Golden Anniversary Series

The 6-cent Golden Anniversary stamp (Scott C36) was issued as one of a series of six stamps on August 15, 1964, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Panama Canal. The stamp features a bird's eye view of the Atlantic side twin port cities of Cristobal, Canal Zone, and Colon, Panama, in the foreground the military bases at Fort Randolph, Coco Solo, and France Field in the background. It was to be used on airmail postcards to the United States.

Some 480,000 copies were received by the Canal Zone Postal Service, but only about 256,000 were sold, leaving the rest to be withdrawn from sale on January 31, 1966, and burned in April of that year.

Many of these are known on first day covers, almost always either singly on a postcard or with the other stamps of the Golden Anniversary series or together with the other stamps of the series. Only a few cachet makers were involved with them, local artist/producer Elmer Smith being the most prolific. The 6-cent stamp is usually found on a picture postcard mailed at one of the port cities to a United States address. However, it is also occasionally seen as a 'make-up' rate in combination with other stamps in a wide variety of uses. While the postcard usages are relatively common, any other use is not so.

Robert J. Karrer

The 8-cent Golden Anniversary airmail stamp (Scott C37) was issued as one of a series of six on August 15, 1964, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Panama Canal. The stamp features a view of the triple-stepped Gatun Locks as taken from the Atlantic entrance, looking into Gatun Lake. The lake formed in 1913 when engineers dammed the River Chagres. This occurred during the American Construction Era (1904-1914). This stamp's intended purpose was to cover airmail letter charges to the United States.

Some 5,400,000 copies of the 8-cent Golden Anniversary stamp were printed, but only 3,923,000 were sold, leaving over 1,526,000 of them to be withdrawn from sale on January 31, 1966, and burned in April of that year.

Many of these are known on first day covers, either singly or in combination with the other stamps of the Golden Anniversary series. Only a few cachet makers were involved in their production, local artist/producer Elmer Smith being the best known. The 8-cent stamp is usually found on an airmail letter to the United States. However, it is also occasionally found in as a 'make-up' rate in combination with other stamps in a wide variety of uses. While the airmail letter examples are common, the other usages are not often seen.

Robert J. Karrer

The 15-cent Golden Anniversary airmail (Scott C38) was issued on August 15, 1964, as one of a series of six stamps celebrating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Panama Canal. The stamp's primary purpose was to cover charges on airmail letters addressed to Latin America and the Caribbean. Its design depicts a view of the waters of the River Chagres cascading over Madden Dam. Built during the 1930s as a power generating operation and water storage area, the dam provided water necessary to operate the canal during 'dry' months.

A half million copies were printed. Just over 472,000 were sold, leaving only about 28,000 to be withdrawn from sale on January 31, 1966, and burned in April of that same year.

Most covers bearing the 15-cent Golden Anniversary stamp are found on first day covers containing all six stamps of this series. It is sometimes found on letters addressed to its intended area and even less frequently in a 'make-up' role in combination with other stamps in a variety of usages. An example may also be found on a air letter sheet or foreign airmail postcard. The air letter sheet usages are very rare but some of the airmail postcard usages have survived. None of these non-philatelic examples are common.

Robert J. Karrer

The 20-cent Golden Anniversary airmail (Scott C39) was part of a series of six released on August 15, 1964, to honor the Panama Canal on the occasion of its 50th anniversary of operation. The stamp incorporates a bird's eye view of the most difficult part of the canal's construction at Gaillard Cut through the Continental Divide looking towards the Pacific Side. Its principal use was on airmail letters to Europe.

Some 460,000 of the 20-cent Golden Anniversary airmail were delivered to the Canal Zone. Of these, almost 400,000 were sold, and only 60,000 were withdrawn from sale on January 31, 1966, and burned on April 22 of that same year.

Most postally used copies of the 20-cent Golden Anniversary stamp are found on first day covers, almost always in combination with the other stamps of this series. Only a few cachet sponsors were associated with these stamps, and local artist Elmer Smith is the best known. This stamp is rarely found on a non-philatelic cover, and usually when found it is on a letter to Europe. Other usages in a 'make-up' role are very seldom seen.

Robert J. Karrer

The Canal Zone Postal Service received 610,000 of the 30-cent Golden Anniversary airmails, but only a third of them were sold. This left some 406,000 to be withdrawn from sale and burned in early 1966.

Almost all examples of the 30-cent Golden Anniversary stamp on cover are found on first day covers, usually in combination with the others stamps of the series. The number required for airmail abroad was relatively small, and examples of its use in any capacity are very unusual.

Robert J. Karrer

The 80-cent Golden Anniversary airmail (Scott (C41) is the high value of a six-stamp series released on August 15, 1964, to honor the Panama Canal on its 50th anniversary of operation. It features a view of the east bank Pacific entrance townsites at Balboa, La Boca, and Balboa Heights, and the seat of the U.S. Southern Command at Quarry Heights. The Rodman Naval Station is seen in the foreground on the west bank of the Panama Canal, through which a passenger liner sails toward the Pacific Ocean, passing under the Thatcher Ferry Bridge, which carries the Pan-American Highway northwards. The 80-cent airmail had no defined postal use. It was to be used on heavier parcels and for special services such as registration.

Only 440,000 of these stamps were printed, of which just over 186,000 were sold. This left nearly 354,000 to be withdrawn from sale and burned in early 1966.

Almost all examples of the 80-cent Golden Anniversary stamp on cover are found on first day covers incorporating the other stamps of the series. It is also found on pieces cut from parcels and such, but such examples are true modern rarities and are almost unknown.

Robert J. Karrer