Bridging a continent

Created on the 18 November 1903, the Panama Canal Zone referred to a 553 square mile area inside Panama which encompassed the canal and five miles on either side; it did not include Panama City or Colon. Between 1903 and 1979, this territory was controlled by the United States who had both built and financed the construction of the canal and used the surrounding area mainly for military purposes. From 1979 to 1999, joint US – Panamanian control was agreed before it was finally returned to Panama’s jurisdiction in time for the new millennium.

During the early period, townships and other installations housed both civilians and military personnel but there were no independent shops – only those run by the Canal Company which, in turn, was run by the Canal Zone Government. They had their own police force, courts and judges and from 1904, issued their own watermarked postage stamps with twelve perforations. Subsequent issues were the current stamps of Panama, overprinted with the words Canal Zone and although there are thought to be many varieties – with