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The article and photographic display deal with stamps on Philippine souvenir sheets. The souvenir sheets on display are old philatelic items whose date of issue can be traced back to the 1940’s, 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s. During these decades, philatelic items with souvenir sheets were issued rarely. The standard procedure during those times involved the release of individual postal stamp as a single set or as a set of two or more stamps.

Most of the souvenir sheets on display are items for country collection. This means that the topics shown on the souvenir sheets have something to do with the history and culture of the issuing country. The “400th Anniversary of the Christianization of the Philippines” issue of 1965 is an excellent example. Sometimes, the topics depict the current societal situation and the country’s institutions. The NAPEX issue of 1947 is a good depiction of current events; at the same time, it shows a profile of Manuel L. Quezon, who was the Philippines’ commander-in-chief until his death in 1944 and the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth. The NAPEX issue is not rarely but less than often referred to as the “Quezon souvenir sheet.” The “Philippine National Bank” issue of 1966 is a unique and good depiction of an important institution of the issuing country. Occasionally, the topics depicted on souvenir sheets have nothing to do with the issuing country or they are remotely related to the country’s history and culture and the people’s sense of nationalism; but they are collected as country collection items because they were issued, officially, by the country’s post office.

Are the souvenir sheets on this display items for country collection only? Definitely, they are not items for country collection only. Some items are for topical or thematic stamp collection. The “Boy Scout” issue of 1959, the ESPAMER ’77 issue and the CAPEX ’78 issue are excellent postal issues for topical or thematic stamp collecting. In addition, topical stamp collectors are able to find – in some cases – items on souvenir sheets for country collection that are relevant to their topical or thematic stamp collections.

Below are the Philippine souvenir sheets issued from 1947 to 1978, and they are arranged chronologically. They have been made to appear cleaner, whiter and brighter. Each souvenir sheet on display has a photo caption which provides relevant philatelic information and each philatelic item has an accompanying large image.

Stamps on Philippine Souvenir Sheets 1949-1978

Related Article(s)/Photographic Display(s):  Japan Stamps on Nine Souvenir Sheets  and  Specimens of Selected Philippine Souvenir Sheets 2009-2010  

Expressions Plus

Expressions Philippines

Expressions Philately Stamps:  List 1,  List 2