Hong Kong, Singapore & Saigon
Postal Cancellations on
Spanish-Philippine Stamps

Prior to 1877, Spanish-Philippine stamps were not accepted for payment of mail to foreign countries other than to Spain and her colonies. During this period, most covers from the Philippines to countries outside the Spanish empire bore the stamps of British Asian colonies (Hong Kong, India and Straits Settlement). In all cases, the stamps were cancelled in either Hong Kong or Singapore.

Establishment of the General Postal Union transformed the postal world in 1874. Renamed the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1878, it provided uniform postal procedures for transmitting international mail among its member nations. In Spain, the new treaty rates and procedures were promulgated on January 1, 1876. Inclusion in the UPU and subsequent changes in rates and procedures were not immediately applicable to the colonies. Each colony was allowed to join the UPU independently. On May 1, 1877, the Philippines joined the UPU. For reasons unknown, the UPU rate and procedural changes were not fully implemented in the Philippines until September 1, 1879. From that time, Philippine stamps became valid for postage to all member countries, allowing other countries to accept mail bearing Philippine stamps.

Despite Philippines� inclusion in the UPU, a few Philippine stamps between the 1880�s to 1898 are known cancelled with non-Philippine postmarks. An important concept with covers from the Philippines was the UPU requirement to have sufficient postage at the country of origin.  Whether it was first cancelled in Manila or a foreign port (Hong Kong, Saigon or Singapore), it made little difference, as long as it was cancelled so the letter could get into the overseas mail.  The Hong Kong, Saigon and Singapore Post Offices readily obliged.

Some foreign businesses in Manila routinely had their mail carried outside the Philippine Post (delivered directly to outgoing non-Spanish ships).  While most of these ships (British, American, German, etc.) from Manila went to Hong Kong, there are records where the letters went first to Saigon or Singapore.  In the case of Saigon (or occasionally Singapore), this was usually carried via a private French ship out of Manila, which connected with the French packet at Saigon. On arrival at the foreign port, the stamps were cancelled with local postmarks and the mail was forwarded accordingly.

This section focuses on Hong Kong, Singapore and Saigon (Cochinchina) postal cancellations applied on Philippine stamps.

HONG KONG

Hong Kong Circular Date Stamp

(Click on Scott # to view example of cancellations)

Scott #	Value	Year of Issue	Notes
76	2c Carmine	1880	Letter B
80	2-4/8c Ultramarine	1883	Letter A
81	5c Grey-Blue	1882	Letter A
106	8c on 2-4/8c Ultramarine	1887
144	2c Claret	1894	Letter A
147	2c Ultramarine	1896	Letters A, B
153	5c Green	1892	Letter A
155	5c Violet-Brown	1896	Letter A
159	6c Carmine-Rose	1896	Letter B
161	8c Ultramarine	1892	Letters B, F
162	8c Red-Brown	1894	Letters A, B, C
166	10c Yellow-Brown	1896	Letter A (Christian Preusse)
167	12-4/8c Yellow-Green	1890
176	20c Orange	1896	Letter B
180	80c Claret	1897	Letter A
P8	1/8c Dull Blue	1896	Letter D
192	1m Orange Brown	1898	Letter C
197	1c Black Violet	1898	Letter B
198	2c Dark Blue-Green	1898	Letters A, B, C, F
199	3c Grey-Brown	1898	Letter C
201	5c Carmine-Rose	1898	Letters B, C, F
203	8c Grey-Brown	1898	Letters B, C, D, F
204	10c Vermilion	1898	Letter A
206	20c Maroon	1898
210	1p Yellow-Green	1898

SINGAPORE

Singapore Straight Line Cancel

Scott #	Value	Year of Issue	Notes
76	2c Carmine	1880	Welson Chu Collection
86	12-4/8c Bright Rose	1882

Singapore Dateless Circular Cancel

Scott #	Value	Year of Issue	Notes
160	8c Yellow-Green	1890

Singapore Circular Date Stamps

Type A No Letter Above Date

Type B Letter Above Date

Scott #	Value	Year of Issue	Notes
162	8c Red-Brown	1894	Type A
165	10c Claret	1894	Type A
166	10c Yellow-Brown	1896	Type A
164	10c Pale Claret	1891	Type B (Letter E)
165	10c Claret	1894	Type B (Letter E)
203	8c Grey-Brown	1898	Type B
205	15c Dull Olive-Green	1898	Type B (Letter A)
206	20c Maroon	1898	Type B (Letter A)

SAIGON (COCHINCHINA)

Saigon (Cochinchina) Circular Date Stamps

Type A SAIGON Cal / COCHINCHINE

Type B SAIGON CENTRAL / COCHINCHINE

Type C MANILLE A SAIGON / PAQ. FR.

Type D SAIGON A MANILLE / PAQ. FR.

Scott #	Value	Year of Issue	Notes
76	2c Carmine	1880	Type A
80	2-4/8c Ultramarine	1886	Type A
83	8c Yellow-Brown	1880	Type A
106	8c on 2-4/8c Ultramarine	1887	Type A
144	2c Claret	1894	Type B
160	8c Yellow-Green	1890	Type B
100	1c on 2-4/8c Ultramarine	1887	Type C
106	1c on 2-4/8c Ultramarine	1887	Type C
110	2-4/8c on 50m Bistre	1888	Type C
Recargo	2-4/8c on 1c Grey-Green	1888	Type C
Recargo	2-4/8c on 2c Carmine	1888	Type C (James Larot)
145	2c Violet	1892	Type C
149	2-4/8c Dull Blue	1896	Type C
151	2-4/8c Ultramarine	1890	Type D
Telegraph	2-4/8c Blue	1892	Type D

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 Last Update: 30.01.2025