Auction # 58 - Winter 2014 Auction

Philippines, 1907, Bureau of Insular Affairs Special Printing, Complete Set in Blocks of 4. O.g., lightly hinged, deep rich colors on distinctive very white and bright paper; few minor imperfections to be expected including some minor perf. separations, $5.00 separated along horizontal perfs and rejoined, F.-V.F.
Scott No. 226SP, 228SP-240SP, J1SP-J7SP; $73,000.

A REMARKABLE SET OF BLOCKS OF THE 1907 BUREAU OF INSULAR AFFAIRS SPECIAL PRINTING.

The Philatelic Gazette of 1938 reproduces a letter from the War Department's Bureau of Insular Affairs regarding an inquiry into these special printings that notes: "In May 1907, the bureau had printed one hundred sets of each denomination of stamps formerly used in the Philippines -- that is United States stamps surcharged across their face with the word 'Philippines'. These stamps were printed at the suggestion of the United States Post Office Department for the purpose of supplying requests, which were then frequent, for specimen Philippine stamps. Of the one hundred sets printed, seventy-five were delivered to the Post Office Department for distribution, and I am unable to say whether that department now has any of them".