Lot
1531 
Cuba, 1841 (Jan. 20) Boston Mass. to Havana, Cuba, folded datelined letter endorsed per "President" at top left, neat strike of "E. / NA" in circle handstamp (Empresa / Norte America), fresh and Extremely Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
From 1838 to about 1841, the Empresa's inventor office at Havana used a series of handstamps on incoming mail to indicate whether the letters came from North America or Europe, consisting of capital letters struck on the front - "E. NA" or "E. NE".
Lot
1532
Cuba, 1842-1850, Havana, Cuba to Spain, group of four covers, each with different Empresa ship rimless "Correo Maritimo" oval handstamps of No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4, each with "Franco" handstamp of varying types, No. 3 is fumigated, Very Fine group. Estimate $300 - 400.
The Empresa ships were not designated by name in postal markings, but by a Correo number up to number 8, accompanied by a Franco handstamp. From 1842 to 1850, each letter dispatched was struck with a blue oval cachet giving the correo number, prior to that the number was often written in manuscript.
Lot
1533
Cuba, 1842, 1845 Havana, Cuba - Madrid, Spain, folded letter and folded cover, 1842 (Jun. 30) Havana to Madrid folded letter with fancy oval "Habana, Franco" oval postmark and orange "Correo Maritimo No. 2" rimless oval, red Madrid (8.6) arrival backstamp; 1845 (Oct. 28) Madrid to Havana large part of front with orange "Habana" straightline and matching "Correo Maritimo No. 3" rimless oval, posted unpaid with "Supreme Court of Justice" oval seal, red Havana (10.28) origin cds, black "52" Real de Velón due handstamp, F.-V.F. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $240
Lot
1534
Cuba, 1842 (Mar. 2) Brandon Vt. to Havana, Cuba, datelined folded letter with red "Brandon Vt. Mar 2" cds and matching "Free" rating handstamp, blue manuscript "Missent & forward, from Havana, N.Y., Mach 14" rating, red "E. / NA" in circle handstamp, flap with "Consulate of the U.S. of America, Havana" seal handstamp; some edge wear, Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $260
Lot
1535
Cuba, 1843 (Oct. 18) Santander, Spain to Havana, Cuba, datelined folded letter with red "ESPAÑA" straightline, red "4" Reales de vélon due handstamp, red "Habana, Isla d Cuba, 1 Dic. 1843" arrival backstamp, Very Fine and choice. Estimate $400 - 600.
ONE OF ONLY SEVEN RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS "ESPANA" MARKING, WITH TWO RECORDED IN BLACK.
The "ESPANA" marking was used in the colonies to indicate arrival from Spain in order to allot proper charges due. The marking was used in Havana from 1840 until 1845.
Lot
1536
Cuba, 1844 (Jun. 3) Geneva, Switzerland to Havana, Cuba via France, folded cover with red "Geneva, 3 Juil 44" origin cds with matching small "P.P." circular handstamp, and red "Suisse Par Fernex, 5 Juil" and Havre (6.6) transit cds's, red Havana (10.25) arrival backstamp, bold strike of red "NE" handstamp and matching "2" rating handstamp; some folds, fresh and Very Fine. Estimate $400 - 600.
THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE REVERSED "NE" HANDSTAMP IN RED.
Realized: $375
Lot
1537
Cuba, 1846, 1852 Santiago de Cuba, Cuba to Spain, two gray folded covers with "YNDIAS" type 5 handstamps (0.9 x 4.4 cm), 1846 datelined letter "Zons & Ziegler" merchant oval backstamp to Barcelona with red "YNDIAS." straightline (1840-56, supposed to be applied in Vigo but struck at La Coruna) and matching "7.R" Reales de vélon due handstamp for 6-7 adarmes, and 1852 to Santander with blue "YNDIAS" straightline (1839-1855 applied in Santander) and matching "5" Reales due handstamp, Very Fine pair. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $230
Lot
1538
Cuba, 1846 (May 21) Malaga, Spain to Vera Cruz, Mexico via Havana, datelined folded letter endorsed per "Sombreria Espanola", red Havana (6.8) transit cds and matching "O" and "PENINSULA" straightline handstamp, charged zero for onward transit, black "Vera-Cruz, Junio 25" framed arrival, Very Fine. Estimate $500 - 750.
ONE OF 9 RECORDED PENINSULA POSTMARKS RECORDED.
The "PENINSULA" straightline was used in Havana on transit letters originating from Spain and recorded up to 1848. These markings were struck on letters regardless of which maritime service was carrying them.
Lot
1539
Cuba, 1846 (Jul. 9) Matanzas, Cuba to Mahon, Spain via Havana, printed circular with red "Havana, Isla de Cuba, 21 Ago. 1846" cds (Baeza: 21:8) to Mahon, red "1 R." real handstamp as 1/5 of the normal charge for a single letter, Very Fine and scarce printed matter use. Estimate $150 - 200.
In Mid-1845, the special charge for maritime printed matter was inaugurated, prompted by the trading companies. The charge was introduced on August 16, 1845.
Lot
1540
Cuba, 1847, 1850 Spain to Havana, two folded covers with orange "Empresa, Espana" double-oval postmark, 1847 from Madrid and 1850 from Tuy / Galicia; some aging, F.-V.F. Estimate $300 - 400.
From 1844 onwards the financial condition of the company deteriorated caused by fraud, high costs and insufficient ships. The precarious state of the company led to a reorganization under a new firm, Villota, Lavin y Cia., to which the government gave a new contract on February 18, 1847.