| The American Plate Number Single Society | ||
|
HOME
MEMBERSHIP
PUBLICATIONS
LINKS
|
U.S. Possessions This section illustrates plate number material for overprints on regular U.S. issues. Canal Zone (1904-1938) When the Canal Zone treaty took effect in early 1904, it became evident that USPOD had forgotten about the need for stamps in the Canal Zone. Immediate needs were met by overprinting stamps of Panama under a lucrative arrangement (for Panama) with the Panamanian post office. Panamanian stamps did not have plate numbers. In June 1904, 10 million overprinted stamps arrived from the U.S. and replaced the overprinted Panamanian stamps. Thanks to James P. Mongeon, "The Taft Agreement of Dec. 3, 1904," The Canal Zone Philatelist 59:4, for information on early Canal Zone stamp printing contracts. Overprints of the U.S. 1902-03 Second Bureau Series Except for a single strip of the 5¢ value with a Right side plate number, these overprints are known only on LL panes. Therefore all plate number positions are L or B.
However, Panama was upset at the loss of revenue from the overprinted stamps (where they were paid for the stamp inventory but didn't have to incur any of the costs of delivering the mail). Also, the arrangement did not resolve issues with the postal rates themselves: the U.S. considered mail from Canal Zone as "domestic rates" but mail from Panama itself was "international rates." Yet people could easily cross the border and save a lot of money mailing from the Canal Zone. In late 1904, President Roosevelt assigned Secretary of War William Howard Taft the task of negotiating a new postal arrangement with Panama. It restored the lucrative purchase of overprinted Panamanian stamps and settled the issue of postal rates in Panama's favor. The overprinted Second Bureau issues were no longer valid for postage as of December 11, 1904. Only about 150,000 had been sold. The remaining stock of the 10 million stamps would have lasted over 30 years, but over 9.85 million were destroyed on Jan. 2 and 3, 1906. Overprinted stamps of Panama were then used again until a new arrangement in 1938. The overprinted Panamanian stamps did not have plate numbers. Overprints of the U.S. 1922 Fourth Bureau Series, flat plate issues Stamps specially prepared for use in the Canal Zone superseded the overprinted U.S. issues in 1938. Flat "A"
The overprint mat was worn or defective and was not immediately replaced. This variety is known on several Left plate numbers.
Image courtesy of Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries
Only 180 stamps exist, from the bottom 9 rows of two panes of 100. Two right plate number examples are possible. Image courtesy of Kelleher Auctions
Inage courtesy of Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries
Pointed "A"
CZ Scott 84 var, low overprint but not quite the ZONE CANAL error, plate number 17890
Only 20 copies are known, from the UL and UR panes of 100, so only 2 plate numbers. Image courtesy of The Philatelic Foundation
Of the 180 copies known, only the right and left positions have been reported, so only 2 plate numbers. Image courtesy of Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries CZ Scott 84d: No plate number examples from the 2¢ booklet pane of 6 (overprint on U.S. Scott 554c) have been reported.
Image courtesy of Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries
CZ Scott 91c, 17¢ ZONE CANAL error, plate number 18023 (Image courtesy of Kelleher Auctions)
CZ Scott 91c var, 17¢ ZONE CANAL error, misaligned, plate numbers 18021 and 18025 Images courtesy of Kelleher Auctions (#18021) and Michael E. Aldrich Auctions (#18025)
CZ Scott 92a, 20¢ error, (inverted 'CANAL', from UR48), strip of 3 with plate number 17530
This was the only commemorative U.S. stamp overprinted for use in Canal Zone. Other possessions such as Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico, Philippines and U.S. Virgin Islands had no commemorative overprints.
Overprints of the U.S. 1926 Fourth Bureau Series, rotary press issues Perforated 10
2¢ was the most common rate for local mail within the Canal Zone, so it was logical that the 2¢ Rotary stamp would be overprinted.
Perforated 11 x 10-1/2
Only 10 vertical pairs exist. This pair with the plate number is unique.
So when the dust settled, all denominations of the Fourth Bureau Series were overprinted in some format except: 4¢ (either Martha Washington or Taft), 6¢, 7¢, 8¢, 9¢, 11¢, 13¢, 25¢, $2, and $5. There was, apparently, little demand for a two-ounce rate (either 4¢ or 6¢), nor for the high values typically used on heavier parcels and high-value registered mail.
Later overprints
This stamp met the new local Canal Zone rate, replacing the 2¢ Washington.
Special stamps printed exclusively for Canal Zone superseded the overprinted U.S. stamps.
