Looking Back #117 - Philippine O. B. Overprinted "Commonwealth"

Philippine O. B. Overprinted "Commonwealth"

The 2¢ carmine, Rizal portrait, 1935 issue,
Scott's No. 715, with the "O. B." (Official
Business) overprint, appeared in Manila
with the further overprint, "COMMONWEALTH,"
on April 10th.

Lateness in reporting the item is due to
the fact that the stamps are used for
official purposes in the Islands and as
a rule are not sold to the general public
so that the new variety escaped attention
temporarily.

Up until the first of July no other values
of the set had made their appearance but
no doubt they will show in due course.

The overprinting was not applied to any
existing stocks of the O. B. stamp but
a new overprinting plate was made up at
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to
do both overprints in one operation.

Stamps at hand show the overprints
varying in the grayish black
suggesting insufficient inking as
contrasted with the rich black O. B.
overprints of the prior printing.


- George B. Sloane
Sloane's Column
Stamps
July 31, 1937