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Costa Rica Stamps and Postal History continued...

1863 COAT OF ARMS FIRST ISSUE DOMESTIC COVERS continued...

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

#1, 1863 1/2r Blue, a single and a vertical pair, all centered to top, tied to rarely seen triple rate folded letter from Puntarenas to San Jose dated March 23, 1872, cancels bit indistinct, blue circular sender's cachet handstamp at bottom left, from the famous Millet correspondence, fine. (Image)

Est. $500-750

SOLD for $2,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

1, 3

#1, 3, 1863 1/2r Blue and 4r Green, five singles from Plate 2 of the former and a single of the latter, all tied to a stunning certified cover from Puntarenas to Liberia by the fancy boxed "starburst" cancel (PUN-Can4) of Puntarenas, the 4r stamp paid the registry fee, while the five 1/2r stamps paid the 25 centavos postage, cover endorsed in manuscript by the postmaster and is dated November 16, 1877, one 1/2r stamp is wrapped around the right edge of the cover, back flap missing, fine and striking; a most extraordinary franking, cancellation and usage. (Image)

Est. $3,000-4,000

SOLD for $22,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

#1, 1863 1/2r Blue, single with some nibbed perfs., tied to undated folded entire to San Jose by the fancy boxed "starburst" cancel (PUN-Can4) of Puntarenas, this being one of only two covers found in the Mayer collection with this distinctive postmark, very fine and rare. (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

SOLD for $1,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

1, 4

#1, 4, 1863 1/2r Blue and 1P Orange, singles of each used together on an immensely rare certified cover from Puntarenas to Alajuela, stamps tied by distinctive manuscript cancels used by Postmaster Onesade, with oval "Admon. De Correos/De/Puntarenas" administrative handstamp at bottom center (PUN-Pmk3), endorsed and dated December 11, 1877 by the postmaster, the postage prepaid the four reales (50 centavos) registry fee plus 55 centavos postage for a money packet of this weight, cover bit reduced at right and with small edge faults, still quite fine; one of the rarest and most desirable of all first issue covers as this, and the next cover, are the only two "Un Peso" first issue frankings recorded, this being the earlier of the two. (Image)

Est. $7,500-10,000

SOLD for $52,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

#4, 1863 1P Orange, fine single with bright color, tied to handsome and extremely rare certified canary colored cover from Puntarenas to Liberia, stamp cancelled with distinctive manuscript of Postmaster Onesade, nice strike of large oval "Admon. De Correos/De/Puntarenas" administrative handstamp at bottom center (PUN-Pmk 3), endorsed as certified and dated January 22, 1878 by postmaster, the postage of one peso (100 centavos) represents a 5 centavos overpayment of the 4 reales (50 centavos) registry fee plus 45 centavos postage, especially neat and clean, very fine; one of the most important postal history rarities of Costa Rica, being one of only two "Un Peso" first issue frankings in existence. (Image)

Est. $7,500-10,000

SOLD for $37,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

#1, 1863 1/2r Blue, horizontal pair from Plate 2, centered to left, paying the double rate and tied to a canary colored cover to San Jose by two strikes of "Punta-Arenas/12 Mayo 81/Costa Rica" c.d.s. (PUN-Pmk5), a usage during the period when the 1/2r stamps were sold for five centavos, circular blue sender's cachet, "San-Jose/13 Mayo 81/Costa-Rica" arrival c.d.s., very slight reduction at right of cover, very fine. (Image)

Est. $500-750

SOLD for $4,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

#3, 1863 4r Green, well centered single tied to registered folded letter on "onion skin" paper to Alajuela by slightly indistinct boxed "San Jose" cancel (SJ-Pmk6), matching clear strike of "San-Jose/Abril 13.74/Costa Rica" c.d.s. at bottom right, manuscript endorsement dated and signed by Manuel Castro, the postal administrator of San Jose, the 4r adhesive paid the fee for interior registration and postage was seemingly not collected, some slight aging to the folded letter and a few small insect holes not detracting, fine; less than ten "cuatro reales" frankings have been recorded and only five internal registered covers are known; 1993 Ricardo Alvarez certificate. (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

SOLD for $11,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

1 var.