Postage Due issues
CZ Scott J15, 1¢, overprint on CZ Scott 71, which in turn was an overprint on U.S. Scott 552, plate number 15437
CZ Scott J16, 2¢, overprint on CZ Scott 73, which in turn was an overprint on U.S. Scott 554, plate number 15630
CZ Scott J17, 10¢, overprint on CZ Scott 75, which in turn was an overprint on U.S. Scott 562, plate number 15513
Image courtesy of Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries
Official stamps Canal Zone did not print special stamps for official use. However, regular issues with a "P" perfin (perforated initial) indicate stamps sold to and used by the Panama Canal Company, the administator of the canal. These are essentially the same thing: forerunners of official stamps.
CZ Scott 71 var, from U.S. Scott 552, 1¢ deep green from first printing, flat plate issue perf 11 with "P" perfin (Panama Canal Company), plate numbers 15375, 15385 Images courtesy of Gary Weiss
CZ Scott 71 var, from U.S. Scott 552, 1¢ yellow green from second printing, flate plate issue perf 11 with "P" perfin (Panama Canal Company), plate numbers 15456, 16556 Images courtesy of Gary Weiss
CZ Scott 71 var, from U.S. Scott 552, 1¢ yellow green from second printing, flate plate issue perf 11 with inverted "P" perfin (Panama Canal Company), plate number 16561 These are the only reported examples of an inverted "P" perfin appearing with a plate number. Image courtesy of Gary Weiss
CZ Scott 73 var, from U.S. Scott 554, 2¢ flate plate issue perf 11 with "P" perfin (Panama Canal Company), plate number 15378 Image courtesy of Gary Weiss
CZ Scott 97 var, from U.S. Scott 583, 2¢ rotary press issue perf 10 with "P" perfin (Panama Canal Company), plate number 18809 Image courtesy of Gary Weiss
CZ Scott 99 var, from U.S. Scott 591, 10¢ rotary press issue perf 10 with "P" perfin (Panama Canal Company), plate number 18532 Image courtesy of Gary Weiss
CZ Scott 100 var, from U.S. Scott 632, 10¢ rotary press issue perf 11 x 10-1/2 with "P" perfin (Panama Canal Company), plate numbers 18730, 18731 Images courtesy of Gary Weiss
CZ Scott 103 var, from U.S. Scott 637, 5¢ rotary press issue perf 11 x 10-1/2 with "P" perfin (Panama Canal Company), plate number 18851 Image courtesy of Gary Weiss
Please report additional examples.
Panama Canal Construction Bonds
Not a revenue stamp, but related: the Bureau of Engraving and Printing also printed the bonds for the loans for constructing the Panama Canal. The 1911 Third Series bonds paid 3% and the 1914 Fourth Series bonds paid 4%. In those days, a bond came with quarterly or annual coupons that investors "clipped" from the sheet and redeemed at their bank. The above example is plate number 35387 appearing above coupon #40 on a proof page of Panama Canal bond coupons.
For plate number singles of non-overprinted Canal Zone issues, click here.
For additional information, check out the web page of the Canal Zone Study Group (CZSG).
Comments? Suggestions? Email the
Webmaster:
This page last updated December 5, 2024.
|
CZ Scott
4, 1¢,
plate number 2061 (on U.S. Scott 300)
CZ Scott
5, 2¢,
plate number 2206 (on U.S. Scott 319)
CZ Scott
6, 5¢,
plate number 1888 (on U.S. Scott 304)
CZ Scott
7, 8¢,
plate number 1500 (on U.S. Scott 306)
CZ Scott
8, 10¢,
plate number 1590 (on U.S. Scott 307)
CZ Scott
70, 1/2¢,
plate number F17018 (on U.S. Scott 551)
CZ Scott
71, 1¢ yellow green from second printing,
plate number 16560 (on U.S. Scott 552)
CZ Scott
71 var, 1¢ deep green from first printing, malformed "E" (more like an inverted "F"), plate number 15334
CZ Scott
71e, 1¢ booklet single, plate number 16269F (on U.S. Scott 552a)
CZ Scott
71d, ZONE CANAL overprint error, plate number 15456
CZ Scott
72, 1-1/2¢,
plate number 16863 (on U.S. Scott 553)
CZ Scott
