Panama Popes Named Pius - Question

I couldn't resist renaming this question.

In Scotts Catalog, between Panama numbers 403 and 404, there is a brief note titled "Popes" with two stamps illustrated and the sentences, "A set of twelve stamps picturing various Popes exists. Value, approximately $100."

Usually, when you see something like this, it indicates some doubt as to its authenticity as a Postal issue but there is no information in Scotts relating to this except that no Scott numbers were issued.

I have this set but I also have an FDC Cancel on an Airmail envelope as well as five values on a registered cover dated Oct. 4, 1956 (there's a clear Montreal received cancel for Oct. 6 on the reverse)which is about three months after the FDC date of July 2. Both of these are to the same address in Toronto.

It's a nice looking set and will be kept, regardless, but I would like to know whether it was issued for use and what, if anything, other catalogues (Gibbons, Michel) have to say about it. Our public Library does not have these for me to research.

Don't know backroads, but they sure are a nice set!

I am from Panama, and I haven't figured it out yet.
Obviously the stamps were issue to commemorate the 12 popes named Pius. I have not seen them offered/sell for much less than $50. I have not acquired a set for myself as yet.

And smauggie, when I ran across these in a collection I bought 5 or so years back, the singles came in a broken block of 3 each. I listed a full set on ebay about 3 years back and one other about 2 years back and received under $20.00 each time. Wasn't surprised as they were an unlisted item in Scott's but what demand there is (was?) must be pretty specialized. They were, by the way, listed by Country Name, Region and topic.

I saw the thread title again and realized what struck me as funny about it. Makes it sound like Panama has its own popes.

Resurrecting an old thread here due to a successful search. Apparently still no Scott numbers but Steiner does make pages for the listing. A nice set and I too have a couple of postally used from it. Don't understand the lack of Scott numbers.

PS: Sorry about the quality. Irfan strikes again.

You sure about no Scott numbers? I find them listed by several sellers as 403a - 403l. And there seems to be some dispute about whether they were ever officially issued.
Michel lists them as 487-498.

Indeed in Scott's standard catalog, they appear only as a footnote. Maybe in the expertised Scott's catalog, or those sellers used the place in Scott where they were mentioned and added the letters a-l, because most of their customers don't use Michel.
StampWorld also lists them, but doesn't give CV.

Interesting article about these stamps:
http://filatelia-tematica.blogspot....-de-los.html
Prestigious philatelic catalogues such as Scott, Yvert, Stanley & Gibbons, refused to accommodate this issue in their pages. Of the 195 million stamps scheduled, only 192,604 were circulated, and of the $105 million expected to be raised, only a total of $49,592 was sold.
For investors it was a bad business and for the reputation of Panamanian philately a disaster that unfortunately still repercussions. It does not seem fair that more than 60 years later catalogs like Scott do not include the series like any other. After all, the series was legally issued, circulated in the national mails and was valid for six months at the end of which, Panama fulfilled the promise to destroy the remnants and the printing plates. Nor did the following series of potatoes continue to be produced. The punishment has been heavy and there is no reason to continue it.
Panama, August 18, 2017

My old SG says in a note that "we are not satisfied about the status of these stamps". Presumably there was no evidence of legitimate sale in Panama.