PANAMA

Return To Catalogue - Panama-Canal - Colombia overview

Currency 100 Centavos = 1 Peso; Since 1906: 100 Centesimos = 1 Balboa

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the cd's;
contact me if you want to purchase them: evert@klaseboer.com.

Panama used to be a department of the Republic of Colombia. In 1903 it became an independent republic.

Stamps of Colombia, used in Panama:

1878 Eagle, inscription 'Estados Unidos de Colombia Correos E.S. de Panama', imperforate

  5 c green
  10 c blue
  20 c red
  50 c yellow

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
5 c	R	R	Reprint: *
10 c	RR	RR	Reprint: **
20 c	R	RR	Reprint: *
50 c	R	RR	Reprint: *

These stamps were printed on thick or thin paper.

'Reprints' exist of all 4 values from retouched stones with unclear printing in slightly different color shades. The original 10 c has the upper left shield empty, while the reprint doesn't.

Reprints of the 5 c value, reduced sizes

A Michelsen reprint.

Reprint.

Perforated reprint? The upper left shield is not empty.

Forgeries of these stamps, sold by Fournier:

The 5 c genuine exists in different shades: grey-green, blue-green and yellow-green. The 5 c Fournier forgery has a grey-green colour (but a shade darker than the genuine grey-green stamps). The 10 c blue Fournier forgery also has a darker shade than the genuine stamp and a rectangle all around the stamp (much thicker than in the originals, which is hardly visible). The 20 c Fournier forgery is done in pale orange (instead of rose in the genuine stamps). There are also slight changes in the design in the Fournier forgeries when they are compared with genuine stamps (if anybody possesses more information, please contact me!).

The forger Sperati made a deceptive forgery of the 10 c value. The distinguishing characteristics can be found in the BPA book. Sorry, no image available.

A perforated Michelsen essay 2 1/2 c lilac

Other non-issued stamp?:

Reduced size, 5 c green on green

1887 Map of Panama, inscription 'COLOMBIA'

  1 c black on green
  2 c black on red
  5 c black on grey
  10 c black on yellow
  20 c black on lilac
  50 c brown on grey

These stamps have perforation 13 1/2.

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1 c	*	*
2 c	**	**	Value in solid black
5 c	**	*
10 c	*	*
20 c	*	**
50 c	*	**

Surcharged (1894)

  '5 CENTAVOS' (red, two types) on 20 c black on lilac
  '10 CENTAVOS' (red, two types) on 50 c brown on grey

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
5 c on 20 c	***	***
10 c on 50 c	***	***

Reprints exist, (made in 1895?) the distinguishing characteristics are:
For the 1 c, 2 c and 5 c, the paper is of a much darker shade
10 c: there is a scratch in the left hand side pattern (at the fourth meridian)
20 c: in the left lower outer border has been repaired
50 c: 2 dots in the left outside the frame (at the first and second meridian)
The reprints also exist in fancy colors, partially perforated and imperforate.

Imperforate reprints of the 50 c value, note the dots outside the left frame.

From the same source as the above reprints, some reprints in fancy colors were made of a registration label of 1888 (original color: black on grey) in black on green, black on yellow, black on blue, black on orange and black on red.

1892 Map of Panama, inscription 'COLOMBIA'

With typical cancel

  1 c green
  2 c red
  5 c blue
  10 c orange
  20 c violet
  50 c brown
  1 P red

These stamps have perforation 12.

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1 c	*	*
2 c	*	*
5 c	**	*
10 c	*	*
20 c	*	*
50 c	*	*
1 P	***	***

Overprinted 'HABILITADO 1894 1 CENTAVO'

  1 c on 2 c red (two types of overprint, '1' different)

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1 c on 2 c	*	*

Various overprints with 'PANAMA' exist:

2 c red, double overprint Non issued stamp?

With 'R COLON', 'AR' or 'R' overprint

'R COLON' in a circle on 10 c, 'AR' in ellipse on 10 c and larger 'R' on 10 c

With 'AR COLON' overprint

1904 Map of Panama, inscription 'REPUBLICA DE PANAMA'

  1 c green
  2 c red

1904 Various designs, inscription 'REPUBLICA DE PANAMA'

(Reduced size, image obtained from http://berg.heim.at/kaprun/430320/01-Lehr/01/06/s_2.htm)

  2 1/2 c red (RETARDO)
  5 c blue (AR)
  10 c green (R)

1906 New designs

  1/2 c yellow, red, blue and green (flag)
  1 c green and black (Balboa)
  2 c red and black (Cordova)
  2 1/2 c red (arms of Panama)
  5 c blue and black (Arosemena)
  8 c lilac and black (Hurtado)
  10 c violet and black (Obaldia)
  25 c brown and black (Herrera)
  50 c black (Fabrega)

Surcharged
  'R 5 cts' on 8 c lilac and black (1917)

1909 New designs, map (1/2 c), famous people (names in border colour) and arms (2 1/2 c)

  1/2 c orange (map of Panama)
  1 c green and black
  2 c orange and black
  2 1/2 c red (arms)
  5 c blue and black
  8 c lilac and black
  10 c violet and black

Overprinted
  'AR' on 2 1/2 c red (1917)

Surcharged
  'R 5 cts' on 8 c lilac and black (1917)
  'RETARDO UN CENTESIMO' on 1/2 c orange

1913 Discovery of the Pacific, Balboa watching the sea

  2 1/2 c green (two shades)

1915 Opening of the Panama canal, various designs

12 c violet and black 15 c blue and black

  1/2 c olive and black
  1 c green and black
  2 c red and black
  2 1/2 c orange and black
  3 c lilac and black (Palacio de Artes)
  5 c blue and black
  10 c orange and black
  12 c violet and black (ship in Panama-Canal)
  15 c blue and black (ship in Panama-Canal)
  20 c brown and black (Exposicion de Panama)
  24 c brown and black
  50 c orange and black
  1 B violet and black

Overprinted
  '1519 1919 2 CENTIMOS 2' on 2 1/2 c orange and black

1921 onwards, not implemented.

Postage Due Stamps

1915 Various designs, inscription 'CORRESPONDENCIA A DEBE'

  1 c brown
  2 c brown
  4 c brown
  10 c brown

These stamps have perforation 12.

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
All values	**	**

Seals, labels etc:

'AR' 5 c label of Colombia, with overprint 'A.R. COLON COLOMBIA' in violet

Returned letter labels, inscription 'CIERRE OFICIAL':

(1922, exist in two types: red and blue or: blue and red)

(1929)

Another returned letter stamp was issued in 1924 (rectangular with arms in the center, color violet)

Telegraph stamps

1892 Inscription 'REPUBLICA DE COLOMBIA DEPARTEMENTO DE PANAMA TELEGRAFOS'

(Reduced size)

The values 5 c green on blue, 10 c red on yellow and 20 c blue on red were issued.

1917 Postage stamps, overprinted 'TELEGRAFOS'

(Reduced sizes)

The values 1 c green and red (overprint red, overprint horizontal), 2 c red and black, 10 c violet and black (2 types of overprint, horizontal and oblique on 2 different stamps), 25 c brown and black and 50 c black (overprint red) were issued in the 'famous persons' design. Furthermore an overprint 20 c (red) on 25 c brown and black (see picture above). In the 'map' design were issued: 1/2 c orange and 5 c on 1/2 c red.

In 1919 some more telegraph stamps were issued: 'TELEGRAFOS' overprinted on fiscal stamps (3 values, rare).