1959 War Victims Semi-Postals Surcharged

In 1950, a set of two semi-postal stamps were issued to raise funds for war widows and disabled veterans. The unsold stamps were surcharged and issued as regular stamps on February 3, 1959, the 14th anniversary of the recapture of Manila from Japanese forces.

The original denominations were blacked out and new values were printed.  The 2c +2c stamp was changed to 1c, and the 4c + 4c denomination was surcharged to 6c.

A first day of issue cachet was not prepared for this set.


First Day Covers

Overseas Mailers

1959 Bulacan Province Seal

Bulacan province is located in central Luzon north of Manila. The Bureau of Posts issued a set of stamps featuring the Bulacan Seal on January 20, 1959, the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Malolos Constitution which established the First Philippine Republic in 1899.

Bulacan Seal

The seal  features the Barasoain Church in Malalos, Bulican, where the Malolos Constitution of 1899 was signed. The topography of the  province is shown above the Church, and below the Church are three flowers representing the the  "Three Republics" : the Kakarong Republic  (1896), the Republic of Biak-na-Bato (1897) and the first Philippine Republic (1899-1901) all established in Bulacan.

First Day of Issue Cachet

First Day Covers

Cachets featuring the  Barasoain Church

 

1958 Inauguration of Manila Cathedral

The Manila Cathedral located in the Intramuros was destroyed during the Battle of Manila, in February 1945. The Cathedral was rebuilt on its original site and inaugurated in 1958. A single stamp was issued on December 8, 1958, to commemorate the inauguration of the Manila Cathedral.

First Day of Issue Cachet

First Day Covers

Overseas Mailers

1958 Anti-TB Semi Postal Issue

Tuberculosis has been a major cause of death in the Philippines for decades and continues to be a significant health problem with 30,000 reported deaths from the disease in 2010. From 1958 to 1974, the Bureau of Posts issued Anti-Tuberculosis semi-postal stamps (except 1966, 1968, and 1971) pursuant to Republic Act No. 1685 of the Third Congress of the Philippines (see Addendum). The law made it mandatory for the Director of Posts to issue the semi-postal stamps which were to be affixed to all mail posted between August 19 and September 30 to raise funds for the Philippines Tuberculosis Society.

The first anti-TB semi-postal stamps were issued on August 19, 1958 and feature the Quezon Institute (formerly Santol Sanitorium, Manila) and a vignette of  President Quezon, a dedicated anti-TB fund raiser. Manuel Quezon died of  TB in 1944.

First Day of Issue Cachet

First Day Covers

(Not in author's collection)

(Not in author's collection)

 Addendum

REPUBLIC ACT No. 1635

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE PRINTING AND ISSUE OF SEMI-POSTAL STAMPS IN ORDER TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE PHILIPPINE TUBERCULOSIS SOCIETY.

Section 1. To help raise funds for the Philippine Tuberculosis Society, the Director of Posts shall order for the period from August nineteen to September thirty every year the printing and issue of semi-postal stamps of different denominations with face value showing the regular postage charge plus the additional amount of five centavos for the said purpose, and during the said period, no mail matter shall be accepted in the mails unless it bears such semi-postal stamps. The additional proceeds realized from the sale of the semi-postal stamps shall constitute a special fund and be deposited with the National Treasury to be expended by the Philippine Tuberculosis Society in carrying out its noble work to prevent and eradicate tuberculosis.

Section 2. The sum of twenty-four thousand pesos, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is authorized to be appropriated, out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to defray the cost of printing such semi-postal stamps in the current year, which sum shall be reimbursed from the special fund above created. The sum necessary to defray the cost of printing such stamps in subsequent years shall be taken from the said special fund.

Section 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 20, 1957.

1958 Magsaysay Anniversary of Death Cachet

On the first anniversary of the death of President Ramon Magsaysay, the Bureau of Posts prepared a souvenir cachet to mark the leader's passing.

Cachet stamped on the back of the Overseas Mailers souvenir envelope shown below

The Overseas Mailers cachet and insert no doubt reflect cachet-maker Jay Leach's admiration for President Magsaysay.

Manila, March 17, 1958

1958 Roxas Anniversary of Death Cachet

A cachet in memory of President Manuel Roxas was prepared for use on the tenth anniversary of his death, April 15, 1958.

The memorial cachet was applied to the back of the colourful Overseas Mailers cover shown below.