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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

101

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, single with fine centering, tied to orange colored cover to London by boxed "12 Feb 81" handstamp, with two matching "San-Jose/12 Feb 81/Costa-Rica" double ring c.d.s. (SJ-Pmk9), the cover sent to England via Limon and was rated one shilling postage due upon arrival with "1/-" in circle handstamp, red London backstamp, back flap and small portion of the top of the cover which was cut away has been neatly replaced, otherwise fine; one of only two recorded usages of the "dos reales" stamp to England. (Image)

Est. $500-750

SOLD for $3,750.00
Will close during Public Auction

102

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, centered to top, paying only the required exterior postage and tied to attractive canary colored cover to Swansea, England by barred numeral cancel of Puntarenas, with matching "Punta-Arenas/27 Dic. 82/Costa Rica" double ring c.d.s. (PUN-Pmk5) just to left, more than likely the cover was carried via Panama to Colon and then by Royal Mail steamer to England, Swansea arrival c.d.s. on reverse, not noted by British post office officials as being due additional postage, couple of small edge tears at right, very fine; one of only two recorded usages of the "dos reales" stamp to England. (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

SOLD for $3,250.00
Will close during Public Auction

103

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, single with fine centering, tied to folded entire from San Jose to Frankfurt, Germany, being one of only two recorded first issue covers to Germany, boxed "15 Jul 73" handstamped cancel of San Jose ties stamp, carried via Panama to the British office in Colon where it received "A Colon/Au 3/73" c.d.s., after carriage on the Royal Mail steamship Tagus to England it received a red London transit c.d.s. on reverse, then sent onward to Belgium, with an "11d" debit handstamp and finally arriving in Germany, where it was rated as "50" groschen due in blue crayon, three-line Coeln backstamp, three separate Frankfurt arrival cancels, one of which also ties stamp, very fine and handsome. (Image)

Est. $500-750

SOLD for $4,250.00
Will close during Public Auction

104

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, fine single, tied to folded letter to Frankfurt, Germany from the same correspondence as the previous lot, boxed 4 Agt 73" clear handstamp ties stamp, and like the other cover it was sent via Colon with "A Colon/Au 20/73" c.d.s., and then transported on the Royal Mail steamship Nile to England, with red London transit c.d.s., marked in London with their "1/5d" due handstamp, three-line Coeln backstamp, upon arrival in Frankfurt it received three separate cancels, in addition to being marked "50" groschen due in blue crayon, very fine. (Image)

Est. $500-750

SOLD for $5,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

105

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, centered to bottom right, tied to very rare folded entire to Switzerland, being the only recorded cover to Switzerland bearing the first issue of Costa Rica, tied by blurred barred numeral cancel of San Jose, likely carried via Panama and Colon and then by Royal Mail steamship via St. Thomas before heading to London, with red London transit c.d.s. on reverse, sent as an unpaid letter via France for carriage to Switzerland, struck with boxed "GB/1f 60c" accountancy marking and a Calais entry c.d.s. which also ties stamp, numerous transit and arrival markings on reverse, including Paris, Lugano, Luzern and Basel, fine; a most remarkable foreign usage, certainly among the rarest destinations for any first issue cover. (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

SOLD for $5,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

106

2, 3

#2, 3, 1863 2r Scarlet and 4r Green, fine singles of each, the 4r showing a double transfer, both used on a cover front to Barcelona, Spain, and each centrally cancelled with double ring "San-Jose/Junio 24 74/Costa-Rica" c.d.s (SJ-Pmk9), with third strike in center, sent via Colon with its "A Colon/Jy 11/74" c.d.s. applied, upon arrival in Spain it received "1P." due handstamp, two light vertical file folds, one of which passed through 4r stamp, fine; while only a cover front, this is a highly important piece of first issue postal history as this is the only recorded usage to Spain during this period and is one of only three 1863 issue usages abroad with a "cuatro reales" stamp. (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

SOLD for $21,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

107

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, fine single, tied to neat cover to Halifax, Nova Scotia by clear strike of barred numeral postmark of Puntarenas, with matching clear "Punta-Arenas. 29 Dic. 80/Costa-Rica" double ring c.d.s. to left (PUN-Pmk5), endorsed in manuscript "via New York" at top left, New York Foreign Division transit c.d.s. on reverse and was rated as postage due "10" cents in blue crayon before sending on to Halifax, addressed to a well known stamp dealer of the era Harry Hechler, very fine and attractive. (Image)

