Lot
1421 
New York, N.Y., "City", registry label with "59346" number on 1895 cover from Kansas City, Mo. to Principality of Trinidad, South Atlantic bearing 1894, 6¢ dull brown (256), strip of three, tied by roller grid cancel, endorsed "Via Liverpool, an Island about 300 miles east Rio de Janeiro, Brazil", purple three-line "Registered, Kansas Mo." purple postmark, New York (1.6) transit backstamp and New York "City" registry exchange label affixed, red London transit oval, Rio de Janeiro (2.6) transit backstamp, returned to sender with D.L.O. (9.18) backstamp and record handstamp; right 5¢ faults, some cover wear, F.-V.F., an exceptionally rare destination valid only for two years. Scott Nos. FX-NY1b (unlisted) Estimate $300 - 400.
The Principality of Trinidad was declared in 1893, when the American James Harden-Hickey claimed the uninhabited island Trindade and Martim Vaz in the South Atlantic and declared himself as James I, Prince of Trinidad. According to Harden-Hickey's plans the island would, after being recognized as an independent country, become a military dictatorship under his leadership. He designed postage stamps, a national flag, and a coat of arms; he established a chivalric order, the "Cross of Trinidad;" he bought a schooner to transport colonists; he appointed M. le Comte de la Boissiere as Secretary of State and opened a consular office at 217 West 36th Street in New York, and even issued government bonds to finance construction of infrastructure in the island. Brazil, with Portuguese support, pressed a successful claim to Brazilian sovereignty in 1895.
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