TOPICAL PHILIPPINES
1947 Pictorials
1947 PICTORIALS
In 1947 the Philiipine Bureau of Posts issued 7 pictorial issues across a range of dates. The stamps were printed by the American Bank Note Company. As values of the 1945 Victory overprints sold out, these new definitives were released on three seperate dates.
The central designs depict historical and scenic landmarks in the Philippines. The stamps underwent several printings and were extensively used until the late 1950s.
A number of printings and plates were released for each issue. Plate numbers are depicted on "Specimen" sheets. On the printed sheets of 400 stamps, a second number ocurs on the left selvage which depicts the Order Control Number.
4c Jose Rizal Monument
| Printing | Dates | Number | Plates |
| 1st printing | issued 1 August 1947 | 70 million | F12362 |
| Overprinted | issued 1 May 1948 | ~15million | Overprinted "O.B." (14,988,500 stamps) |
| 2nd printing | delivered August 1950 | 50 million | F12866 |
| 3rd printing | delivered February 1953 | 20 million | F13833 |
| Surcharged | issued 1 December 1959 | 2.5million | Surcharged 1c "One" |
Double overprint "O.B."
Inverted overprint "O.B."
10c Andres Bonifacio Monument
| Printing | Dates | Number | Plates |
| 1st printing | issued 23 March 1947 | 10 million | F12362 |
| 2nd printing | delivered February 1948 | 5 million | F12649 |
| Overprinted | issued 1 May 1948 | ~8.5million | Overprinted "O.B" (8,499,500 stamps) |
| 3rd printing | delivered September 1950 | 10 million | F12847, F12848, F13286, F13457 |
| 4th printing | delivered October 1953 | 5 million | F13574 |
| Surcharged | issued 6 Spetember 1954 | 1.5million | Surcharged to 5c for the Manila Peace Conference |
The overprint "O. B." occurs as two types: Type 1 measures 12.5mm and was applied in New York; Type 2 measures 13mm which was applied in Manila
Many stamps were damaged during the 1948-1949 typhoon flooding of Manila and the Bureau of Posts basement vaults
12c Jones Bridge
| Printing | Dates | Number | Plates |
| 1st printing | issued 19 June 1947 | 8 million | F12362 |
| 2nd printing | delivered April 1949 | 4 million | F12649 |
Handstamped "O.B." in purple
Order Control Number - No 1 - 20313
Specimen from the first printing, red horizontal overprint on sans serif characters (15.75 x 2.25mm)
16c Santa Lucia Gate
The stamp is labelled 'Santa Lucia Gate'; however, the scene depicted is the Puerto Real, another gate located in the old walled city of Intramuros in Manila. The stamp was eventually withdrawn from sale although the numbers withdrawn are not known. In addition a large quantity of the 9 million remaining after overprinting were destroyed when flood waters entered the Bureau of Posts' basement vault in November 1948. Consequently, examples of commerical covers are less common than other values in the series.
Puerta de Santa Lucia was built in 1603 and was a favored as an entry point to Malecon Dirve (now Bonifacio Drive). The gate was destroyed during the Battle of Manila in 1945 to allow the entry of American tanks into the city. The entire gate was demolished when road access to the city from the southern side was needed. The chambers were restored in 1968 and the gate was reconstructed in 1982.
The original Puerto Real (Royal Gate) was built in 1663 at the end of Calle Real de Palacio (now General Luna Street) and was used exclusively by the Governor-General for state occasions. It was located west of Baluarte de San Andres and faced the old village of Bagumbayan. It was destroyed during the British invasion of 1762. The Puerta Real was rebuilt in 1780 and moved further west to its present location as part of the new defense plan for Intramuros. During the Battle of Manila, the gate was damaged. It was restored in 1969 with additional work made in 1989.
Santa Lucia (left) and Puerto Real (right)
| Printing | Dates | Number | Plates |
| 1st printing | issued 19 June 1947 | 10 million | F12362 and F12649 |
| Overprinted | issued 28 March 1948 | 1 million | overprinted "O.B." |
| Withdrawn | withdrawn 26 July 1950 | ? | withdrawn from sale |
16c die proof on card
Handstamped "O.B." in purple
20c Mayon Volcano
| Printing | Dates | Number | Plates |
| 1st printing | issued 23 March 1947 | 10 million | F12362 |
| 2nd printing | delivered February 1948 | 5 million | F12649 |
| 3rd printing | delivered October 1949 | 5 million | F12847 and F12948 |
| Overprinted | issued 4 July 1949 | 400,000 | overprinted "O.B." |
| Surcharged | issued 6 September 1949 | 300,000 | Surcharged 18c for Manila Peace Conference |
| 4th printing | delivered September 1950 | 10 million | F13286, F13457 and F13574 |
Specimen from the first printing, blue diagonal overprint on sans serif characters (15.75 x 2.25mm)
Handstamped "O.B." in purple
50c Colonnade of Palm Trees
Based on a 1940s photograph of the palms of the former Malecon Drive (now Bonafacio Drive). In Spanish times it was known simple as Malecon, literally 'watefront esplanande' which the road was prior to the reclamation of South Harbor (Port Area) during the American Commonwealth period.
Order Control Number - No 1 - 20313
Normal and low vertical positions of "O.B."
| Printing | Dates | Number | Plates |
| 1st printing | issued 19 June 1947 | 6 million | F12362 |
| Overprinted | issued 23 January 1949 | 400,000 | overprinted "O.B." |
| 2nd printing | delivered October 1952 | 4 million | F12847 and F13286 |
| Surcharged | issued 23 April 1954 | 300,000 | Surcharged 18c for First National Boy Scouts Jamboree |
1p Colonnade of Palm Trees
| Printing | Dates | Number | Plates |
| 1st printing | issued 1 August 1947 | 3 million | F12362 |
| 2nd printing | delivered August 1950 | 2 million | F12866 and F13612 |