Spanish Philippines Revenues 1860-1898.

Blog Update December 2, 2025

Papel Sellado

Derecho Judicial (1860-1888): Derecho Judicial (Judicial Fees) were in addition to the requirement that all documents presented in any judicial action, as well as the judicial record of the action, must be executed upon a Papel Sellado (Documentary Stamped Paper). A Judicial Fee was charged, not only for every official act of the Judge, but also for every official act of every subordinate official of the Court.

all information, including the pictures are taken from the excellent website of Nigel Gooding.

You can go to his website, section fiscal collection by clicking HERE.

Catalog of Philippine Papeles Sellados* 1700−1899 by Douglas K. Lehman.

Papel sellado, also called revenue stamped paper existed long before the Philippines introduced revenue stamps in 1860. The paper to be used had to be purchased from the government and the papers had fancy embossments to officialize them. These stamp less papers are a very interesting collecting area (if one can read old Spanish) and offer glimpses in old history and ways of life. The oldest known papel sellado originate from the year 1700. Douglas K. Lehmann compiled a 25-page book with all known (at the time of compiling the list) papel sellado forms existing. I listed the book on my website, and you can access it also by clicking HERE.

The new Judicial Fee Issue of 1878.

There are 4 stamps showing the crown of Bourbon. The currency on these stamps is changed back to Reales. These stamps also exist imperforate or partly perforated,

The new Judicial Fee Issue of 1882

This new issue consists of 9 values. The currency is again changed back to centimos and pesos. The values are ranging from 6 2/8centimos to 5 pesos. Note that in this time period, fractions of 8 like 2/8 were not simplified to 1/4.

The new surcharged Derecho Judicial Fee Stamp Issue of 1888.

Habilitado / Para/ 1 Pesos means authorized for use as a 1 Pesos stamp. This is the last Derecho Judicial stamp issued under the Spanish government.

The Spanish American war ended with the defeat of the Spanish. The treaty of Paris in December 1898, officially transferred the sovereignty over the Philippines from Spain to the USA

Blog Update November 23. 2025

Derecho Judicial or Court Fee revenues 1869.

The remaining stock of Judicial stamps from the 1860. 1865 and 1866 were overprinted "Habilitado por la Nacion" (Made valid by the Nation) by order of the provisional government which succeeded Queen Isabella 2, after she was deposed by the Revolution of 1868. Only the Philippines used this handstamp. Thanks to Nigel Gooding for letting me use his information and collection. His collection of Judicial stamps can be seen at

Philippine Fiscal Stamps

The Douglas K. Lehmann collection of the first Judicial issue 1860-1869.

The complete collection, an 1 frame, 16 pages exhibit can be seen by clicking: HERE

Derecho Judicial or Court Fee "Habilitado por la Nacion" overprints on the 1865 and 1866 issue.

Maybe a more correct translation of "Habilitado por la Nacion" is not "Made valid by the Nation" but "Made valid by the Republic". This term is used in the Dough K. Lehmann exhibit.

in 1868 the reigning Queen of Spain Isabella II was forced into exile (to France) and a new Spanish republic was formed.

Derecho Judicial or Court Fee "Habilitado por la Nacion" overprints used in Cuba.

I have no information on which Judicial issues the Habilitado par la Nacion overprint was used in Puerto Rico. But in Cuba it was only used on the 1868 and 1869 issues shown below. Do not confuse these stamps as issued also in the Philippines. Any Judicial stamps with a date just below the seating lady of Justice are only used in Cuba and Puerto Rico.

According to Raudel Busto, Cuba has only the Habilitado por la Nacion overprint on Derecho Judicial stamps of 1868 and 1869. These overprinted stamps seem to be very rare. The Cuba government was quite Royalist oriented supporting Issabella 2. This means they were not very keen on putting a Republic government overprint on the stamps.

Blog Update November 10. 2025

Derecho Judicial, Court Fee revenues 1865.

In 1865, a new design of Derecho Judicial stamp was issued showing a Lady of Justice with scales and sword. This stamp was jointly issued for the Philippines, Cuba and Puerto Rico. The six values issued are imperforate and the paper exist in 3 different tints, white, light pink and light yellow.

the half, 1, 2 and 5 reales was a joint issue, while the 10 and 100 reales was only issued and used in Cuba and Puerto Rico

Derecho Judicial, Court Fee revenues 1866.

