Examination
of the above schedule of Documentary Stamp Taxes show that DOCUMENTARY
stamps replaced the following stamps and stamped paper for the purposes
specified:
SELLO
stamps, on bonds, debentures, certificates of indebtedness, stock certificates,
sales, agreements to sell, memoranda of sales, or deliveries, or transfers,
of shares of stock, certificates of profit, or certificates showing interest
in the property or accumulation, insurance policies, annuities, indemnity
bonds, or other bonds, certificates of damage, or other certificates of
documents issued by captains of the port and marine surveyors.
GIRO
stamps, on bank checks, drafts, certificates of deposit, bills of exchange,
promissory notes, and letters of credit, including orders by telegraph
express company, or steamship companies.
INTERNAL
REVENUE stamps of denominations from 1 to 10 centimos (which had
replaced Timbre Movil Especial stamps) on receipts, or memoranda for money
paid, warehouse receipts, bills of lading.
STAMPED
PAPER (Spanish Philippines Papel Sellado) for certificates of notaries
public, other certificates required by law and not otherwise specified,
powers of attorneys, leases of real estate, mortgages, deeds of real estate,
and charter party contracts. |
The
Internal Revenue Law of 1904, which was made effective on August 1, 1904,
repealed all Spanish Philippines laws governing the imposition of stamp
taxes and the use of revenue stamps which were still in force at that time.
The Documentary Stamps which were created by the Internal Revenue Law of
1904 did not become available, however, until January 1, 1905. As a result
the use of the existing SELLO, GIRO and INTERNAL REVENUE stamps for the
purpose for which DOCUMENTARY stamps were prescribed was continued until
at least the end of 1904. And it is probable that the use of those stamps
was continued even after the end of 1904, until the existing supplies were
exhausted. The writer has seen a draft dated in January 1905, to which
both DOCUMENTARY and GIRO stamps were affixed.
The
first series of DOCUMENTARY stamps, issued on January 1, 1905, were printed
upon unwatermarked paper, perforated 12 gauge. The two denominations most
frequently used were the 2c and the 20c. These two denominations were exhausted
by the end of January, or early in February 1906. Hence, a second printing
of the 2c and 20c was issued in 1906. This second printing was made on
paper with double line PIRS watermark, the initials stand for Philippine
Islands Internal Revenue Service. the 2c second printing occurs rouletted
only. But the 20c occurs both rouletted and perforated 12 gauge. Forbin
erroneously lists the rouletted varieties of the 2 c and 20c as issued
in 1905. He does not mention the fact that watermarked paper was used and
does not list the perforated variety of the 20c on watermarked paper.
Forbin
lists a series of engraved Documentary stamps, 12 gauge perforation, as
issued in 1906. The writer believes, however, that those engraved stamps
were not issued until February 1907. He has examined hundreds of receipts
and receipted invoices attached to the cash vouchers for the years 1906
and 1907 of the largest corporation established in Manila. They bear Documentary
stamps of the 2c and 4c denominations. The engraved documentary stamps
are not found on any receipts and receipted invoices dated prior to February
1907.
The
engraved Documentary stamps of the 1907 issue, and all subsequent regular
issues of Documentary stamps have been engraved and printed by the Bureau
of Printing and Engraving at Washington, D.C. The design of all of these
stamps has been the same as that of the issue of 1907. There are three
different gauges of perforation, however. The issue of 1907 had a 12 gauge
perforation. This issue remained current until at least as late as 1915
and at the same time between 1907 and 1915 a 20 pesos denomination was
added to the series. Probably in 1915, a series of the same denominations
with 10 gauge perforation was issued. The 10 pesos and 20 pesos denominations
with 10 gauge perforation are still current in 1941. At some time between
1917 and 1920, a series with 11 gauge perforation was issued. The following
denominations with 11 gauge perforation have been seen: 2c, 4c, 10c, 20c,
50c, 1p, 3p, 50p and 100p. |