Philippine Business Firms

Handstamp Markings & Privately Printed Covers

This section has been created as an extension to the 1998 handbook 'Mail and Markings of Private Business Firms of the Spanish Philippines' by Don Peterson. The intent is to continue to expand the section to develop a comprehensive list of Businesses in the Philippines that had a presence during the Spanish Period, with specific focus on usage of Privately Applied Handstamps on mail (covers) or documents (mainly Revenue related); Privately Printed Covers; and inbound covers.

 

'Business Handstamps' refers to a return address, for advertising purposes, or a 'control' to prevent the theft of stamps when applied directly over the stamp.

 

'Forwarding Handstamps' were used by a forwarding agent; a person or firm that undertook to see that the goods of correspondence of another are transported without himself acting as a carrier.

 

It is interesting to note that majority of the Handstamps on mail was applied in the 'white' portion of the cover (front or back), and only seldom appeared on the stamps. On Revenue documents, however, most Handstamps were applied directly on the stamps.

 

The pdf links below provides details of each Business Firm (based on information collated at the time) and shows examples of known Handstamps or Privately Printed Covers (where applicable) used by each Firm. Best efforts have been carried out on some of the handstamps to create reproductions based on partial cancels on stamps or documents; being updated as more information or additional cancellations are discovered.

 

Please click on the pdf icon to access collected information
on each of the listed Businesses


A.   S. Watson & Company

Botica Inglesa

Perfumeria Inglesa

Acquired by Philippine American Drug Company (Botica Boie) in 1922

 

Business Handstamps

A%20S%20Watson%20&%20Co/BoticaInglesa-BH1.jpgxxA%20S%20Watson%20&%20Co/PerfumeriaInglesa-BH1.jpg



Updated 10.03.2023

 

Privately Printed Covers

xx

 

Adolfo Richter & Company

El Siglo XIX

Acquired by Brias Roxas & Company in 1918

 

Business Handstamps

Adolfo%20Richter%20&%20Co/AdolfoRichter-BH1.jpg



Updated 20.06.2023

 

Privately Printed Covers

Adolfo%20Richter%20&%20Co/AdolfoRichter-PPC1.jpgxxAdolfo%20Richter%20&%20Co/AdolfoRichter-PPC2.jpg

Adolfo%20Richter%20&%20Co/AdolfoRichter-PPC3.jpg

Adolfo%20Richter%20&%20Co/AdolfoRichter-RA1.jpgxxAdolfo%20Richter%20&%20Co/AdolfoRichter-RA2.jpg

Adolfo%20Richter%20&%20Co/AdolfoRichter-PPC4axxAdolfo%20Richter%20&%20Co/AdolfoRichter-PPC5.jpgxxAdolfo%20Richter%20&%20Co/AdolfoRichter-PPC6.jpg

 

Adolfo Roensch & Company

Oskar Roensch

See also Alfredo Roensch & Company

 

Business Handstamps

xxxx



Updated 20.06.2023

 

Agencia de Aduana

 

Business Handstamps



Updated 20.06.2023

 

Agencia de Aduana

Pedro Javier Rodriguez

 

Business Handstamps



Updated 2022

 

Agencia Editorial

Manuel Arias y Rodriguez

 

Business Handstamps

xxxx

xxxx



Updated 20.06.2023

 

Business Handstamps

 

Agencia General de Negocios

T. D. Ogilvie

 

Business Handstamps

xx



Updated 2022

 

Agencia Maritima y de Aduanas

A. M. Barretto

 

Business Handstamps

xxxx



Updated 2022

 

Aguirre & Company

 

Business Handstamps



Updated 2022

 

Aldecoa & Company

 

Business Handstamps

xx



Updated 2022

 

Alexander Schadenberg

 

Return Address Handstamps

Alexander%20Schadenberg/AlexSchadenberg-RA1.jpg



Updated 10.03.23

 

Alfredo Roensch & Co

See also Adolfo Roensch & Company

Acquired by Brias Roxas & Company in 1918

 

Privately Printed Covers



Updated 20.03.23

 

Angel Ortiz

 

Business Handstamps

A%20Ortiz/AOrtiz-BH1.jpg



Updated 2022

 

Antonio Fuset

 

Privately Printed Covers



Updated 2022

 

Antonio Sainz

 

Business Handstamps

xx



Updated 2022

 

Apostolic Delegation

(US Period Usage)

 

Privately Printed Covers



Updated 2022

 

Army & Navy Club

(US to Republic Period Usage)

