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U.S. Possessions

This section illustrates plate number material for overprints on regular U.S. issues.

Canal Zone (1904-1938)

When the Canal Zone treaty took effect in early 1904, it became evident that USPOD had forgotten about the need for stamps in the Canal Zone. Immediate needs were met by overprinting stamps of Panama under a lucrative arrangement (for Panama) with the Panamanian post office. Panamanian stamps did not have plate numbers.

In June 1904, 10 million overprinted stamps arrived from the U.S. and replaced the overprinted Panamanian stamps.

Thanks to James P. Mongeon, "The Taft Agreement of Dec. 3, 1904," The Canal Zone Philatelist 59:4, for information on early Canal Zone stamp printing contracts.

Overprints of the U.S. 1902-03 Second Bureau Series

Except for a single strip of the 5¢ value with a Right side plate number, these overprints are known only on LL panes. Therefore all plate number positions are L or B.

CZ Scott 4, 1¢, plate number 2061 (on U.S. Scott 300)

CZ Scott 5, 2¢, plate number 2206 (on U.S. Scott 319)

CZ Scott 6, 5¢, plate number 1888 (on U.S. Scott 304)

CZ Scott 7, 8¢, plate number 1500 (on U.S. Scott 306)

CZ Scott 8, 10¢, plate number 1590 (on U.S. Scott 307)

However, Panama was upset at the loss of revenue from the overprinted stamps (where they were paid for the stamp inventory but didn't have to incur any of the costs of delivering the mail).

Also, the arrangement did not resolve issues with the postal rates themselves: the U.S. considered mail from Canal Zone as "domestic rates" but mail from Panama itself was "international rates." Yet people could easily cross the border and save a lot of money mailing from the Canal Zone.

In late 1904, President Roosevelt assigned Secretary of War William Howard Taft the task of negotiating a new postal arrangement with Panama. It restored the lucrative purchase of overprinted Panamanian stamps and settled the issue of postal rates in Panama's favor. The overprinted Second Bureau issues were no longer valid for postage as of December 11, 1904. Only about 150,000 had been sold. The remaining stock of the 10 million stamps would have lasted over 30 years, but over 9.85 million were destroyed on Jan. 2 and 3, 1906.

Overprinted stamps of Panama were then used again until a new arrangement in 1938. The overprinted Panamanian stamps did not have plate numbers.

Overprints of the U.S. 1922 Fourth Bureau Series, flat plate issues

Stamps specially prepared for use in the Canal Zone superseded the overprinted U.S. issues in 1938.

Flat "A"

CZ Scott 70, 1/2¢, plate number F17018 (on U.S. Scott 551)

CZ Scott 71, 1¢, plate number 16560 (on U.S. Scott 552)

CZ Scott 71 var, 1¢, malformed "E" (more like an inverted "F"), plate number 15334

The overprint mat was worn or defective and was not immediately replaced. This variety is known on several Left plate numbers.

CZ Scott 71 var, 1¢ with "P" perfin, plate number 16556

CZ Scott 71e, 1¢ booklet single, plate number 16269F (on U.S. Scott 552a)

Image courtesy of Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries

CZ Scott 71d, ZONE CANAL overprint error, plate number 15456

Only 180 stamps exist, from the bottom 9 rows of two panes of 100. Two right plate number examples are possible.

Image courtesy of Kelleher Auctions

CZ Scott 72, 1-1/2¢, plate number 16863 (on U.S. Scott 553)

CZ Scott 73, 2¢, plate number 15630 (on U.S. Scott 554)

CZ Scott 73a, 2¢ booklet single, plate number 16603 (on U.S. Scott 554c)

Inage courtesy of Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries

CZ Scott 74, 5¢, plate number 15148 (on U.S. Scott 557)

CZ Scott 75, 10¢, plate number 15512 (on U.S. Scott 562)

CZ Scott 76, 12¢, plate number 14405 (on U.S. Scott 564)

CZ Scott 77, 14¢, plate number 14513 (on U.S. Scott 565)

CZ Scott 77 var, 14¢ double overprint, plate number 14514

CZ Scott 78, 15¢, plate number 14912 (on U.S. Scott 566)

CZ Scott 79, 30¢, plate number 14438 (on U.S. Scott 569)

CZ Scott 80, 50¢, plate number F14044 (on U.S. Scott 570)

CZ Scott 81, $1, plate number 14268 (on U.S. Scott 571)

Pointed "A"

CZ Scott 84, 2¢, plate number 17842 (on U.S. Scott 554)

CZ Scott 84 var, low overprint but not quite the ZONE CANAL error, plate number 17890

CZ Scott 84b, 2¢ ZONE CANAL error, plate number 17842 (on U.S. Scott 554)

Of the 180 copies known, only the right and left positions have been reported. Image courtesy of Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries

CZ Scott 85, 3¢, plate number 16402 (on U.S. Scott 555)

CZ Scott 86, 5¢, plate number 16393 (on U.S. Scott 557)

CZ Scott 86 var, 5¢, overprint shifted to bottom, plate number 16332

CZ Scott 86 var, 5¢, overprint shifted to right, plate number 16391

Image courtesy of Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries

CZ Scott 86 var, 5¢, overprint shifted to right, plate number 16392

CZ Scott 87, 10¢, plate number 16376 (on U.S. Scott 562)

CZ Scott 88, 12¢, plate number 15352 (on U.S. Scott 564)

CZ Scott 89, 14¢, plate number 15797 (on U.S. Scott 565)

CZ Scott 90, 15¢, plate number 18928 (on U.S. Scott 566)

