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Costa Rica Stamps and Postal History continued...

1863 COAT OF ARMS FIRST ISSUE FOREIGN USAGES continued...

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, single centered a bit to right, tied by most unusual fancy geometric cancel (ESP-Can1) to cover addressed to Lone Rock, Wisconsin, matching "Esparza/Setie 26/79/Costa Rica" double circle postmark below, cover was most likely carried across Costa Rica to the port of Limon, where it caught the Royal Mail steamer to Colon, where it was transferred to the Aspinwall Line steamer for carriage to New York, as the blanket steamship rate had been lowered to five cents per one-half ounce effective July 1, 1875, it was then rated as "Due 5 Cents" and a pre-cancelled U.S. postage due of that denomination was applied, finally then being carried by train to Wisconsin, very fine; a lovely cover in every regard, perfect for the serious Costa Rica collector or for the connoisseur of U.S. postage due usages on cover. (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

SOLD for $6,250.00
Will close during Public Auction

1877 fascinating cover sent from Limon to Culpeper, Virginia, with "Costa-Rica Rail-Road./Atlantic Division." corner card imprint at top left, apparently allowed to be sent postage free due to being "official" correspondence, with "Limon/Enero 17 77/Costa Rica" originating c.d.s. at bottom left, carried on the RMS steamship Moselle and arriving in Colon, with "Colon/Ja 18/77" transit c.d.s. and straight line "Transit" handstamp, interestingly two Great Britain 2p Blue perforated 15 stamps from Plate 15 are cancelled with Colon barred numeral cancel, since there was no British P.O. in Costa Rica, one can only surmise that either the railroad company had a supply of stamps or they were charged to the sender's account in Colon, the G.B. stamps prepaid the 8c British portion of the 13c rate in effect at the time for British steamship carriage between Colon and the United States, the remaining 5c was postage due, as evidenced by the "New-York/Feb 8/Due 5 Cts." circular handstamp, tissue paper cover has some wrinkles and tears (the latter primarily on reverse) that have been reinforced by affixing to internal stiffener, a marvelous cover for the British P.O. abroad specialist. (Image)

Est. $500-750

SOLD for $2,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, a single example used as postage due on a spectacular inbound folded letter to Puntarenas, Costa Rica from New York, cover originating in New York on November 22, 1864 and franked with two copies of the 1861 Ten Cent Green (#68) correctly paying the double weight rate to Costa Rica, stamps tied by two strikes of New York Foreign Mail fancy circular postmarks, red "Schepeler & Co./New-York" sender's handstamp cachet at bottom left, manuscript "pr. Str. Ocean Queen" routing instruction at top, upon arrival in Puntarenas a single Costa Rica 1863 2r Scarlet first issue was applied as postage over one of the U.S. 10c stamps and cancelled by a barred numeral postmark of Puntarenas (Pun-Can2), one U.S. 10c stamp with inconsequential corner fault at top right, overall a very fine and stunning combination cover.This complete letter, which weighs slightly over one-half ounce, was posted from New York for carriage by American steamship to Puntarenas. It was correctly prepaid for double weight with the two Ten Cent U.S. stamps and carried on the "Ocean Queen" to Aspinwall. After a trip across the isthmus, the letter was taken from Panama to Puntarenas by Panama Railroad Company steamer. Upon arrival is when it was franked with the single Costa Rican "dos reales" stamp as postage due (over one of the Ten Cent U.S. stamps) and tied with the Puntarenas barred numeral cancel. Why the postmaster in Costa Rica only charged it 2r postage due can only be attributed to a slightly off postage weight scale, or he was in an accommodating mood, as it was rated as single weight.This gorgeous cover is not only one of the great rarities of Costa Rican philately, but is also one of the most extraordinary United States combination covers bearing 1861 adhesives in existence. It is the sole recorded inbound cover to Costa Rica bearing a Costa Rican first issue. (Image)

Est. $10,000-15,000

SOLD for $45,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

Inbound 1873 cover to Cartago from New York, franked with a United States 1870 Ten Cent Bank Note (centered into perfs. at left) which is tied by "New York/Aug 20" duplex postmark, sent "Via Panama" with manuscript endorsement on the Ocean Queen, upon reaching Aspinwall it was carried across the isthmus to Panama by Panama Railroad Company steamer to Puntarenas, and then overland to Cartago, there are miscellaneous accounting notes in red crayon and pencil at top suggesting Costa Rican accounting for postage due, however since the 1866 Decree discontinuing the use of Costa Rican stamps as postage due, there are no Costa Rican stamps present, fine; a wonderful and rare inbound cover to Costa Rica (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