 

Privately Printed Covers

xxxx

xxxx

xxxx

xx



Updated 2022

 

August Emil Homann

 

Privately Printed Covers



Updated 2022

 

Ayala & Company

Dona Margarita Roxas de Ayala

Antonio Ayala

Enrique Zobel de Ayala

 

Privately Printed Covers

xxxx

(US to Republic Period Usage)



Updated 2022

 

B. A. Barretto

E. M. Barretto

 

Inbound Covers

Various Inbound Covers during the Spanish Period



Updated 2022

 

Baer Senior & Company

A Determann

Manila Commercial Company

 

Business Handstamps

xxxx



Updated 2022

 

Baer & Suhm

O. v. Suhm

Suhm & Company

 

Business Handstamps

xxxx



xxxx



Updated 2022

 

Banco Espanol-Filipino de Isabel II

Bank of the Philippine Islands

 

Business Handstamps

xxBanco%20Espanol%20Filipino/BancoEspanol-BH2.jpg



Updated 10.03.2023

 

Privately Printed Covers

Numerous Corner Cards

(US to Republic Periods)

 

Barlow and Company

 

Business Handstamps



Updated 2022

 

Barlow, Morris & Wilson

Morris, Barlow & Company

Barlow & Wilson

Fred Wilson & Co

 

Privately Printed Covers

xx



Updated 10.03.2023

 

Batlle Hermanos & Company

 

Business Handstamps

xxxx



Updated 2022

 

Bazar Filipino

Warlomont Hermanos

 

Business Handstamps

xx



Updated 2022

 

Benedicta Javier

Catalino Valdezco

 

Business Handstamps



Updated 2022

 

Bloch y Grein

 

Privately Printed Covers

Bloch%20y%20Grein/BlochyGrein-PPC1.jpgxxBloch%20y%20Grein/BlochyGrein-PPC2.jpg



Updated 2022

 

Botica Antigua

Andrew Krapfenbauer

 

Business Handstamps

xxxx



Updated 10.03.2023

 

Botica Boie

Pablo Sartorius

Farmacia Boie

Boie & Schadenberg

Stahl & Rumcker

Philippine American Drug Company

Boie Inc.

 

Business Handstamps

xxxx

xxxx



Updated 10.03.2023

 

Privately Printed Covers

xxxx

xxxx

xxxx

xxxx

xx

xxxx

xx

 

Botica de Santa Cruz

Pablo Schuster

Teodoro Meyer y Cia

Santos & Jahrling

Carlos Jahrling

 

Business Handstamps

xxxxxx



Updated 10.03.2023

 

Privately Printed Covers

xx

Bloch%20y%20Grein/BlochyGrein-PPC2.jpg

 

Botica Zobel

Farmacia Zobel

Jacobo Zobel

 

Business Handstamps

xxxx



Updated 02.06.2023

 

Privately Printed Covers

xx Botica%20Zobel/BoticaZobel-PPC1.jpg

 

C Fressel & Complany

Carl Fressel

Successors Under Management of George Ludewig

 

Business Handstamps

xxxx



Updated 02.06.2023

 

Privately Printed Covers

 

Charles Karuth & Conrad Heinszen

C. Karuth & Company

Karuth, Heinszen & company

C. Heinszen & Company

 

Business Handstamps

xx



Updated 02.06.2023

 

Privately Printed Covers

Botica%20Zobel/BoticaZobel-PPC1.jpgxx

 

C. Lutz & Company

Ed. A. Keller & Company

Charles Blum

 

Business Handstamps

xxxxxx

Also Refer to Lutz, Moll & Company


xxxxxx




Updated 02.06.2023

 

Privately Printed Covers

xxxx

xxxx

xxxx

 

Camilo Granados

 

Privately Printed Covers

Camilo%20Granados/CamiloGranados-PPC1.jpg



Updated 01.01.2023

 

Carmelo & Bauermann

 

Business Handstamps



Updated 18.06.2023

 

Cassels & Company

Cassels, Buchanan & Company

 

Business Handstamps



Updated 02.06.2023

 

Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China

 

 

 

 

 

Compania General de Tabacos de Filipinas

 

 

 

 

 

Conrado Martell

 

 

 

 

 

Consulates and Embassies

 

 

Austria

 

 

 

France

 

 

 

Great Britain

 

 

 

Italy

 

 

 

Germany

 

 

 

Switzerland

 

 

 

USA

 

 

Cucullu & Company

 

 

 

 

