![1995 50th Anniversary United Nations with Error Stamp](http://www.phil-philately.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/1985_Bengzon_Error_Original.png)
Bengzon Error Stamp
In Philippines Philately the Bengzon error stamp is fairly well known (Scott# PH 2371Ef). Released in 1995 the well intentioned set of stamps featuring prominent Filipinos who worked in the United Nations were famously printed with the wrong Justice Bengzon pictured. Instead of Justice Cesar C Bengzon the image used was that of Justice Jose Bengzon – his cousin. The error stamps were on sale for only 2 days before being pulled and quickly replaced with new stamps.
![1995 50th Anniversary United Nations with Error Stamp](http://www.phil-philately.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/1985_Bengzon_Error_Original.png)
![1995 50th Anniversary United Nations Replacement Stamps](http://www.phil-philately.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/1985_Bengzon_Error_Replacement.png)
This article from the Manila Bulletin explains the error:
“STAMP ERROR. A major philatelic error was committed in a set of stamps issued by the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) on Sept. 25 1995 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the birth of the United Nations. The stamps in a block of four depict the pictures of our prominent Filipinos who worked in the United Nations, namely Cesar C.Bengzon, Rafael M.Salas, Salvador P. Lopez, and Jose D. Ingles. The picture in the upper left corner, however, is not of Justice Cesar C. Bengzon but of his cousin Justice Jose Bengzon. Philpost corrected the error by placing the picture of Carlos P. Romulo in the block of stamps after the family requested that Justice Cesar Bengzon no longer be included in the UN stamps (Figure 2). He will, however, be featured in the Famous Filipino series of stamps to be issued in 1996. Philpost recalled the first set of stamps after two days of sale and issued the corrected set on October 9, 1995.”
Manila Bulletin news article, October 31st 1995
It is believed that around 35 sheets of stamps were sold before being withdrawn. Each sheet contained 40 stamps – 10 of each subject. By my calculations, no more than 350 of these error stamps therefore made it to market. In fact it would be less than 350 as it is also said that some of the last remaining sheets had the error stamps removed before selling the remaining “good” stamps at the Manila post office window.
Lucky Save
So, how did they manage to remove the Bengzon error stamp from sale and have a replacement ready so quickly? Well, the original design featured 5 x prominant Filipinos – 4 in se-tenant format and 1 on a mini souvenir sheet. Fortunately the design of the stamp on the souvenir sheet featuring Carlos Romulo was able to be quickly adapted as a replacement in the se-tenant set. Lucky save!
![1995 Carlos Romulo Souvenir Sheet](http://www.phil-philately.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/1985_Bengzon_Error_Souvenir_Sheet.png)
![1985 50th Anniversary United Nations Replacement Stamps](http://www.phil-philately.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/1985_Bengzon_Error_Replacement.png)
![](http://www.phil-philately.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/19950925FDC50th-anniversary-united-nations-cachet-with-block-of-4-un-anniversary-stamps-1024x583.jpg)
![](http://www.phil-philately.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/19950925FDC50th-anniversary-united-nations-cachet-with-16p-mini-sheet-1024x579.jpg)