Canal Zone

The first meter was installed in 1953. All stamps have “CANAL ZONE” in the frank.
Dates normally show the month as a three letter abbreviation (DEC31'53) but they are also found with Roman numeral month (31VII'53) and Western numeral month (12.31.53).

1. Pitney Bowes “RF” (MV), 1953.

Horizontal frank with design of ship transiting the Canal between the TM and value box.

The value box is without frame lines except at bottom.

M# at lower right of the TM with “P.B.” prefix at lower left.

A. Colon in value figures has narrowly spaced dots indicating the meter is able to print 1/2 and 1/4 fractions of a cent (shown)

B. Colon in value figures has widely spaced dots indicating the meter is able to print whole cent values only

TM: SC

V/F:

00 :

a. With Roman numeral month

[$5]

b. Without frame line below value figures

2. Pitney Bowes “DM” (LV-21), 1954. [$10]

As Type 1 but frank much narrower.

M# with "P.B." prefix.

TM: SC

Values:

01 to 21

3. Pitney Bowes “5300” (MV), 1953. [$5]

Similar to Type 1 but the value box has frame lines all around.

"POSTAGE" lettering is much wider.

M# with “P.B.” prefix below the central vignette.

TM: SC

V/F:

. 00

a. With Roman numeral month

[$10]

b. With Western numeral month

[$10]