Domingo Burgos Dy-Yanco

Business Handstamps



Updated 2022

Durr and Company

 

 

 

El Oriente - Fabrica de Tabacos

 

 

 

Enrique Spitz

 

 

 

Estefeta de Campana

 

 

F L Roxas

 

 

 

F. M. Yap-Tico

 

 

F. de P. Rodoreda

Francisco de Paula

 

 

 

Fabrica "Colon"

J. C. Arenas

Business Handstamps



Updated 2022

Fabrica de Maria Cristina

 

 

 

Farmacia Central

 

 

Federico C. Schenkel

 

Stamp dealer known in Manila from 1895 through 1899 and into the 20th century

 

Felix y Emmanuel Ullmann

 

 

 

Findlay & Company

 

 

Findlay, Richardson & Company

 

 

Fochs & Company

 

 

 

Forbes, Munn & Company

 

 

 

Francisco Reyes and Company

 

 

Frohlich & Kuttner and Company

L Kuttner

Business Handstamps

xxxx





Updated 2022

Privately Printed Covers

Frohlich%20&%20Kuttner/Frohlich-PPC2.jpgxxFrohlich%20&%20Kuttner/Frohlich-PPC3.jpg

Frohlich%20&%20Kuttner/Frohlich-PPC4.jpgxxFrohlich%20&%20Kuttner/Frohlich-PPC5.jpg

Frohlich%20&%20Kuttner/Kuttner-PPC1.jpg

G. Armstrong

 

 

 

G. van Polanen Petel and Company

 

Shipping business. In 1875, was agent for Oosterling Sea and Fire Insurance Company. Known in the Manila from 1867 through 1881.

 

Galan y Fuster

 

 

 

Gebruder Dorken in Gevelsberg

 

 

George McKenzie & Company

 

 

Germann and Company

 

A tobacco and cigar business in Manila from the 1870s through 1898. Also believed to be an insurance agent for Basler Versicherungs, Sweden.

 

Gsell & Company

Carlos Gsell

Philippine Match Company Ltd (PHIMCO)

Business Handstamps

xxxx



Updated 14.06.2023

Privately Printed Covers

xx

Gutierrez Hermanos

 

 

 

 

H & Company

 

 

Known with Perfins

 

 

H. Bandmann

 

Stamp dealer of German decent. Known in Manila in the 1880s and 1890s.

 

 

Heinszen & Company

 

 

 

 

Helios Fabrica de Tabacos

 

 

Tobacco business, known in Manila in 1894 and present into the 20th century.

 

 

Henry W. Peabody & Company

 

 

 

 

 

Hermann Hartmann

 

 

 

 

Herman Sander

 

 

 

 

 

Holliday, Wise & Company

 

 

 

 

 

Hollmann & Company

 

 

 

 

 

Hong Kong and Shangahi Banking Corporation

HSBC

 

Bank opened in Binondo, Manila in November 1875 by Charles Ilderton. The Iloilo branch was opened in April 1883 by John McNab.

 

 

Hoskyn & Company

 

 

 

 

 

International Telegraph Company

YTC

 

Known in Manila from 1881 through early 1890s. Believed to be a private firm under contract to the Government to operate the telegraph service in Manila during the 1880s.

 

 

J B Roxas

 

 

 

 

J. Codina and Company

 

Business Handstamps



Updated 2022

 

J.M. Tuason & Company

 

Business Handstamps

xx

xxxx



Updated 2022

 

Privately Printed Covers

xx

 

J. P. Rens

 

 

 

 

 

Jenny and Company

 

Known in Manila from 1865 through to 1875. Owned by Peter Jenny. Possibly mail forwarding agency.

 

 

Joaquin Barberra and Company

 

 

 

 

Joaquin V. Fernandez

 

 

 

 

Johnston, Gore-Booth and Company

 

Known in Manila in the 1880s. A W. Johnston and R. H. N. Gore-Booth were known in Manila in 1880.

 

 

Jorge Valdezco

 

 

 

 

Jose Crispulo Reyes

 

Known in Manila from 1875 through to 1887, and probably later.

 

 

Jose Reyes

 

 

 

 

Jose Juan de Ycaza

 

 

 

 

Jose Martinez

 

 

 

 

Juan Balbas y Ageo

 

Known in Manila from 1874 through 1886.

 

 

Juan Munoz

 

Known in Manila from 1864 through 1873.

