Stamps of Panama-COLOMBIAN PERIOD

In 1717, the Viceroyalty of New Granada (northern South America) was created in response to other Europeans trying to take Spanish territory in the Caribbean region. In the reinstatement of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1739, the territories of the Royal Audience of Panama are added. The Isthmus of Panama was placed under its jurisdiction. But the remoteness of New Granada's capital Santa Fe de Bogotá proved a greater obstacle than the Spanish crown anticipated as the authority of the new Viceroyalty was contested by the seniority, closer proximity, previous ties to the Viceroyalty of Peru in Lima and even Panama's own initiative. The Royal Decree of 6 August 1764 by King Carlos III established the new rules for mail in all Spanish colonies, and corresponding postmarks were introduce to denote the provenance of the mail. This uneasy relationship between Panama and Bogotá would persist for a century and lasted until November 28, 1821 when Panama got independence from Spain and joined to the Republic of Colombia.

The following material is preserved in "The Archivos Historico de Bogota" Museum, for the non-archived colonial covers go here. Not many folded letters/covers for this period have survived. Four classes of mail service were offered, paid letters, unpaid letters and official mail. The earliest colonial markings were hand stamps for the town name usually a port name PANAMÁ or PORTVLO, FRANCO or FRANCA (paid).

From Panama to Santa Fe with PNAMA 4, PNAMÁ 4, PANAMÁ 8
From Portovelo (Colon) to Santa Fe with PORTVLO 2,