Pagsanjan Falls stamp

Infobox_RareStamps
common_name = Pagsanjan Falls


Pagsanjan Falls stamp that depicts Vernal Fall
country_of_production = United States
location_of_production =
date_of_production = May 3 1932
nature_of_rarity = Postage stamp design error
number_in_existence =
face_value = 18 cents
estimated_value = US$ 26.00 (mint) (2008)

The Pagsanjan Falls stamp is a postage stamp issued on May 3 1932, which is notable for having an error. It is part of a set of seven stamps showing places of interest and landmarks in the Philippines, at that time a United States territory. It is a postage stamp design error printed in the United States and intended to display an image of Pagsanjan Falls, a tourist attraction in Laguna province in the Philippines. However, the image on the stamp is actually of Vernal Fall in California.

The error has made the stamp the most sought after in the set: the 2008 Scott catalogue value for a very fine mint never-hinged copy of the stamp (Scott #357) is US $25.00, while no other stamp in the set exceeds US $1.00.cite book | coauthors = Kloetzel, Joseph, (ed) | title = Scott 2008 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue; Volume 5 | publisher = Scott Pub. | date = August 2007 | location = Sidney, OH | pages = p. 231 | isbn = 0-89487-399-7 ] The rest of the set comprise: 2¢ – Mount Mayon, 4¢ – Manila post office, 12¢ – Pier No. 7, Manila, 20¢ – planting rice, 24¢ – rice terraces and 32¢ – Baguio zigzag.

Description

The postage stamp design is of an upright rectangular form, a shape chosen so that the waterfall could be displayed in its entirety, and is printed in yellow and orange inks. The textural elements are at the top and bottom of the stamp; the base panel reads "United States of America" with 18 centavos denomination corner box on either side. Above this is a small banner that reads "Pagsanjan Falls" while a panel at the top of the stamp are the words "Philippine Islands" in an arc. The picture illustrates a large waterfall with trees growing at the top and a few boats nearby. The colors are bright so as to render the picture highly visible. Additional design elements frame the image on both sides.

Error

Although the inscription reads Pagsanjan Falls, the waterfall on the stamp is Vernal Fall, a waterfall in Yosemite National Park in California. [cite web | last = Poblete | first = Johanna D. | title = Bits of history | work = Staying In | publisher = Business World Weekender | date = 2008-07-04 | url = http://www.bworldonline.com/Weekender070408/main.php?id=stayin2 | accessdate = 2008-08-04 ] The error came about because the engraver intentionally used a photograph of Vernal Fall as the basis for the image on the stamp. No stamp was issued with a corrected image.

ee also

*List of postage stamps

References