Queen Isabella II

1855

The design of the first issue of stamps appeared to have seemed crude and unsatisfactory to the authorities in Spain, for on September 1, 1854, (probably soon after the arrival in Spain of the first copies), a Royal Decree was issued directing that after April 1, 1855 all stamps on letters to Spain or foreign countries, (the 1-real and 2-reales values), should in future be printed in Spain; while only those for interior use, (the 5-cuartos and 10-cuartos values), should be printed in Manila. To permit the use of supplies at hand, this date of effect was postponed by a Decree on December 18, 1854 to commence on June 1, 1855; but was later, again postponed, until January 1, 1856.

In spite of the fact that the stamps of 1854 were produced in a very primitive fashion, the engraving and Recess printing of the stamps from engraved plates must have proven expensive. As a result, lithography was resorted to for the subsequent printings.

A lithographer in Manila was entrusted with the reproduction of the portrait of Queen Isabella II, basing his design on the stamps of 1854. Although these stamps were issued in 1855, the design nevertheless bears the date “1854 Y 55”. One assumption is that the date was based on the Royal Decree of March 31, 1854 which directed that the stamps should be introduced experimentally for a period of one year. It is, however, more probable that the lithographer simply copied the design already adopted on the 1854 issue without thinking of altering the date.

Cabeza Grande (Large Head)

 





 

 

5-cuartos. Issued for domestic mail under half-an-ounce, (single weight interior postal rate). Printed in blocks of four varieties. A total of 5,000 stamps, (1,250 of each variety), were printed in shades of vermilion. The stamps remained in use until January 1859. (Scott #6; Edifil #5; SG #10)

The stamps were lithographed on medium to thick, white wove paper by the firm of Plana, Jorba y Cia, Manila, in blocks of four types; with each stamp surrounded by a frame line. The Queen’s head is also upon a solid background of colour, surrounded by a circle of small pearls. On this issue, the inner circle is broken by the labels at the top and bottom of the stamp. They were issued imperforate in sheets of 48, (6 horizontal rows of 8, comprising twelve blocks of four); and measure between 19 and 19½ x 22 mm. The value of the sheet thus being 12-Reales de Plata, (with 20-cuartos equalling 1-Real de Plata). There are four types for this issue.


Cabeza Chica (Small Head)

5-cuartos. Issued for domestic mail under half-an-ounce, (single weight interior postal rate). A total of 3,500 stamps were printed in shades of vermilion. It is believed that a total of three printings were carried out for this issue. In the First Printing, only a few sheets in pale vermilion were found to be satisfactory; all the rest were destroyed. The Second Printing, released in August 1855, produced 3,000 stamps in vermilion. The Third Printing, released on November 15, 1855, was not completely satisfactory, only producing a total of 500 stamps in pale vermilion. The stamps remained in use until January 1859. (Scott #7; Edifil #6; SG #9)

Lithographed on smooth, thin white paper by the firm of Plana, Jorba y Cia, Manila, the stamps show a somewhat improved version of the 1854 issue, also portraying the right profile of Queen Isabella II. The Queen’s head is upon a solid background of colour, surrounded by a circle of small pearls. On this issue, the inner circle is not broken by the labels at the top or bottom of the stamp; and the circle of pearls are not broken by the frame line at the left or right. The stamps were issued imperforate in sheets of 48, (6 horizontal rows of 8); and measure 18½ x 21½ mm. The value of the sheet thus being 12-Reales de Plata, (with 20-cuartos equalling 1-Real de Plata). There is only one type for this issue.


 

DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN THE CABEZA GRANDE TYPES

The Cabeza Grande was issued in Blocks of Four types, comprising of twelve blocks per sheet, with basic differences on each of the types as follows:

TYPE I - UPPER LEFT OF BLOCK

The "S" of "CORREOS" is very tall and narrow. The date, "1854" is small and figures are of even size. All 5's in the upper label have serifs inclining upward to the right, but none touch the top line. The "5" of "5Cs" is small and has a loop or curve. The circle of pearls is broken by the frame line at the left. The stamp measures 19 x 22 mm.

TYPE II - UPPER RIGHT OF BLOCK

The "C" of "CORREOS" is farther apart from the end of the label than in the other types. The serif on the last "5" of "55" inclines upward and touches the outer frame line of the upper label. The "5" of "5Cs" has practically no staff and the serif slopes down to a loop. The "C" in "Cs" resembles a "G". The circle of pearls is broken by the left frame line, though not as much as the first variety. The stamp measures 19½ x 22 mm.

