1904 1c-10c Canal Zone Overprints, 5 Stamps

Own All the Third Series of Panama Canal Zone Stamps – In One Convenient Set

The Third Series of Canal Zone stamps were issued in December 1904. They are Panama stamps overprinted for use in the Canal Zone. These stamps were issued in low quantities and are hard to acquire. This is your chance to own all five stamps in the series at the same time.

This series came about in response to the Taft Agreement, which required Canal Zone stamps to be overprinted Panama stamps. The previous series was made up of overprinted US stamps. Some of the stamps (CZ9 and CZ10) used were printed specifically for the Republic of Panama by the American Banknote Company. Others (CZ11-13) are Colombia stamps overprinted with vertical “PANAMA” overprints along the sides and the “CANAL ZONE” horizontal overprint in the center.

Stamps included and issue quantity:
CZ9 - 1904 1¢ Canal Zone - Map of Panama, green (319,800)
CZ10 - 1904 2¢ Canal Zone - Map of Panama, rose (367,500)
CZ11 - 1904 2¢ Canal Zone - Map of Panama, rose (150,000)
CZ12 – 1904 5¢ Canal Zone – Map of Panama, blue (400,000)
CZ13 – 1904 10¢ Canal Zone – Map of Panama, yellow (64,900)

Canal Zone Stamps Chronicle America’s Rise as a World Power
With military assistance from the United States, Panama declared its independence from Columbia on November 3, 1903. The Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty was negotiated, then ratified in Panama on December 2, 1903. The United States followed suit on February 23, 1904, clearing the way for a long-anticipated canal project across the Panama isthmus.

Almost immediately, administrators began preparations for the tremendous influx of people who would eventually assemble to work on the project. Faced with the knowledge that most of the work force would be imported to the region from America and Caribbean countries, authorities quickly established a postal service to serve their needs as well as those of the Canal Commission.

On June 24, 1904, postal service was established as part of the US Department of Revenue under the supervision of the Treasurer of the Canal Zone, Paymaster E.C. Tobey. On this day, post offices were opened in Ancon, Cristóbal, Gatun, Culebra, and Balboa. Railroad station agents operated as postmasters.

A small supply of 2¢, 5¢, and 10¢ Panama stamps were overprinted “Canal Zone.” Only ordinary mail was handled by the Canal Zone postal system. Mail destined for Central and South America and the West Indies was turned over to the Panama postal service to be forwarded, while mail sent to the United States and its territories and possessions were sent to the US aboard vessels departing for New York.

Overprinted Panama stamps were in use for less than a month. On July 18, 1904, they were replaced by US postage stamps overprinted “Canal Zone.”

In December of 1904, Secretary of War William Taft ordered the overprinted US stamps to be withdrawn, and replaced them with overprinted Panama stamps. Taft’s executive order was reversed in 1924, when overprinted US stamps were placed in use again.

On October 1, 1928, the first permanent issue Canal Zone stamp was issued. The 2¢ stamp featured Lt. Col. George W. Goethal, the Canal project’s chief engineer and first Canal Zone governor. In 1929, the first Canal Zone Airmail stamp was issued and in 1941, a series of Officials were produced. On October 25, 1978, the last Canal Zone stamp was issued.