Lot
308 
Panama, Colombia 1881, Registration, 10c violet, used with Columbia 2c vermilion (2), 5c blue, all tied by three strikes of "Panama" oval handstamps on Nov. 1881 cover to Bucharest, Roumania, partial blue British Consulate of Panama imprint on flap, manuscript "294" registry number at top right, purple "Registered, Dec 2 1881, New York P.O." three-line postmark, blue "1674" registry handstamp, Bremen registry label affixed, partial Bucharest arrival backstamp; top edge tear, 5c and 10c with faults, apparently missing a 5c at top left for the double 7c letter rate plus 10c registry fee, Fine, One of the most important Panama registered covers in existence, ex-Helme. Scott No. Columbia F7 + 104, 105 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
THE EARLIEST RECORDED REGISTERED COVER FROM PANAMA, AND THE ONLY RECORDED 19TH CENTURY REGISTERED COVER TO ROUMANIA.
Columbia joined the U.P.U. on July 1st 1881. The 1881 was usually used on a special printed envelope created for registered mail. The registry fee was 10c and the foreign letter rate was 7c per 15 grams effective October 1st 1881.
Julius Popper (1857-1893) was a Romanian-born Argentine engineer, adventurer and explorer. He is responsible for the modern outline of the city of Havana, Cuba. He was known as a modern "conquistador" of Tierra del Fuego in southern South America, gaining fame during the gold rush there. On 7 September 1886, together with eighteen people, he as captain, chief engineer, mineralogist, journalist and photographer, started the "Popper Expedition." He succeeded in unearthing great amounts of gold and his Compania de Lavaderos de Oro del Sud realized enormous capital gains. He was a controversial but influential figure, responsible for the genocide of native Selknam people. He died at the age of 35 in Argentina.
Realized: $5,000
Lot
309
Panama, Colombia 1881, Registration, 10c violet, used with Columbia 2c vermilion, 5c blue, all with four margins and tied by two full strikes of "Panama" oval handstamps on buff Dec. 1881 cover to Paddington, London, manuscript "462" registry number at top right, endorsed "Via New York", oval "Registered London 3 JA 82" postmark and blue crayon registration markings, envelope flap with Pacific Steam Navigation Co. engraved cachet; trimmed slightly at top with small part of flap missing; prepaid 7c foreign letter rate plus 10c registry fee, Very Fine and attractive, ex-Helme. Scott No. Colombia F7 + 104, 105 Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
A RARE EARLY REGISTERED COVER FROM PANAMA USING COLUMBIAN STAMPS.
Realized: $5,750
Lot
310
Panama, Colombia 1881, Registration, 10c red on orange, with manuscript "138" and "3 grams", used with Colombia 5c blue, four large margins, tied by "Panama, Colon, Abr 17 1883" cds on salmon buff "Telegram" imprint cover to Cartagena, "1883. abril 27" receipt docketing on face, Very Fine. Scott No. F8 + 114 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
THE EARLIEST RECORDED USE OF THE COLOMBIAN F8 REGISTRY LABEL FROM PANAMA.
In 1883, Colombia issued a new registration stamp that was used in Panama until 1888. Domestic registration was not widely used and very few non-philatelic usages have survived. Less than 2,000 registry letters were mailed at Panama during 1883, and manuscript numbers were used.
Realized: $1,500
Lot
311
Panama, Colombia 1881, Registration, 10c red on orange, with manuscript "245" and "10 grams", used with Colombia 1c green, 2c rose (2), mostly four margins, tied by two strikes of "Panama" oval postmark on circa late May 1883 cover to Cali, Colombia, forwarded to Cartago, receipt docketing on face, Very Fine and attractive. Scott No. F8 + 104 (2), 112 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A RARE AND EXCEPTIONAL FRANKING PREPAYING THE 5C LETTER RATE PLUS 10C REGISTRY FEE.
Only 2,000 registry letters were mailed at Panama during 1883, and manuscript numbers were used. The approximate mailing date can be derived from the number recorded for the Apr. 17th 1883 cover.