SOLD for $625.00
Will close during Public Auction

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, a single centered a bit to top, tied to scarce cover to Bordeaux, France by choice strike of "Cartago" oval postmark (CAR-Pmk7), British "A/Colon/Au 17/78" transit c.d.s. and "Transit" straight line handstamp at top center of cover, red London transit c.d.s. on reverse, stamp also tied by red Calais transit c.d.s., light Bordeaux arrival c.d.s. on reverse, overall very fine; within the Mayer collection there are only fourteen first issue covers to France. (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

SOLD for $5,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

#3, 1863 4r Green, well centered single tied to gorgeous canary colored double weight cover to Paris, France by boxed "25 May 79" datestamp, matching perfect strike of "San Jose/May 25 1879" (SJ-Pmk8) double circle postmark at left, with colored embossed sender's cachet on reverse, routed via London with red transit c.d.s. on reverse, with bold "T" unpaid mail marking on front, along with blue crayon "1.10" accountancy marking, "16" arrival rating handstamp, as well as a red Calais transit c.d.s., very fine; a lovely and rare cover; less than ten "cuatro reales" first issue covers are known, this being one of the most eye-appealing of this scant number known. (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

SOLD for $18,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, deep rich color, used on a very scarce linen-lined cover to Paris, France, stamp cancelled by elusive "Grecia" oval postmark (GRE-Pmk2), "San Jose/Feb 23, 1880/Costa Rica" double circle transit c.d.s., sent "Via Panama" with straight line handstamp and British Panama transit c.d.s., French Ligne c.d.s. and blue Paris arrival c.d.s. on reverse, cover opened out for display and with some transit wear, fine. (Image)

Est. $500-750

SOLD for $700.00
Will close during Public Auction

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, well centered single tied to a marvelous cover to Paris, France by boxed "25 Oct (82)" handstamp, with matching "San-Jose/25 Oct/82" c.d.s. (SJ-Pmk9) to left, sent via British mail with red London transit c.d.s. on reverse, arriving in France postage due, with "T" handstamp and with two different French postage due stamps (a 60c 1878 imperforate, in combination with 1Fr 1882 issue) tied by Paris c.d.s. at bottom, various accounting crayon markings in both red and blue, 1Fr French postage due with perf. faults at bottom due to affixing near edge of cover, overall in exceptional quality, very fine; an incredibly lovely and rare cover; one of only three recorded first issue covers to France bearing French postage dues, this being the earliest. (Image)

Est. $3,000-4,000

SOLD for $12,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

#3, 1863 4r Green, attractively centered single tied to extremely rare postage due cover to Paris, France by "San Jose/25 Nov 82" double ring c.d.s. (SJ-Pmk9), additional clearer strike to left, carried by British mails, upon arrival in France it was marked with a "T" handstamp indicating due mail, where a French 1882 1Fr postage due was affixed and cancelled by a black triangular handstamp,corresponding to the red crayon "100" notation, Paris arrival c.d.s. at bottom left, bit of back flap missing, overall very fine and striking; an immensely rare cover, being one of less than ten "cuatro reales" first issue covers recorded and the only one to bear French postage due stamps. (Image)

Est. $3,000-4,000

SOLD for $40,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, single centered a bit to top right, tied to striking postage due cover to Paris, France, by "San-Jose/25 Nov. 82" double ring c.d.s. (SJ-Pmk9), with additional strike to left, carried by British mails and upon arrival in France marked with a black "T" due marking, a France 1882 1Fr postage due was applied to correspond with the red crayon "100" indicated and tied by triangular postmark, Paris arrival c.d.s. at bottom left, cover with small single edge tears at both top and bottom, still very fine; a spectacular usage bearing French postage due stamps, one of only three recorded, all three of which are found in the Mayer collection. (Image)