#1 var., 1863 1/2r Blue, diagonal bisect, a single diagonally bisected "medio real" from Plate 2 tied to lovely canary colored unsealed cover from San Jose by boxed "8 Feb 78" datestamp (SJ-Pmk6), this printed matter cover bears an impressive albino embossed sender's cachet "Compania Del Monte Aguacate" (a gold mining company operating in Alajuela Province), large double circle "San Jose/Feb 8, 1878/Costa Rica" in blue on reverse, one small central spot, overall very fine and extraordinarily handsome; the postal rates of June 12, 1872 allowed Postmasters the discretion of charging certain printed matter items at the small package rate of 2 1/2c per ounce, the use of a bisected "medio real" was, at this date, the equivalent to this 2 1/2c rate; one of only three recorded "medio real" bisected usages on internal mail; 1997 Ricardo Alvarez certificate. (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

SOLD for $14,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

1 var.

#1 var., 1863 1/2r Blue, diagonal bisect, from Plate 2, wonderfully tied by a barred numeral postmark on an unsealed printed matter cover addressed to San Jose, central strike of double circle "San Jose/Jun 4, 1879/Costa Rica" datestamp (SJ-Pmk8), magenta manuscript "Impresos" (printed forms) endorsement at top left, blue double oval sender's imprint on the back flap of "Montealegre & Co./San Francisco", the cover was probably sent in a large package, along with several other circulars from the same sender in California to a forwarding agent in San Jose, who then placed them all in the mail for further transmission, trivial water spot, very fine; a handsome and rare bisect cover; 1998 PF certificate. (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

SOLD for $24,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

#1, 1863 1/2r Blue, single centered a bit to top, deep rich color, tied to May 26, 1871 folded letter from Puntarenas to San Jose by barred numeral postmark, with unusual and very rare four-ring target cancel (18mm wide) at top center, this being one of only two recorded covers bearing this curious marking, fine and attractive. (Image)

Est. $500-750

SOLD for $1,700.00
Will close during Public Auction

#1, 1863 1/2r Blue, single with deep rich color, used on rare undated folded entire from San Ramon to Alajuela with manuscript "X" cancel, "S. Ramon" manuscript town postmark on reverse, cover with age spotting and a couple of minor insect holes, still fine; one of only two first issue covers recorded from San Ramon, the other being offered in the next lot. (Image)

Est. $300-400

SOLD for $725.00
Will close during Public Auction

#1, 1863 1/2r Blue, attractively centered single with deep rich color, tied to large part of folded entire from San Ramon to Alajuela by oval "Sramon" postmark (SR-Pmk1), virtually a complete strike, fine; a very rare town marking on a first issue cover. (Image)

Est. $400-500

SOLD for $1,200.00
Will close during Public Auction

1863 COAT OF ARMS FIRST ISSUE FOREIGN USAGES

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, centered a bit to bottom right, radiant color, tied to May 15, 1863 folded letter from San Jose to El Salvador by octagonal boxed "S.Jose" postmark used in the pre-stamp period (SJ-Pmk3), letter is addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in El Salvador and is correctly franked with an example of the new 2r stamps, faint age spots and a couple of minor insect holes, overall quite fine and attractive; this important cover is quite remarkable in several ways, being not only the earliest reported exterior usage of a Costa Rica adhesive stamp, it is also the earliest reported use of the "dos reales" stamp, as well as being one of only two known exterior usages to El Salvador during this period. (Image)

Est. $500-750

SOLD for $2,600.00
Will close during Public Auction

#1, 1863 1/2r Blue, a striking horizontal strip of five showing a partial printer's imprint at far right, tied to a blue colored cover from San Jose to New York by barred numeral postmarks, letter dated March 5, 1868, after being cancelled in San Jose it was carried via Puntarenas, Panama and Aspinwall, and upon arrival in New York it was struck with April 10 "New York/U.S. Notes/10" due postmark, the strip correctly prepays the exterior rate and is the only reported example of five "medio real" stamps paying the "dos reales" exterior rate, two light vertical file folds pass through two stamps in the strip, very fine; a most impressively franked cover to the United States. (Image)