Est. $500-750

SOLD for $3,250.00
Will close during Public Auction

108

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, used in combination with Great Britain 1872 6p Brown, Plate 11 (#59), both tied to marvelous folded entire dated September 4, 1872 from San Jose to Lima, Peru, Costa Rica stamp tied by "San Jose" oval postmark (SJ-Pmk5), Great Britain stamp tied next to it by barred "C35" numeral cancel of British Post Office in Panama, with matching "A Panama/Sp 17/72" c.d.s. along side, clear "Lima/25 Set 72/Correos" arrival backstamp, very fine and handsome.The 2r Costa Rica first issue stamp on this marvelous cover paid the exterior postage, while the Great Britain 6p stamp was required for British mail service from Panama to Peru. Both stamps were placed on the cover by the sender, however the Great Britain stamp was left uncancelled until it reached Panama, where it was then cancelled by the barred "C35" numeral postmark. From Panama such letters would be carried by Pacific Steam Navigation Company steamers, which operated from Panama southward to Payta, Ecuador, Callao, Peru (connecting port for Lima) and onward to additional ports in Peru and Bolivia, terminating in Valparaiso, Chile. The steamers departed Panama on a fortnightly schedule.An extremely rare combination franking of importance both to the Costa Rican specialist, as well as the collector of British Post Offices abroad. (Image)

Est. $10,000-15,000

SOLD for $30,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

109

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, fine single tied to rare folded entire from San Jose to Guatemala dated September 29, 1863, stamp tied by early style large oval "San Jose" cancel (SJ-Pmk3), carried from Puntarenas north to San Jose de Guatemala by Panama Railroad Company steamer, handstamped "2" reales due for additional inland postage to Guatemala City, entire addressed to the United States Consul in Guatemala City, very fine; one of only four first issue covers known to Guatemala, this being the earliest recorded usage. (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

SOLD for $11,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

110

#3, 1863 4r Green, nicely centered single, tied to lovely double weight folded entire from San Jose to the Italian Minister of Affairs in Guatemala, stamp tied by complete boxed "21 Feb 74" postmark (SJ-Pmk7), matching double ring "San-Jose/Febre/21 74/Costa-Rica" c.d.s. (SJ-Pmk9) at top right, after carriage from Puntarenas to Guatemala it was first marked with red "4" reales due, which was then corrected to "2" reales due, overall in exceptionally clean and choice condition; one of the finest of the less than ten "cuatro reales" covers recorded, and the sole example recorded to Guatemala. (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

SOLD for $15,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

111

#1, 1863 1/2r Blue, left "wing margin" example, used on outstanding small mourning cover from San Jose to Guatemala, stamp cancelled by boxed "11 Nov 82" postmark (SJ-Pmk7), with larger matching double ring "San Jose/11 Nov 82/Costa-Rica" c.d.s. (SJ-Pmk10) along side, upon arrival in Guatemala it was rated "10" centavos due with a red numeral handstamp, very fine; this rare cover illustrates the requirement of a decree made effective on August 31, 1882, only four months before the first issue stamps were demonetized on January 1, 1883, that correspondence to other Central American republics be charged no more than domestic internal rates, under the new schedule, therefore the postal rate for a single-weight letter to Guatemala became five centavos, this being the only reported example showing this brief-lived rate. (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

SOLD for $6,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

112

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, fine single used on a very rare incoming folded letter to Cartago from Guatemala, with blue double ring "Guatemala/Juno 7/1864" c.d.s. at right, the sender endorsed the letter at left "con 3 tersios" (a misspelling of tercios), which translates "with 3 (units of money)", the word "tercios" is a colonial-era term for a unit of money, possibly equivalent to one real, upon receipt the postmaster took the money, applied the 2r adhesive (cancelled it with oval "Cartago" postmark), and wrote "2" in blue crayon next to the stamp, additional endorsements on reverse stating that the letter is being returned unclaimed, some minor edge wear, very fine. (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

