Lot
3001 
Mexico, 1739, Veracruz, Correo Mayor De (Veracruz), circular negative handstamp (Yag-Bash VC1) on colonial folded letter dated August 8th, 1739, addressed to Mexico City with a transit time of six days, F.-V.F.Estimate $15,000 - 20,000.
AN EXTREMELY RARE AND THE EARLIEST RECORDED POSTMARK OF MEXICO AND POSSIBLY THE SECOND EARLIEST IN THE AMERICAN CONTINENT. ONLY FOUR EXAMPLES OF THE VERACRUZ "CORREO MAYOR" COLONIAL HANDSTAMP ARE RECORDED AND ONLY TWO FROM THE 1730'S.
The postal system during colonial times started in 1580 as a private monopoly called "Correo Mayor". From 1604 on, this monopoly was auctioned by the Viceroy to the highest bidder, who would run it without investment or intervention from the state. This business was inheritable. The first handstamp postmark appeared on the 1730's in Veracruz. This system ended in 1766 when the monopoly reverted to the state.nnThere are 13 different "Correo Mayor" postmarks known with less than 40 covers recorded. So few exist because the service was limited to a handful of large cities, it was expensive, the majority of the population was illiterate and postmarks were applied only to the top cover in a bundle. Out of the four Veracruz postmarks, one of them may be an earlier cover however it's "1736" year date is mentioned as part of the text and not in the docketing so some experts believe this cover is undated. The only earlier handstamp postal markings in the American Continent are from New York (1707) and Lima (1735). Experts do not agree whether the 1707 New York marking was applied in England or in America.
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Realized: $14,500
Lot
3204 ()
Mexico, Puebla 8r Green on Red Brown, Horizontal Strip of Four, a remarkable multiple with huge margins, right stamp with pre-printing paper fold, in combination with 1861, 2r black on pink + 4r dull red on yellow, Puebla on on 1862 oversized registered front to the National Lottery in Mexico (contained unsold lottery tickets being returned), all tied by "Franco" handstamps (Schatzkes 1147B) with matching Puebla certification date stamp (Schatzkes 1164) below, official eagle cachet handstamp and monogram handstamp at right (Schatzkes 1153A), Very Fine, 8r only 272 stamps issued, just the 8r strip has a NF $6,500 (as a generic block of four from any district); with 2024 M.E.P.S.I. certificate.Scott No. 12, 10, 8 Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
A REMARKABLE LARGE MULTIPLE OF THE 1861 8R GREEN ON RED BROWN ISSUE FROM PUEBLA - A KEY RARITY OF THE 1861 HIDALGO ISSUE.
Registered mail only exists in fronts because the front of the cover was cut in its destination and the addressee signed the back as proof of delivery. The front was then sent back to the office of origin and kept for 2 years and then destroyed. Only 15-25 have survived from this issue. The 8r Black on Green were printed in parallel to the 8r Black on Brown to combat the illegal use of splits from six larger districts and initially sent only to those. A top rarity in the 2009 Club of Monte Carlo book of 100 world rarities.
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Realized: $12,500
Lot
3202 ()
Mexico, Puebla 8r Black on Red Brown, Horizontal Strip of Five, a remarkable multiple with huge margins, small defect (repaired) in upper left corner margin, in combination with 1861, 4r dull red on yellow, Puebla on 1862 oversized registered front to the National Lottery in Mexico (contained unsold lottery tickets being returned), all tied together by bold "Franco" handstamps (Schatzkes 1147B) with matching Puebla certification date stamp (Schatzkes 1164) above, Very Fine, the 8r strip is most likely unique from this district as only 980 stamps were issued (NF $4,000 for a strip of 4 off cover); with 2024 M.E.P.S.I. certificate.Scott No. 11, 10 Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
A REMARKABLE LARGE MULTIPLE OF THE 1861 8R BLACK ON RED BROWN ISSUE FROM PUEBLA - A KEY RARITY OF THE 1861 HIDALGO ISSUE.
Registered mail only exists in fronts because the front of the cover was cut in its destination and the addressee signed the back as proof of delivery. The front was then sent back to the office of origin and kept for 2 years and then destroyed. Only 15-25 have survived from this issue.
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Realized: $11,500
Lot
3161
Mexico, Mexico 8r Green on Red Brown, ample to mostly huge margins, tied by Mexico cds on 1864 folded letter to Madrid, Spain, reverse with bold "Vera Cruz, My 2, 1864" British P.O., red London transit and receiving cds's, with red "32R.s" Spanish inland rate handstamps additionally tying stamp, Extremely Fine; with 2024 M.E.P.S.I. certificate.Scott No. 12 Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
A WONDERFUL MARITIME USAGE TO MADRID, SPAIN BEARING THE 1861 8R GREEN ON RED BROWN HIGH VALUE.
The 8r Black on Green were printed in parallel to the 8r Black on Brown to combat the illegal use of splits from six larger districts and sent only to those. A key rarity.