Est. $4,000-5,000

SOLD for $50,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

#3, 1863 4r Green, deep rich color and well centered, tied to an especially handsome June 10, 1867 folded entire from San Jose to New York by a bit indistinct San Jose c.d.s., letter was sent on the Puntarenas route via Panama and Aspinwall to New York, upon arrival it was struck with large "Steamship/20" due marking for double weight letters, couple of minor vertical filing folds, one of which very lightly passes through the stamp, overall very fine and extremely rare; less than ten "cuatro reales" first issue frankings are recorded and this is the earliest recorded usage of this value; undated Friedl Expert Committee certificate. (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

SOLD for $19,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, three singles with fine centering, all tied to blue colored folded entire dated June 14, 1867 to New York by light strikes of barred numeral postmarks, the three stamps paying the triple rate, as with the previous cover it was carried on the Puntarenas route via Panama and Aspinwall, and upon arrival in New York it was struck (also tying stamps) by large "Steamship/20" due handstamp, faint soiling to cover, a fine and most unusual franking. (Image)

Est. $500-750

SOLD for $5,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, single tied to impressive circa 1872-73 cover from Cartago to Alexandria, Virginia by complete strike of oval "Cartago" postmark, cover with printed corner card of the railroad "Ferro-Carril De Costa-Rica", the 2r stamp correctly prepaying the rate via the Puntarenas route to New York, upon arrival struck with "N.Y. Steamship/Sep 25/10" due c.d.s., some slight soling to cover and a bit of the back flap is missing, still quite fine and a most attractive and rare usage. (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

SOLD for $3,250.00
Will close during Public Auction

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, single with rich luxuriant color, perfectly tied to a folded letter sent from San Jose to San Francisco by a boxed "17 Dic 72" postmark, as was the case with most mail from Costa Rica to California they were carried via Puntarenas to Panama, but upon arrival there mail was routed northward on PMSS steamers rather than across the isthmus to Aspinwall, as indicated by manuscript "pr. Steamer via Panama" endorsement, struck with "San Francisco, Cal/Jan 30/10" c.d.s., "J. Fedr. Lahmann/Costa Rica" sender's cachet handstamp over letterjoin on reverse, very fine; a most eye-appealing and rare usage. (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

SOLD for $7,250.00
Will close during Public Auction

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, fine single, tied by a boxed 5 Jun 74" date handstamp to a similar folded entire from San Jose to San Francisco from the same correspondence as the previous lot, and like the previous cover it was routed via Puntarenas to Panama, where it was placed on the Pacific Mail Steamship Company steamer for carriage to San Francisco, this cover however bears the spectacular addition of the fancy oval "Steam Panama" oval handstamp applied upon arrival to denote steamship mail that had been bagged at the Panama office, it was also struck with "San Francisco/Jul 2/10" due handstamp, double oval "Lahmann y Echeverria/Jun 10, 1874/San Jose, Costa Rica" sender's cachet over letterjoin on reverse, very fine; a stunning cover of extraordinary eye appeal and rarity; this is the only known example of a "Steam Panama" handstamp on a cover originating in Costa Rica, in addition to being the latest reported usage of the "Steam Panama" marking on any cover. (Image)

Est. $5,000-7,500

SOLD for $14,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, deep color, tied to an exceptionally clean folded letter from San Jose to New York by boxed "25 Mar 78" date handstamp, matching double circle "San Jose/Mar 25, 1878/Costa Rica" postmark along side, upon arrival struck with "New York/Apr16" and "Due 5 Cents" dual circular markings, mild vertical filing crease just passes through stamp, overall very fine; a most attractive and rare cover. (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

SOLD for $2,300.00
Will close during Public Auction