPU members. Final proof stamps, sample stamps, exhibition stamps and reference stamps for archive were often overprinted as specimen stamps to ensure they were invalidated for postal use. Some specimen stamps will also bear a serial number, you can see this on later Philippine specimens (and in the examples above). Other countries have at times used perforations (perfins to be precise) to identify the stamp as a specimen though this was not a practice in the Philippines as far as I can ascertain.

Are Specimen Stamps Valuable?

Specimen stamps are definitely more valuable than their regular postage varieties. Since the late 1970’s typically only 1,000 specimen stamps have been produced for each Philippine stamp released. From the 1,000 specimen stamps that are produced some are held back for the Philippine Postal Museum and Philatelic Library and many are distributed to editors and publishers outside of the Philippines. It is this limited quantity that makes specimen stamps more valuable than their mass produced counterparts. For example, I have often seen a regular issue sell for less than $1 USD while the specimen stamp will sell for more than $20 USD. Many older Philippine specimen stamps are also quite valuable (in the hundreds of USD each) – of course it all depends upon the stamp, scarcity and quality. There can be limited information on older specimen stamps due to limited record keeping on print quantities and distribution information.

Some Final Thoughts on Specimen Stamps

Specimen stamps are often not listed in leading catalogs and as such you won’t typically see Scott #’s and retail values. It can also be difficult to find historical information on print quantities and other general information. When dealing with older hand-stamped specimens one needs to be cautious of fakes as they do unfortunately exist in the market. In my opinion specimen stamps will only increase in value given their limited production numbers and a renewed interest from collectors.

What are Specimen Stamps?

Are Specimen Stamps Valuable?

Some Final Thoughts on Specimen Stamps

Gallery of my Philippine Specimen Stamps