Puerto Rico postage stamps year 1899 American Occupation

Puerto Rico postage stamps year 1899 American Occupation Used lot

Puerto Rico Postage Stamps of 1899: American Occupation

After the United States occupied Puerto Rico during the Spanish-American War in 1898, the island’s postal system underwent significant changes. The U.S. established an independent postal service under its authority on March 15, 1899, marking the transition from Spanish to American administration6. This period is notable for the unique postage stamps issued specifically for Puerto Rico under U.S. occupation.

The 1899 “PORTO RICO” Overprints

Key Features:

• In 1899, the United States issued a series of postage stamps for Puerto Rico by overprinting existing U.S. stamps with the words “PORTO RICO” (an Anglicized spelling of Puerto Rico).
• These overprints were applied to several denominations of regular U.S. postage stamps, as well as to postal stationery and postage due stamps.
• The overprinted stamps were used exclusively in Puerto Rico during the period of American military government and the early civil administration.

Details:

• The overprints read “PORTO RICO” in black ink and were applied horizontally across the face of the stamps.
• There were at least five main postage stamp denominations overprinted in 1899, with additional varieties for postage due and postal stationery.
• In 1900, the spelling was changed to the correct Spanish form, “PUERTO RICO,” on subsequent overprints6.

Postage Due Stamps:

• Special postage due stamps were also overprinted for use in Puerto Rico in 1899.

Transition to U.S. Stamps

• The “PORTO RICO” overprints were in use only briefly. With the passage of the Foraker Act in 1900, Puerto Rico’s postal system was fully assimilated into the U.S. postal system, and regular U.S. stamps became standard on the island