TYPE III - LOWER LEFT OF BLOCK

The "C" of "CORREOS" is tall, narrow, and close to the left label. The "8" and "5" of "1854" are higher at the bottom than the "1" and "4". Serifs in "55" incline upward and the last one often touches the upper line. The "5" of "5Cs" has a small, thin horizontal serif, and the staff to curve below is short and thin. The curve of "5" is large. The frame line at the left just touches the circle of pearls. The stamp measures 19 x 22 mm.

TYPE IV - LOWER RIGHT OF BLOCK

The "C" of "CORREOS" is small, narrow and close to the left of the label. The date "1854" is large and even. The serifs in "55" are nearly horizontal and well away from the top line of the label. The circle of pearls is not broken by the frame line at the left. The stamp measures 19½ x 22 mm.

In addition to the differences noted above, the following table details the number of horizontal lines in each corner of the spandrel:

Lines in
Spandrel

Type 1

Type 2

Type 3

Type 4

Cabeza Chica

Top Left

8

9

7

9

10

 

Top Right

11

13

10

11

13

 

Bottom Left

8

8

8

10

9

Bottom Right

13

15

12

13

13



DATES OF ISSUE

There continues to be extensive debate as to the dates of issues for these stamps and which issue precedes the other. Despite this uncertainty, we can be certain that these stamps were in use in 1855, with the existence of the Cabeza Grande issue tied to cover with a circular date stamp of August 19, 1855.

 

The table below summarises the issue dates from various prime sources:

 

 

Cabeza Chica

Cabeza Grande

Mencarini (1898)

June 1855

June 1855

Bartels (1904)

August (?) 1855

June 1855

Hanciau (1905)

June 1855

July (?) 1855

Palmer (1912)

August (?) 1855

June 1855

Harradine (1987)

August (?) 1855

June (?) 1855

Scott

1855

1855

Stanley Gibbons

June 1855

August (?) 1855

Edifil Unificado

August 1, 1855

June 2, 1855

 

The following excerpts provide further detail to the various assumptions and rationale behind the dates listed by the sources noted above:

 

Hanciau (1905)

My reasons for placing the issue in four varieties after that of June are:

·        That the single type if far rarer of the two

·        That it exists in one tint, which was continued in use for the stamps of July (but the latter varied in colour, ending with a brownish hue)

·        That the four varieties were received in entire sheets in 1864

·        That the idea of reproducing a single design in blocks of four minor varieties was again carried out in the case of the stamps of 1859, which succeeded those of 1855

 

Palmer (1912)

Some of the Filipino collectors accept the belief that the later issue [Cabeza Chica] was made in Spain, and that the preceding one was made and issued at Manila pending the arrival of the later issue and in consequence of approaching exhaustion of the 1854 supplies. This theory is supported by the fact that there is only one type of the later issue (or of any known issue from Spain) while there are at least four distinct varieties or types of each issue known to have been made at Manila prior to 1861. This would also explain the greater rarity of the ‘re-engraved’ and its being found in only one colour, as well as the need for further issues of the four types after the ‘re-engraved’ was exhausted. It has further been suggested that perhaps the four type issue was withdrawn from use entirely and the 5-cuartos of 1854 again placed in use, thus explaining the issue of this stamp with coarser lines in the background due to retouching of the original plate. All of the above is purely conjectural, however, as there is not yet available sufficient information to decide the questions definitely.

Palmer expands further by stating “the four type [Cabeza Grande] issue appears to have undergone several printings, judging from the range of shades found. This view is further supported by the fact that minor differences in the stamps themselves suggest possible retouching of the old stones used or perhaps new stones from a slightly different set of designs.”


ROYAL DECREES AND ORDERS

1855

A Circular was issued in Madrid on June 26, 1855 clarifying the price of stamps for overseas territories and the manner of prepayment of correspondence between the said territories and with Spain.

 

General Post Office Department

 

I forward to you, for your compliance so far as it concerns you, a copy of the Royal Decree of 18th December last [1854], relating to the charge for correspondence in the provinces beyond the seas; and with a view to dispelling any doubts that may be caused by the alterations made by the said Decree in reference to that of September 1st of the same year, you will take note:

 

That postage for letters must be prepaid:   

 

Within the Peninsula and adjacent islands, if bound for the islands of Cuba and Puerto Rico, at the rate of 1-real vellon [1/4 peseta] for simple letters and proportionately for double letters.

