Ninth Series (1915-1920)

Because the Canal Zone authorities were concerned that stamp dealers and collectors would buy most of their order they ordered the postmasters to limit sales of each stamp to a single purchaser to 100 stamps of each variety and that a record be kept of all purchasers buying the maximum amount. They also mentioned that sales would be restricted to nonresidents of the Canal Zone and Panama.

No major errors were found in the Canal Zone overprinted order but in the Panama order inverted centers were found in the 5c and 20c denominations.

1917 S.S. Cristobal and S.S. Panama Canal Transit Issue

In 1916 the Canal Zone postal authorities ordered three new denominations from Panama, the 12c, 15c and 24c stamps. Panama did not have these denominations but as they were required to furnish the Canal Zone with stamps they ordered them from the ABNCo. On January 19, 1917 these overprinted stamps were delivered to the Canal Zone and placed in service that month. Panama did not issue this series of stamps until 1918.

1920 Balboa Dry Dock and Gatun Locks Issue

In 1919 the Canal Zone postal authorities place an order with Panama for 50c and $ 1 stamps. As Panama did not have these denominations they ordered them from the ABNCo. These overprinted stamps were delivered to the Canal Zone in August 1920 and placed on sale in September 1920.

David Zemer and Robert J. Karrer

The 1-cent Panama Canal Map was ABNCo order F 4243, which is engraved in the selvage at the top of the sheet. The ABNCo archives specimen sheets verify that the printing date was June 19, 1914. The Canal Zone ordered 100,000 of these stamps overprinted by the ABNCo, and there are no known major errors.

David Zemer and Robert J. Karrer

The 2-cent Balboa stamp portrays explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa (1475-1517) claiming the Pacific Ocean for Spain. It was ABNCo order F 4244, which is engraved in the selvage at the top of each sheet. From the archives of the ANBCo sale we now know that the printing date was June 19, 1914. The Canal Zone ordered 100,000 copies of this stamp.

David Zemer and Robert J. Karrer

The 5-cent Gatun Locks stamp has a spelling error that was discovered too late and is on all stamps. The Spanish word for locks is ESCLUSAS, but it was incorrectly spelled EXCLUSAS. This stamp was ABNCo order F 4243, which is engraved on the selvage at the top of each sheet. From the archives of the ABNCo sale we now know that the printing date was June 19, 1914. The Canal Zone ordered 100,000 of these stamps. No major errors have been reported for this stamp, although the un-overprinted version produced for Panama is known with the center inverted.

David Zemer and Robert J. Karrer

The 10-cent Culebra Cut stamp was ABNCo order F 4243. The ABNCo archives specimen sheets confirm the print date as June 19, 1914. After the stamp was issued, the Culebra Cut was renamed 'Gaillard Cut' in honor of the engineer directing this excavation job. The Canal Zone ordered 50,000 copies of the issue, and there are no known major errors.

David Zemer and Robert J. Karrer

The Canal Zone sent Panama the photograph (number 80-A250) of the S.S. Panama traveling south in Culebra Cut on August 11, 1914, and ordered 500,000 copies of this stamp. ABNCo produced the stamp under order F 5082, and this number is engraved in the selvage at the top of each sheet. ABNCo archives files verify that it was printed on October 24, 1916.

On November 27, 1916, Executive Secretary McIlvaine wrote to Panama's Secretary of Foreign Affairs Narciso Garay, pointing out that the official name of the cut had been changed from 'Culebra Cut' to 'Gaillard Cut' but by then the stamps had been printed and it was too late to change the name.

There are no known major errors of this stamp.

In 1937, 185,000 copies were burned, leaving 314,912 issued.

David Zemer and Robert J. Karrer

The Canal Zone sent Panama the photograph (number 80-A28) of the S.S. Panama traveling northbound in Culebra Cut on August 11, 1914, and ordered 500,000 stamps using the image. The ABNCo produced the stamp under order F 5082, and this number is engraved in the selvage at the top of each sheet. From the ABNCo archives files we know that it was printed on October 24, 1916.

On November 27, 1916, Executive Secretary McIlvaine wrote to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Panama, Narciso Garay, stating that the official name of the cut had been changed from 'Culebra Cut' to 'Gaillard Cut', but by that day the stamps had been printed and it was too late to change the name.

There are no known major errors of this stamp.

In 1937 approximately 375,000 copies were burned, leaving 125,000 issued.

David Zemer and Robert J. Karrer

The Canal Zone sent Panama the photograph (number 80-A80) of the S.S. Cristobal in Gatun Locks on March 11, 1915, and ordered 500,000 copies a stamp using the image. The ship is heading north, having just come from Gatun Lake and about to begin being lowered to the level of the Atlantic Ocean. ABNCo printed the stamp under order F 5082, and this number is engraved in the selvage at the top of each sheet. From the ABNCo archives files we know that it was printed on October 24, 1916.

For the second time the ABNCo spelled the Spanish word for lock as EXCLUSA instead of ESCLUSA.

There are no known major errors of this stamp.

In 1937 approximately 330,000 copies were burned, leaving 170,000.

David Zemer and Robert J. Karrer