Hong Kong, Singapore & Saigon
Circular Postal
Cancellations
on Spanish-Philippine
Stamps
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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 from 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. Apparently,
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 only focuses on the known Circular Date Stamps applied in Hong Kong,
Singapore and Saigon (Cochinchina). |
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Hong Kong Circular Date Stamp
(Click on Scott # to view
picture of stamps where available)
Singapore Circular Date Stamps
Singapore Dateless Circular
Cancel
Saigon (Cochinchina)
Circular Date Stamps
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Last
Update: 22.05.2018