![1940 Montalban Gorge PH 445](http://www.phil-philately.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/1940_Montalban-Gorge-PH-445-1-850x647.jpg)
1940 Montalban Gorge Stamp
I have finally managed to get hold of Scott # PH 445 to complete my 1940 Philippine postage stamp set. This has been by far the trickiest mint stamp from this year to collect and I’m glad to have now completed this year. If you’re interested in other stamps from 1940 year then take a look at my Philippine Stamps of 1940 page.
![1940 Montalban Gorge PH 445](http://www.phil-philately.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/1940_Montalban-Gorge-PH-445-1.jpg)
Montalban Gorge is a part of the stunning Pamitinan Protected Landscape reserve in Rizal, Philippines. The reserve is a popular tourist destination with hiking, canoeing, caving, rock climbing, waterfalls, sight seeing, mountain biking and more. The Montalban Gorge was carved out by the Marikina River which separates Mount Pamitinan and Mount Binacayan in Rodriguez, Rizal. In places the gorge can reach towering heights of 360 metres. Montalban Gorge is often referred to as Wawa Gorge. Above Montalban Gorge sits the Wawa dam, construction started in 1904 by the American Colonial Government and it served as the main water supply to Manila for decades. It was eventually replaced in the 1960’s by the Angat Dam, Wawa dam is now a popular swimming hole and recreational area.
The design of this stamp was first seen in 1935 (PH 395), then in 1937 (PH 423), 1940 (PH 445) and finally in 1943 (PH N7) during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.
![1935 Montalban Gorge PH 395](http://www.phil-philately.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/1935_Montalban-Gorge-PH-395.jpg)
![1937 Montalban Gorge PH 423](http://www.phil-philately.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/1937_Montalban-Gorge-PH-423.jpg)
![1940 Montalban Gorge PH 445](http://www.phil-philately.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/1940_Montalban-Gorge-PH-445-1.jpg)
![1943 Montalban Gorge PH N7](http://www.phil-philately.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/1943-Montalban-Gorge-PH-N7.png)
PH N7 is the scarcest and most valuable of the stamps.