Philippine Stamps of 1898

Spanish Era Stamps of 1898

Formats released this year: 1898 saw the release of 20 different dual purpose stamps which could be used as postage or as telegraphic revenue stamps. In preceding years telegraphic revenue stamp production was insufficient to keep up with the demand on telegraphic services, the high demand of which was unforeseen. The Spanish Government approved the use of postage stamps as revenue stamps via various overprints and surcharges. It makes sense then that in 1898 they would issue dual purpose postage and revenue stamps. All stamps of this year feature King Alfonso XIII of Spain as a young boy. The more desirable, more valuable and harder to collect stamps in this set are the 2p dark blue (dos pesos), 4c orange, 80c brown then the 1p green (un peso).

1898 - King Alfonso XIII
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I did also managed to collect a complete set of used stamps. If you look closely at the cancelations you will notice some with postal and others with telegraphic cancellations.

Revolutionary Government Stamps of 1898

Formats released this year: On the 23rd June 1898 Emilio Aguinaldo declared Philippine independence from Spain and became the president of the First Philippine Republic. Shortly after, the Revolutionary Government released a number of postage stamps, revenue stamps and stamped paper. A lot more detail is provided on the History of Philippine Revenue Stamps (Revolutionary Government (1898-1901) page. In all 10 stamps and 8 pieces of stamped paper were released. Of the 10 stamps, only 2 were dedicated postage stamps, a 3rd was a dual purpose telegraphic revenue and postage stamp (correo y telegrafos). For completeness I have also included all of the revenue stamps in this section.

1898 - Filipino Revolutionary Government
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1898 - Filipino Revolutionary Government Revenues
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A number of the stamps above are clearly revenue stamps. Since there were so few postage stamps released by Aguinaldo’s Revolutionary Government and for a single year only I have deliberately included the revenues here. Note: many of the revenue stamps from this era do not have Scott catalog numbers.

A quick translation:

• Correos – Postage stamps (PH Y1, PH Y2)
• Correos y Telegrafos – Dual purpose postage or telegraphic revenue stamp (PH Y3)
• “Telegrafos” – Telegraphic revenue stamps (Scott unlisted)
• “Impressos” – Newspaper tax revenue stamps (PH YP1, YP1a)
• “Recibos” – Revenue stamp for taxes on receipts (Scott unlisted)
• “Certificado” – Revenue stamp for taxes on certificates (PH YF1)
• “Trans de Ganados” – Revenue stamp for transfer of large cattle (Scott unlisted)

PH Y1 is by far the most expensive and hardest to find with a low production rate of only 1,500 stamps. Similarly, but not as scarce is Y3 with only 10,000 stamps being issued. The cattle stamps can be a challenge but are not as scarce as Y1 and Y3. More information is available in my article on the History of Philippine Revenue Stamps (Revolutionary Government (1898-1901).

Covers/Cachets and More

Note: The information below shows items from my personal collection - it is not intended to be a catalog of all other philatelic products that were released during this year.

1898 Postal Cards

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