Est. $3,000-4,000

SOLD for $8,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, nicely centered single with deep rich color, tied by boxed "12 Agt 73" handstamp to one of the most spectacular covers in Costa Rican philately, sent registered (single weight) by the Postmaster Henry Twight to Rome, Italy, endorsed "Registered" in his hand and with his large oval "Admon. General/De Correos/De Costa Rica" handstamp at left, sent British mail via Colon and London, with stunning additional franking of eight Great Britain 1858 1p Red, plate 123 & 129, tied upon arrival in London, along with single 1873 1/- Green, plate 7, by "R/34" barred numeral cancels, red "Registered/13 Sp 73/London, EC" oval handstamp, along with small red "PD" in oval, Italian railway transit c.d.s. and Rome arrival c.d.s. on reverse, rated "78" postage due upon arrival in blue crayon, small part of bottom back flap missing, overall very fine.More than likely the Great Britain stamps were applied at origin and that Twight transmitted this cover, as well as the following two covers, in a sealed bag through Colon. The total Great Britain franking of one shilling, eight pence, corresponds to the one-quarter ounce rate to Italy of one shilling, four pence, plus a four pence incomplete registration fee that covered only the registration from London to Rome. This cover, along with the next two, are among the most visually stunning and rare first issue covers in the Mayer collection. Remarkably, all three were sent by Twight to the same addressee in Rome, but each represents a different weight rate: single, double and triple weight. This is also the earliest of the three.A magnificent cover of this highest rarity and eye appeal. Accompanied by a 1989 Peter Holcombe certificate. (Image)

Est. $10,000-15,000

SOLD for $35,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, two fine singles, affixed slightly overlapping to another rare and spectacular registered cover from San Jose to Rome, Italy, this being a double weight usage sent by Postmaster Henry Twight, stamps cancelled by boxed "11 Mar 74" handstamp and with matching double circle "San-Jose/Marzo/11.74/Costa-Rica" cancel (SJ-Pmk9) at top, endorsed "Registered" in Twight's own hand and with his large oval "Admon. Genneral/De Correos/De Costa Rica" handstamp at left, upon arrival in London a horizontal pair of Great Britain 1/- Green, plate 8, stamps were cancelled with two superb bold strikes of "R/10" barred oval postmarks, small red "PD" in oval hadstamp, two Italian railway transit c.d.s. on reverse, along with Rome arrival backstamp, faint edge soiling, overall very fine and striking; an immensely rare and important first issue combination cover. (Image)

Est. $7,500-10,000

SOLD for $18,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

2, 3

#2, 3, 1863 2r Scarlet and 4r Green, singles of each tied to another amazing registered combination cover from San Jose to Rome, Italy, this being a triple rate usage, stamps cancelled by boxed "24 Agt 73" handstamp and with matching "San-Jose/Agost/24.73/Costa-Rica" double ring c.d.s. (SJ-Pmk9), again sent registered by Postmaster Twight and and endorsed "Registered" in his own hand and with his large oval "Admon. General/De Correos/De Costa Rica" handstamp at bottom center, upon arrival in London Great Britain adhesives totaling three shillings, four pence were applied (a payment that is one penny short of the three shilling, one penny rate plus four pence registry) and cancelled by manuscript cancels, G.B. stamps used were a strip of four of the 1p Red, plate 149 (affixed over edge and most appear on reverse), along with three singles of 1863 1/- Green, plate 7, on the front, red London registry oval and "PD" in oval handstamp also in red on front, Italian railway transit c.d.s. and Rome arrival c.d.s. on reverse, minor ink stain at bottom just affecting one stamp, slight ink touch up to "Roma" in address, fine; a most extraordinary usage, and certainly the only known "cuatro reales" cover known used in combination with other stamps; 1990 PF certificate. (Image)

Est. $5,000-7,500

SOLD for $17,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, fresh well centered single tied to handsome cover to Florence, Italy, cancelled in transit by excellent strike of octagonal "Panama Paq. Fr A No 1" of September 1, 1867, with additional strike to the left, applied on board the French Line A steamer Nouveau-Monde on the trip that departed Colon on September 1 and arrived at St. Nazaire on September 22, 1867, struck with French due "10" decimes handstamp and Paris transit c.d.s. on reverse, addressed to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the cover has remnants of an officially sealed adhesive on reverse, which is tied by a red arrival postmark, as well as a manuscript endorsement that translates "Received in this state (damaged)", overall very fine; an especially rare and desirable usage, this being the earliest reported first issue cover from Costa Rica to Italy. (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