 

Within the Peninsula, if bound for the Philippines, at the rate of 2-reales vellon for simple letters, and so on in proportion.

 

In Cuba and Porto Rico, if bound for the Peninsula and adjacent islands, at the rate of ½-real plata fuerte for simple letters, and increasing at the same rate for double letters.

 

In the Philippines, if bound for the Peninsula, at the rate of 1-real plata fuerte for simple letters, and increasing at the same rate for double letters.

 

In Cuba and Porto Rico, if bound for the Philippines, and vice-versa, at the rate of 1-real plata fuerte for simple letters, and increasing at the same rate for doubled letters.

 

That letters not prepaid with be charged:

 

In the Peninsula and adjacent islands, those which are despatched from Cuba and Porto Rico, two reales vellon for single letters, and so on.

 

In the Peninsula, those from the Philippines, four reales vellon for single letters, and so on.

 

In Cuba and Porto Rico, those from the Peninsula and the adjacent Islands, one real plata fuerte for single letters, and so on.

 

In the Philippines, those from the Peninsula and the adjacent Islands, two reales plata fuerte, for single letters, and so on.

 

In Cuba and Porto Rico, those from the Philippines, and vice versa, two reales plata fuerte for single letters, and so on.

 

That insufficient prepaid letters will be charged:

 

In the Peninsula and the adjacent islands, those which are despatched from Cuba and Porto Rico, two reales vellon for each stamp of a half real plata fuerte that is wanting.

 

In the Peninsula and the adjacent islands, those from the Philippines, four reales vellon for each samp of one real plata fuerta that is wanting.

 

In Cuba and Porto Rico, those from the Peninsula and the adjacent Islands, one real plata fuerte for each stamp of one real vellon that is wanting.

 

In the Philippines, those from the Peninsula and the adjacent Islands, two reales plata fuerte for each stamp of two reales vellon that is wanting.

 

In Cuba and Porto Rico, those from the Philippines, and vice versa, two reales plata fuerte for each stamp on one real plata fuerte that is wanting.

 

That Registered letters, in addition to the stamps for prepayment of postage, should bear:

 

From the Peninsula and adjacent islands for Cuba and Porto Rico, stamps to the amount of four reales vellon.

 

From the Peninsula and the adjacent islands for the Philippines, eight reales vellon.

 

From Cuba and Porto Rico for the Peninsula and the adjacent Islands, one real plata fuerte.

 

From the Philippines for the Peninsula and the adjacent islands, two reales plata fuerte.

 

From Cuba and Porto Rico for the Philippines, and vice versa, two reales plata fuerte.

 

That printed papers and commercial samples, without any writing except upon the envelope, when they are made up in small packets, are to be prepaid, or charged when not prepaid, at one half of the corresponding rates for letters.

 

That Letters or Packets transported by private ships are to be surcharged:

 

In the Peninsula and adjacent islands, those that come from Cuba, Porto Rico or the Philippines, one real vellon.

 

In Cuba, Porto Rico, and the Philippines, those from the Peninsula and the adjacent islands, or from one of those Colonies to the other, a half real plata fuerte.

 

You are requested to acknowledge receipt of this circular, which you shall communicate to the branches of the Post Office within your district.

 

May God preserve Your Excellency many years.

 

Madrid, June 26, 1855. The Principal Director of Posts, Miguel Muñoz

 

A Directive issued on October 19, 1855 was put in place in Manila to take the necessary action for recovery of charges for any mail received in the Philippines without having been prepaid from the Peninsula.

 

Government of the Philippine Islands

 

Under this date I have issued the following orders:

 

Taking into consideration what has been laid before me by the Chamber of Commerce of this City, in a communication dated 4th September last, and in conformity with what has been stated by the Revenue Officials and the Accountant-General of the Government, I order that there shall be carried out the instructions contained in Article 6 of the Royal Decree of 18th December of last year, by which it is directed that letters not prepaid arriving from the Peninsula shall be charged in these Islands two reales plata fuerte for postage, in accordance with the provisions of the Circular of the Government forwarded to this Administration, by Royal Order from the Ministry of the Possessions beyond the Seas, dated 4th July last, which I have ordered you to bring into force on the prescribed date.

 

To be communicated to all concerned, and to be published in the Official Bulletin.

Manila, October 19, 1855. Director-General of Posts, Manuel Crespo

 

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