 

 

Ker & Company

 

 

 

 

Koch and Brunner

 

In the sugar business. Known in Manila, Cebu and Iloilo in the 1880s and 1890s. Otto Kochs was with this firm in Cebu.

 

 

Kuenzle and Streiff and Company

 

Known in Manila in 1896 and into the 20th century.

 

 

L Eugster & Company

 

 

 

 

 

La Insular - Fabrica de Tabacos

 

 

 

 

Labarbe & Company

 

 

 

 

 

Labedan & Sertucha and Company

 

French origin and kown in Manila in the late 1870s and early 1880s.

 

 

Labhart and Company

L Eugster and Company

 

 

Known in Manila in the 1870s and 1880s. In 1875, this firm was agent for Transatlantic Fire Insurance Company of Hamburg in Manila. Also believed to be known as L. Eugster & Company, which was in Iloilo in the 1870s, but used the same Manila business handstamp.

 

 

Larrinaga & Echeita

 

 

 

 

Lutz, Moll & Company

Lutz & Company

F E Zuellig Inc

 

Privately Printed Covers



�(more to be added)

Also Refer to C Lutz & Company



Updated 20.06.2023

 

M Secker & Company

Secker & Company

Sombrereria Secker

Carlos Moritz y Cia

Juan Landahl

 

Business Handstamps

xx



Updated 02.06.2023

 

MacGavin, Grindrod & company

 

 

 

 

 

MacLeod and Company

 

 

Company was formed in 1870 and known in Manila, Cebu and Iloilo. Owned steamships and were involved in inter-island trade.

 

 

Manila Railway Company Ltd

 

 

 

 

Manuel Gena

 

 

 

 

Martin Buck and Company

 

 

Known in Manila from 1871 through 1898, and into the 20th century. Also known in San Isidro, Nueva Ecija.

 

 

Martin, Dyce and Company

 

Known in Manila from 1842 through 1898, and into the 20th century. In 1875 this firm was an agent for Merchants Marine Insurance Company Ltd. Two single lined oval cancel with Martin, Dyce and Co on top, blank in centre and Manila on bottom.

 

 

Matia Menchacatorre and Company

 

Known in Manila from 1843 through 1847.

 

 

Max Sprungli

 

 

 

 

Meerkamp & Nyssens

 

 

 

 

Menage Scientific Expedition

 

 

 

 

 

Motia (?) Menchatorre & Company

 

 

 

 

 

Munoz Hermanos

 

 

 

 

 

Nelson Harrmann & Company

 

 

 

 

Norman G. Schmidt

 

 

 

 

Oscar Wiget & Company

 

 

 

 

 

Oskar E. Roensch

 

 

 

 

Otto Hartmann

 

 

Possibly in the pharmaceutical business. Known in Jolo in 1890s.

 

 

P. Valentin Ventura

 

 

 

 

 

Pablo Escolar

Tableria de S. Miguel

 

 

 

 

Pedro Paig

 

Business Handstamps

Pedro%20Paig/PedroPaig-BH1.jpg



Updated 2022

 

Peele, Hubbell & Company

 

 

Po Gui Yao

 

 

 

 

Prehn & Company

 

 

 

 

R M Ongcakue

 

 

 

 

Ramirez y Giraudier

 

 

 

 

Remigio Garcia

 

 

 

 

Rodolfo Mayer

 

 

 

 

 

Roxas Reyes

 

 

RR&Co Perfins

 

 

Rueda y Ramos

 

 

 

 

Russell & Sturgis & Company

 

 

 

 

Samuel Bischoff

 

 

 

 

 

Smith Bell & Company

 

 

 

 

Soler y Ca

 

 

 

 

 

Sprungli & Company

 

 

 

 

Struckmann & Company

 

 

 

 

 

Sulzen & Company

 

 

 

 

T M Cue

 

 

 

 

Tillson, Herrmann & Company

 

 

 

 

 

Torrecilla & Company

 

 

 

 

Velasco Hermanos

 

 

 

 

 

Vicente Atienza

 

 

 

 

Vidal & Company

 

 

 

 

 

Vistas, Moreno & Company

 

 

 

 

 

W F Stevenson & Company

 

 

 

 

Warlomont

 

 

 

 

 

Warner Blodgett & Company

 

 

 

 

 

Wiget, Uebelhardt & Company

 

 

 

 

Wong Pok Hin

 

 

 

 

 

Y de la Rama y Hijos

 

 

 

 

 

Ynchausti & Company

 

 

 

 

Yu Quioc Joc

 

 

 

 

 

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Last Update: 20.06.2023