Realized: $10,000
Lot
3342
Mexico, 1865, Eagle (4th Period), 2r orange, Matamoros, cons 135-1865 with manuscript district name tying stamp, in mixed franking with France 80c carmine on Mexican internal cover, carried from Matamoros to Mexico, first by French packet to Veracruz, then overland by Mexican Imperial Post, the 2r stamp tied by boxed Matamoros date stamp (Schatzkes 732) paid the Mexican internal postage both to and from the French packet, the 80c French stamp (which has a defective corner), tied by blue mute lozenge of dots, paid the French packet postage from Matamoros to Veracruz, other markings on the face are the scarce octagonal "Matamoros" of the French consular packet office and a boxed "PD" verifying prepayment, Very Fine and attractive.Scott No. 23 var. Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
A FABULOUS AND FAMOUS RARITY OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO BOTH MEXICAN AND FRENCH MARITIME POSTAL HISTORY.
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Realized: $19,000
Lot
3309
Mexico, 1864, Eagle (2nd Period), 8r red, quadrisect, Durango, cons 156-1864, lower right portion of stamp showing portion of consignment number, beautifully tied by large oval San Juan de Guadalupe handstamp (Schatzkes 264) and manuscript "Nobre. 24/65" date on folded letter sheet to Durango; top and left side flaps missing, Extremely Fine and attractive, only 10 8r stamps were consigned to San Juan de Guadalupe, ex-Chapman; with 1987 M.E.P.S.I. certificate.Scott No. 25f Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
AN EXTREMELY RARE QUADRISECT USAGE OF THE 8R EAGLE ISSUE FROM THE SECOND PERIOD FROM DURANGO - A WONDERFUL EAGLE ISSUE RARITY.
Realized: $13,500
Lot
3285 ()
Mexico, (Chiapas) 4r Black on Yellow, without District Overprint, full even margins, tied by blue Comitan circular handstamp (Schatzkes 120) on 1868 registered front to Chiapas, with boxed Comitan handstamps in corners (Schatzkes 121) and Judicial eagle handstamp, manuscript Comitan certification boxed date stamp, Very Fine; with 1987 Jaretzky & 2015 M.E.P.S.I. certificates.Scott No. 9b Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
AN EXTREMELY RARE PROVISIONAL USAGE OF THE 1861 4R BLACK ON YELLOW HIDALGO ISSUE USED DURING THE EAGLE ISSUE PERIOD.
The 1861 stamps were demonetized in 1864 with the Eagle issue. However a few districts used left overs in 1867 and 1868. These are very rare. Moreover, certified mail only exists in fronts because the front of the cover was cut in its destination and the addressee signed the back as proof of delivery. The front was then sent back to the office of origin and kept for 2 years and then destroyed. Only 15-25 have survived from this issue but probably 2-3 only from the provisional period. The rate should have been at least 8r but it only paid 4r. Most likely because it was a judiciary wrapper and the Comitan postmaster miscalculated the rate.
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Realized: $9,000
Lot
3340
Mexico, 1865, Eagle (4th Period), 2r orange, Guadalajara-Tepic, cons 131-1865, tied by bold negative Tepic circular handstamp (Schatzkes 416) with matching oval "Tepic, Sete. 29/65" date stamp (Schatzkes 417) on Wells Fargo express cover to La Paz, Baja California, blue "Wells Fargo & Co., Mex. Coast Messgr., Oct 2" oval date stamp at center; stamp with a couple margin scuffs, Very Fine and rare; signed J. K. Bash.Scott No. 23 Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
BELIEVED TO BE THE EARLIEST WELLS, FARGO & CO. MEXICO COVER BEARING A MEXICAN ADHESIVE AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF IMPERIAL MAIL TO BAJA CALIFORNIA.
Realized: $20,000
Lot
3017
Mexico, 1812, Loreto, Mission de PP., Abril á 22 de 1812 (Baja California), dateline on folded letter to Mexico from a missionary traveling north, with red oval "San Blas" and "VV.F.7.°" handstamps, carried by sea to Acapulco and then on to Mexico City along the Tierra Adentro route, with letter mentioning the "Mision de Sn Diego" and "la palizada de Acapulco", Very Fine, markings unlisted in Yag-Bash.Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
THE UNIQUE COVER SENT FROM BAJA CALIFORNIA DURING THE COLONIAL PERIOD WITH EARLY TRANSIT AND VIVA FERNANDO 7O POSTMARKS.
Baja California was one of the most remote places during this period and could be only be reached by ship via San Blas and Acapulco. The "VV.F.7.°" mark on this cover is probably unique and was added in transit (Viva Fernando 7o). These postmarks appeared in Latin America when the King Fernando 7th was held hostage by Napoleon. Although these political markings are more common in other Latin American countries they are very scarce in Mexico. Probably because there was a strong anti-colonial sentiment and the war of Independence was being fought.
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Realized: $10,500
Lot
3284
Mexico, Zacatecas 8r Black on Red Brown, Quadrisect, lower left portion of stamp tied by straight line Zacatecas handstamp (Schatzkes 1849C) on fresh 1861 folded letter to Larressore, France, manuscript "Por el Paquete Ingeles" endorsement, reverse with partial "Vera Cruz, My 2, 1861" British P.O., red London and French transit cds's, front with boxed "G.B./1F60c" accountancy handstamp and "8" decimes due handstamp applied upon arrival, Extremely Fine, ex-Paliafito; with 2024 M.E.P.S.I. certificate.Scott No. 11b Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
THE ONLY RECORDED 1861 HIDALGO SPLIT USAGE ON A TRANSATLANTIC COVER.
Realized: $6,500