73, 2¢, plate number 15630 (on U.S. Scott 554)
CZ Scott
73a, 2¢ booklet single, plate number 16603 (on U.S. Scott 554c)
CZ Scott
74, 5¢,
plate number 15148 (on U.S. Scott 557)
CZ Scott
75, 10¢,
plate number 15512 (on U.S. Scott 562)
CZ Scott
76, 12¢,
plate number 14405 (on U.S. Scott 564)
CZ Scott
77, 14¢,
plate number 14513 (on U.S. Scott 565)
CZ Scott
77 var, 14¢ double overprint,
plate number 14514
CZ Scott
78, 15¢,
plate number 14912 (on U.S. Scott 566)
CZ Scott
79, 30¢,
plate number 14438 (on U.S. Scott 569)
CZ Scott
80, 50¢,
plate number F14044 (on U.S. Scott 570)
CZ Scott
81, $1, plate number 14268 (on U.S. Scott 571)
CZ Scott
84, 2¢,
plate number 17842 (on U.S. Scott 554)
CZ Scott
84a, 2¢ CANAL only error, plate number 17842 (on U.S. Scott 554)
CZ Scott
84b, 2¢ ZONE CANAL error, plate number 17842 (on U.S. Scott 554)
CZ Scott
85, 3¢,
plate number 16402 (on U.S. Scott 555)
CZ Scott
86, 5¢,
plate number 16393 (on U.S. Scott 557)
CZ Scott
86 var, 5¢, overprint shifted to bottom, plate number 16332
CZ Scott
86 var, 5¢, overprint shifted to right, plate number 16391
CZ Scott
86 var, 5¢, overprint shifted to right, plate number 16392
CZ Scott
87, 10¢,
plate number 16376 (on U.S. Scott 562)
CZ Scott
88, 12¢,
plate number 15352 (on U.S. Scott 564)
CZ Scott
89, 14¢,
plate number 15797 (on U.S. Scott 565)
CZ
Scott 90, 15¢,
plate number 18928 (on U.S. Scott 566)
CZ
Scott 91, 17¢,
plate number 18021 (on U.S. Scott 623)
CZ Scott
91a, 17¢ ZONE error (missing 'CANAL'), plate number 18023 (Image courtesy of The Philatelic Foundation)
CZ Scott
91b, 17¢ CANAL error (missing 'ZONE'),
plate number 18021 (Image courtesy of Matthew Bennett)
CZ
Scott 92, 20¢,
plate number F16648 (on U.S. Scott 567).jpg)
CZ
Scott 93, 30¢,
plate number F17449 (on U.S. Scott 569)
CZ
Scott 94, 50¢, plate number 14042 (on U.S. Scott 570)
CZ
Scott 94 var, 50¢, overprint shifted to left, plate number 14043
CZ
Scott 95, $1,
plate number 14268 (on U.S. Scott 571)
CZ
Scott 96, 2¢ Liberty Bell,
plate number 18577 (on U.S. Scott 627)
CZ Scott
97, 2¢,
plate number 18827 (on U.S. Scott 583)
CZ Scott
98, 3¢,
plate number 18446 (on U.S. Scott 584)
CZ Scott
99, 10¢,
plate number 18538 (on U.S. Scott 591)
CZ Scott
100, 1¢,
plate number 18731 (on U.S. Scott 632)
CZ Scott
100 var, 1¢, overprint shifted to left, plate number 18730.jpg)
CZ Scott
100a, 1¢ overprint omitted error, vertical
pair,
plate number 18730
CZ Scott
101, 2¢,
plate number 18985 (on U.S. Scott 634)
CZ Scott
102, 3¢,
plate number 18803 (on U.S. Scott 635)
CZ Scott
103, 5¢,
plate number 18855 (on U.S. Scott 637)
CZ Scott
104, 10¢,
plate number 19235 (on U.S. Scott 642)
CZ Scott
116, 14¢, plate number 20549 (on U.S. Scott 695)
CZ Scott
115, 3¢ Washington,
plate number 20934 (on U.S. Scott 720)
CZ Scott
115c, 3¢ from locally produced booklet pane of 6, plate number 20933
CZ Scott
118, 1/2¢,
plate number 21885 (on U.S. Scott 803)
CZ Scott
118 var, 1/2¢, overprint shifted to bottom, plate number 21885
CZ Scott
119, 1-1/2¢, plate number 21879 (on U.S. Scott 805)
CZ Scott
119 var, 1-1/2¢, overprint shifted to bottom,
plate number 22646
CZ Scott
J1, 1¢ overprint on U.S. Scott J45a,
used, plate number 5510
CZ Scott
J2, 2¢ overprint on U.S. Scott J46a,
plate number 6706
CZ Scott
J3, 10¢ overprint on U.S. Scott J49a,
plate number 5532
CZ Scott
J12, 1¢ overprint on U.S. Scott J61a,
plate number 13844
CZ Scott
J13, 2¢ overprint on U.S. Scott J62b,
flat-topped A's in CANAL,
plate number 14026
CZ Scott
J14, 10¢ overprint on U.S. Scott J65a,
plate number 6555
CZ Scott
J19, 2¢ used overprint on U.S. Scott J62,
pointed-topped A's in CANAL, plate number F14599
CZ Scott
J20, 10¢ overprint on U.S. Scott J65,
pointed-topped A's in CANAL,
plate number 6556
CZ Scott
J20c, 10¢ double overprint, plate number 18725
.