CZ Scott 91, 17¢, plate number 18021 (on U.S. Scott 623)

CZ Scott 91a, 17¢ ZONE error (missing 'CANAL'), plate number 18023 (Image courtesy of The Philatelic Foundation)

CZ Scott 91b, 17¢ CANAL error (missing 'ZONE'), plate number 18021 (Image courtesy of Matthew Bennett)

CZ Scott 91c, 17¢ ZONE CANAL error, plate number 18023 (Image courtesy of Kelleher Auctions)

CZ Scott 91c var, 17¢ ZONE CANAL error, misaligned, plate numbers 18021 and 18025

Images courtesy of Kelleher Auctions (#18021) and Michael E. Aldrich Auctions (#18025)

CZ Scott 92, 20¢, plate number F16648 (on U.S. Scott 567)

CZ Scott 92a, 20¢ error, (inverted 'CANAL',  from UR48), strip of 3 with plate number 17530

CZ Scott 93, 30¢, plate number F17449 (on U.S. Scott 569)

CZ Scott 94, 50¢, plate number 14042 (on U.S. Scott 570)

CZ Scott 94 var, 50¢, overprint shifted to left, plate number 14043

CZ Scott 95, $1, plate number 14268 (on U.S. Scott 571)

CZ Scott 96, 2¢ Liberty Bell, plate number 18577 (on U.S. Scott 627)

This was the only commemorative U.S. stamp overprinted for use in Canal Zone. Other possessions such as Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico, Philippines and U.S. Virgin Islands had no commemorative overprints.

Overprints of the U.S. 1926 Fourth Bureau Series, rotary press issues

Perforated 10

CZ Scott 97, 2¢, plate number 18827 (on U.S. Scott 583)

2¢ was the most common rate for local mail within the Canal Zone, so it was logical that the 2¢ Rotary stamp would be overprinted.

CZ Scott 98, 3¢, plate number 18446 (on U.S. Scott 584)

CZ Scott 99, 10¢, plate number 18538 (on U.S. Scott 591)

Perforated 11 x 10-1/2

CZ Scott 100, 1¢, plate number 18731 (on U.S. Scott 632)

CZ Scott 100 var, 1¢, overprint shifted to left, plate number 18730

CZ Scott 100a, 1¢ overprint omitted error, vertical pair, plate number 18730

Only 10 vertical pairs exist. This pair with the plate number is unique.

CZ Scott 101, 2¢, plate number 18985 (on U.S. Scott 634)

CZ Scott 102, 3¢, plate number 18803 (on U.S. Scott 635)

CZ Scott 103, 5¢, plate number 18855 (on U.S. Scott 637)

CZ Scott 104, 10¢, plate number 19235 (on U.S. Scott 642)

CZ Scott 116, 14¢, plate number 20549 (on U.S. Scott 695)

So when the dust settled, all denominations of the Fourth Bureau Series were overprinted in some format except: 4¢ (either Martha Washington or Taft), 6¢, 7¢, 8¢, 9¢, 11¢, 13¢, 25¢, $2, and $5. There was, apparently, little demand for a two-ounce rate (either 4¢ or 6¢), nor for the high values typically used on heavier parcels and high-value registered mail.

Later overprints

CZ Scott 115, 3¢ Washington, plate number 20934 (on U.S. Scott 720)

This stamp met the new local Canal Zone rate, replacing the 2¢ Washington.

CZ Scott 115c, 3¢ from locally produced booklet pane of 6, plate number 20933

CZ Scott 118, 1/2¢, plate number 21885 (on U.S. Scott 803)

CZ Scott 118 var, 1/2¢, overprint shifted to bottom, plate number 21885

CZ Scott 119, 1-1/2¢, plate number 21879 (on U.S. Scott 805)

CZ Scott 119 var, 1-1/2¢, overprint shifted to bottom, plate number 22646

Special stamps printed exclusively for Canal Zone superseded the overprinted U.S. stamps.

Postage Due issues

CZ Scott J1, 1¢ overprint on U.S. Scott J45a, used, plate number 5510

CZ Scott J2, 2¢ overprint on U.S. Scott J46a, plate number 6706

CZ Scott J3, 10¢ overprint on U.S. Scott J49a, plate number 5532

CZ Scott J12, 1¢ overprint on U.S. Scott J61a, plate number 13844

CZ Scott J13, 2¢ overprint on U.S. Scott J62b, flat-topped A's in CANAL, plate number 14026

CZ Scott J14, 10¢ overprint on U.S. Scott J65a, plate number 6555

CZ Scott J15, 1¢, overprint on CZ Scott 71, which in turn was an overprint on U.S. Scott 552, plate number 15437

CZ Scott J16, 2¢, overprint on CZ Scott 73, which in turn was an overprint on U.S. Scott 554, plate number 15630

CZ Scott J17, 10¢, overprint on CZ Scott 75, which in turn was an overprint on U.S. Scott 562, plate number 15513

CZ Scott J19, 2¢ used overprint on U.S. Scott J62, pointed-topped A's in CANAL, plate number F14599

CZ Scott J20, 10¢ overprint on U.S. Scott J65, pointed-topped A's in CANAL, plate number 6556

CZ Scott J20c, 10¢ double overprint, plate number 18725

Image courtesy of Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries

For plate number singles of non-overprinted Canal Zone issues, click here.

For additional information, check out the web page of the Canal Zone Study Group (CZSG).

Comments? Suggestions? Email the Webmaster: .

This page last updated January 10, 2024.