Vintage Puerta Real Postcard

Puerta Real which means (Royal Gate) was built in 1663 at the end of Calle Real de Palacio (now General Luna Street) and was used exclusively by the Governor-General for state occasions.

The gate was destroyed during the brief British occupation and was rebuilt in 1780 and moved further west to its present location as part of the new defense plan for Intramuros. During the Battle of Manila, the gate was damaged. It was restored in 1969 with additional work made in 1989.

Compared to Puerta Isabel 2 in which some portions of the wall was not restored. Puerta real gate was transformed into beautiful garden ideal for pre-nuptial photography, wedding and event.

Puerta Real Gate with two stamps affixed which bore the portrait of Dr. Jose Rizal valued at 2 centavos

Postcards were popular souvenir item send to relatives, friends and acquaintances during the American regime. Americans were curious on their far flung Asian colony. It was from around 1900 to 1940 where the golden age of postcards stemmed from a combination of social, economic, education and governmental factors.

It was also the rise of faster means of communication from steam ships to airplane. Sending of letters, telegrams and postcards became faster from the point of origin to the recipient.

Early collectors would fancy anthropological theme, costumes, buildings, people washings clothes and carabaos.

During this time saw a peculiar way of affixing stamps on postcard. There are some stamps which were affix together with the photo and the cancellation marks are quite visible. Some enterprising philatelists, curio store owners and even tourists would send their mailed postcards abroad.

Some would deliberately put a higher denomination stamps to further increase the value. There were some postcard collectors who would fancy the way on how the stamp were affixed on the postcard.

Sometimes they are incorrectly called Maxicard. Postcards with a postage stamp placed on the picture side of the card and tied by the cancellation, usually the first day of issue or during the date of travel which makes the postcard special and cherish mementos among early travelers.

It was from French term “timbre cote vue” – This was a fad not just in Europe but in many parts of the world. It placed the postage stamp on the picture side of the postcard. The term told authorities that the stamp is placed upon the view side. Sometimes these words were hand printed or applied with rubber stamps, can also be omitted. since the stamps have no relations with the postcard.

References, Sources and Bibliographies:

American Regime Manila thru postcards (part 1)

American Regime Manila thru postcards ( part 2)

American Regime Manila thru postcards (part 3)

American Regime Manila thru postcards ( part 4 )

Chicago Postcard Museum

Herpin, Georges. “Bapteme” in Le Collectionneur de Timbres-Postes, Vol.I, 15 November 1864, p.20.

Sutton, R.J. & K.W. Anthony. The Stamp Collector’s Encyclopaedia. 6th edition. London: Stanley Paul, 1966.

Patrick, Douglas & Mary. The Hodder Stamp Dictionary, Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1973, p.261. ISBN 0-340-17183-9.

Philippine Postcards page 130 to 137 Consuming Passions

Personal interview

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