Realized: $3,250
Lot
312
Panama, Colombia 1883, Official Registry Label, black and red, manuscript "1350", used on preprinted post office envelope to Paris, France, French "Ligne A, Paq. Fr. No. 1, 1 Aout 83" octagon d.s., Paris (8.23) arrival backstamps; reduced slightly at top affecting label, F.-V.F. Scott No. F unlisted Estimate $750 - 1,000.
EXCEPTIONALLY RARE OFFICIAL REGISTRY LABEL USAGE, ONE OF LESS THAN 5 RECORDED EXAMPLES USED ON COVER.
Lot
313
Panama, Colombia 1881, Registration, 10c red on orange, manuscript "1521", on cover with "Agencia Postal Nacional, Panama, 25 Mar 1885" duplex to Buenos Ayres, Argentina, Andes Chile (4.21) transit cds, reverse with May 2nd receiver; prepaid 10c registry fee plus foreign letter rate paid in cash; some light edge toning, F.-V.F. and unique. Scott No. F8 Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
THE ONLY RECORDED COLUMBIA F8 REGISTRY LABEL USAGE DURING THE 1885 SHORTAGE OF STAMPS DUE TO CIVIL WAR.
The supply of stamps in Panama was used up in the spring of 1885 and could not be replenished due to civil unrest in Columbia. The Panama postmaster notified all UPU members that covers bearing the Panama cancel should be accepted as paid. There are only 18 covers recorded from this stampless period, this being the only one bearing a registration label prepaying the 10c registry fee.
Realized: $2,000
Lot
314
Panama, Colombia 1885, Pink provisional registration label, manuscript "1860", used on cover with "Agencia Postal Nacional, Panama, 15 Abr, 1885" duplex to New York city, New York (4.28) arrival backstamp and front with purple "83159" registry number handstamp, Extremely Fine, ex-Helme. Scott No. F unlisted Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
THE EARLIEST OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS 1885 PINK PROVISIONAL LABEL RECORDED USED ON COVER.
In addition to postage stamps running out, the registration stamps also could not be replenished due to civil unrest in Columbia and a pink provisional registration label was made.
Realized: $2,400
Lot
315
Panama, Colombia 1881, Registration, 10c red on orange, manuscript "6114", used with Colombia 1883, 20c violet, tied by "Agencia Postal Nacional, Panama, 24 Set 1885" duplex on large size French Canal Co. imprint cover to Karlsruhe, Germany, endorsed "per. W.I. Royal Mail S.S." at top, blue crayon registry markings, Karlsruhe (10.20) arrival backstamp, minor adherence on reverse, Very Fine. Scott No. Colombia F8 + 120 Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Realized: $1,350
Lot
316
Panama, Colombia 1881, Registration, 10c red on orange, with handstamped "7403", used with Colombia 1886, 10c orange tied by "Agencia Postal Nacional Panama, 10 Ago 1887" duplex on French Canal Co. imprint cover to Turin, Italy, blue crayon "100", red London Registered (9.3), Sep. 5th arrival backstamps, Very Fine. Scott No. F8 + 131 Estimate $750 - 1,000.
On Aug. 1st 1886, Columbia adopted a new constitution that changed the form of Government from a Union of States to a unitary Republic. The former states were named departments after the French model. Panama became one of the nine departments in the new Republic. No new registration stamps were issued until 1889.
Realized: $550
Lot
317
Panama, Colombia 1889, Registration, 10c red on grayish, blue "5381" handstamp, used with Panama 1887-88 20c black on lilac, with bottom selvage, tied by blue "Panama, 4 Nov 1891" duplex on gray granite cover with preprinted address to New York City, red crayon "59" registry number, New York (11.12) arrival backstamp and matching purple "46951" handstamp, Very Fine. Scott No. F9 + 12 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED COLOMBIA F9 REGISTRY STAMP USAGES FROM PANAMA.
The two recorded covers indicate that a few sheets of Colombia F9 were included with the shipment of Colombia F10 on yellowish paper that was received in 1890.