SOLD for $7,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, fine single tied to a very rare postage due cover to Rome, Italy, by boxed "25 Mar (82)" handstamp, with matching "San-Jose/25 Mar. 82/Costa-Rica" double ring c.d.s. (SJ-Pmk9) to left, carried via Puntarenas to the British post office in Panama, where a choice strike of "A Panama/Mr 31/82" c.d.s. was applied below stamp, then carried across the isthmus and placed aboard the French Line A steamship Lafayette, the agent on the steamer postmarked the cover and rated it in manuscript "2" decimes due, upon arrival in Rome a pair of 10c postage due stamps, equal to two decimes, were applied at top left and cancelled by a Rome c.d.s., some minor extraneous ink spots, otherwise very fine; a most impressive and eye appealing cover. (Image)

Est. $3,000-4,000

SOLD for $4,250.00
Will close during Public Auction

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, fine single tied to another rare postage due cover to Rome, Italy, from the same correspondence as the previous lot, although this one was sent via Great Britain rather than France, stamp tied by boxed "12 Jun 80" handstamp, with matching double circle "San-Jose/12 Jun 80/Costa-Rica" postmark (SJ-Pmk9) at top center, it was handled through Limon with manuscript "Via Limon" at top left and Colon, with "Colon Transit" c.d.s., then carried by British steamer to England with red London transit c.d.s. on reverse, upon arrival in Rome it was stamped with Italian 60c and 1L postage dues which were cancelled with straight line "Annullato" script postmarks, and with Rome bkst., then forwarded to Aix les Bains, France, tear to back flap, very fine; a very rare cover full of character and eye appeal. (Image)

Est. $3,000-4,000

SOLD for $6,750.00
Will close during Public Auction

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, fine single with strong color, tied to a similarly rare and attractive postage due cover to Rome, Italy by boxed "25 Feb (82)" handstamp, matching double ring "San-Jose/25 Feb 82/Costa Rica" c.d.s. (SJ-Pmk9) at bottom, carried by British steamer to London and with partial red London transit c.d.s. on reverse, upon arrival in Rome marked with "T" due handstamp and stamped with Italian postage dues totaling 1 lire 20 centesimi (a pair of 10c and one 1L dues), which are tied by Rome c.d.s., small part of back flap cut away, very fine; a most extraordinary first issue cover. (Image)

Est. $3,000-4,000

SOLD for $5,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, fine centering, affixed slightly over edge of impressive postage due cover to Naples, Italy, boxed "25 Oct (82)" handstamp cancels stamp, portion of matching double circle "San-Jose/25 Oct 82/Costa Rica" postmark (SJ-Pmk9) at right, sent via London with red transit c.d.s. on reverse, upon arrival in Italy it was rated as 2 lire, 20 centesimi due, and the appropriate Italian postage dues (horizontal pairs of 10c and 1L) were applied and cancelled by Napoli c.d.s., the reverse bears a lengthy manuscript endorsement in Italian stating that the tax due should have been 1 lire 60 rather than 2 lire 20, cover slightly reduced at right, fine and rare. (Image)

Est. $3,000-4,000

SOLD for $4,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

1 var.

#1 var., 1863 1/2r Blue, diagonal bisect, tied to an extraordinarily handsome and rare cover to London by boxed "11 May 79" handstamp cancel, with matching "San Jose/May 11, 1879/Costa Rica" large double circle postmark to left (SJ-Pmk8), the cover which has an unsealed back flap indicating a circular enclosure is endorsed by the sender in manuscript "via Limon & Southampton per R & W.I. M.S." for carriage to Limon, connecting with the Royal West Indies Mail Steamer for carriage to Southampton, with "Colon Transit" c.d.s., and carried by the steamship Para to London, where backstamped upon arrival, all markings are quite clear and the cover itself is uncommonly clean, very fine; one of only four recorded bisected "medio real" usages to England, this being in the finest condition; 1998 PF certificate. (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

SOLD for $18,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

100

1 var.

#1 var., 1863 1/2r Blue, diagonal bisect, small fault to one corner, tied to cover to London by boxed "(?) Jan 76" handstamp cancel, matching small "San-Jose/Enero 9 76/Costa-Rica" c.d.s. (SJ-Pmk7), blue oval sender's handstamped cachet at left, carried through Colon and with straight line "Transit" postmark and a "A Colon/Ja 20/76" c.d.s., also arrival c.d.s. on front, some edge wear and slight soiling, nevertheless a very rare bisect usage. (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

SOLD for $4,250.00
Will close during Public Auction