In 1866, the currency in the Philippines was changed from the Real de Plata or silver Real, to the silver Peso or Peso Fuerte. Fuerte in Spanish means strong, suggesting a strong and stable currency. The 1- and 5-pesos imperforate stamps shown above is the first Judicial revenue issue, specifically designed for the Philippines.

Derecho Judicial, Court Fee revenues 1866 issued for Cuba and Puerto Rico only.

First in 1966. the 100 reales issues from 1856 and 1865 were overprinted with Vaiga para el ano de 1866. maybe vaiga is a mistranscription [of valida, or valid in the year 1866. These overprints have never been seen on documents or even in used form. It is possible that the currency change in 1966 from Reales to Escudos did stop these overprints of being issued.

Cuba and Puerto Rico continued till 1881 to issue stamps similar looking as the joint Philippines 1865 issue, first imperforate, later perforated. All these stamps are easy to recognize because of the date printed just below the Lady of Justice. Also, the currency indication changed from reales to centimos (cents) and Escudos.

According to Raudel Busto, an expert on Cuba revenue stamps, the last fiscal stamps used in Cuba is the 1970 issue. That means that the only place the issues between 1871 and 1881 could have be used is in Puerto Rico.

Blog Update November 3, 2025.

Derecho Judicial or Court Fee revenues.

The very first revenue stamps issued in the Philippines were the Derecho Judicial or Court Fee stamps. This was in 1860, some 23 years before the first revenue stamps were issued in Thailand.

Four years earlier similar stamps also with values in reales, were issued in Cuba and Porto Rico. The 6 different values of medio (1/2), un (1), dos (2), cinco (5), diez (10) and cien (100) were issued in 6 different colors with each 2 years, the colors of the stamps changing. a total of 5 sets, so 10 years were issued. The Philippines only started this same stamp series in 1860, so only 3 different colors can be found for each value in the Philippines. Also, the maximum court fee payment in the Philippines was only 5 reales, so any 10 and 100 reales stamp originated in Cuba or Porto Rico. From the stamps itself, it is nearly impossible to know which stamps were used in the Philippines and which h in Porto Rico or Cuba. In my own collection, I collect every value and every color, mixing Philippines with Cuba and Porto Rico.

These stamps can be found in Nigel Gooding's collection by clicking HERE.

Forgeries of Derecho Judicial revenue stamps.

The forgeries above are believed to be made in Cuba. Some have the manuscript 58 or 59 standing for 1858 and 1859. They also exist on document.

Derecho Judicial on document.

Above document issued in Manilla 1863 contains 1 dos and 6 medio Court Fee stamps for a total of 5 reales, the maximum what could be charged for a court case.

Blog Updated October 30, 2025.

I started to collect the Spanish period Philippines revenues, 1856-1898 some 5 years ago.

I have now collected enough stamps to start a serious study. This period revenues is very interesting. All revenue stamps are at least 125 years old. they are reasonably easy to find and the price for most of the stamps is quite modest. The Philippines as a Spanish period is quite unknown, but their revenue stamps give an interesting glimpse in the history and the social and economic activities of the 19th century Philippines.

The Spanish period ended in 1898 when the Spanish-American war ended, and the USA became the new colonial power in the Philippines.

The Warren Revenue Stamp catalog for Spanish Philippines.

The "Warren" Philippines revenue stamp catalog refers to Arnold H. Warren's comprehensive works, most notably "Fiscal Stamps of the Philippines: Handbook-Catalogue, 1856 to 1941" which was serialized in The American Philatelist, starting in 1967. This catalog is used by collectors to identify and reference Philippine revenue stamps, with "W" numbers assigned by Warren. The Warren catalog can be found by clicking HERE.

The Nigel Gooding collection of Spanish Philippines period 1856-1898.

Because the Warren catalog is in black and white, it is sometimes quite difficult to identify stamps. The Nigel Gooding collection, which is posted on his website, https://nigelgooding.co.uk/ is nearly complete and all the stamps are referenced by the Warren number. To View Nigel Gooding's collection, click HERE.