SOLD for $1,600.00
Will close during Public Auction

113

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, nearly fine single used on another very rare companion incoming folded letter to Puntarenas from Guatemala, with blue double ring "Guatemala/Juno 7/1864" c.d.s. at right, endorsed "with 8 tercios" at bottom left, upon arrival in Puntarenas the 2r adhesive was placed partially over the Guatemala marking and tied by barred numeral cancel, like the previous cover this too was returned to the sender, very fine. (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

SOLD for $12,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

114

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, left sheet-margin single used on a most unusual inbound cover from Guatemala to Cartago in 1868, at a time when Costa Rican stamps were no longer required on inbound covers by virtue of the 1866 Decree, with blue "Guatemala Correos" c.d.s. dated October 16, 1868 which appears below stamp, it was prepaid with light red boxed "Franco" handstamp and Guatemala "1" real rate handstamp on reverse; under the 1862 Decree, Treasury Department agents had been established in San Jose and Puntarenas to account for postage on inbound mail, apparently this cover made it to Cartago without being correctly accounted for at Puntarenas, the postmaster in Cartago crossed out the paid handstamp, endorsed the cover "2rs" due, and affixed the 2r stamp as indication of payment of the postage owed; this is the only cover received in Costa Rica after the 1866 Decree that shows the use of an adhesive paying the postage due upon arrival; some gum staining to stamp and cover with slight soiling, fine. (Image)

Est. $500-750

SOLD for $800.00
Will close during Public Auction

1863 COAT OF ARMS FIRST ISSUE POSTAL HISTORY COLLECTION

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

115

1-3

#1-3, The extraordinary 1863 First Issue postal history balance of the legendary Mayer collection, containing an astounding 190 covers (folded entires, letters or envelopes, plus just a couple of cover fronts), representing approximately 60% of the total number of first issue covers known, there are a total of 160 covers franked with the 1/2r value, most of which are single frankings but includes nine covers with multiple frankings, plus four bisected usages (two internal and two to London), all of these covers are internal usages and various town and cancellation types are found (although there is a predominance of Cartago postmarks), of the 2r value there are 27 covers, many of which are external to destinations such as France, Guatemala, Italy, Nova Scotia, Salvador and the United States, and there is even a representation of three of the rare 4r frankings, two going to France and one internal certified usage, while there are some covers with faults, as to be expected for such a large assemblage, the large majority are fine or better, with many highly collectible and desirable covers present; anyone who has seriously collected the postal history of Costa Rica will immediately recognize and appreciate just how amazing this offering is, as most collectors and dealers search a lifetime to find just a handful of first issue covers - if that "many"; the epitome of a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity.

Est. $30,000-40,000

SOLD for $180,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

1881-1882 U.P.U. SURCHARGES

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

116

7,9,12

1881 Postmaster's Notice, official handwritten notice announcing the 1c, 2c and 5c Surcharged stamps dated July 9, 1887, with coat of arms imprint at top and official, an example of each stamp (Scott #7, 9 and 12) affixed at left, two horizontal file folds, minor tape stain at left, fine; a unique and indispensable item for the specialist of this issue that is perfect for exhibition. (Image)

Est. $3,000-4,000

SOLD for $3,250.00
Will close during Public Auction

117

#9, "2/Cts." Surcharge on 1/2r Blue, tied by San Jose postmark on inbound folded cover from France, matching "San Jose/27 Julio 82" c.d.s. alongside, stamp with bottom right corner missing, cover with light bleaching at top, fine appearance; the stamp paid the 2c rate for the delivery within San Jose; this is the only recorded example of any of the 1881-1882 U.P.U. surcharges on cover. (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

SOLD for $6,750.00
Will close during Public Auction

118

9 var.

#9 var., 1881 "2 cts." Surcharge on 1/2r Blue, wrong font, five examples contained in a reconstructed block 24 ( block of twenty, strip of three and a single), with positions 16-18 and 21-22 from the block (positions 81-83, 92-93 on the sheet) having a distinctly different font, with a thin "Cts.", o.g., fine; this reconstructed block represents five of the six known examples of this unlisted variety (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

SOLD for $2,200.00
Will close during Public Auction

1881-1882 U.P.U. SURCHARGES COLLECTIONS

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

119

7-15

#7-15, Balance of the 1881-1882 U.P.U. exhibit collection of 47 mint items on thirteen exhibit pages, ranging from singles to a block of 60, all values represented, with the 20c having five singles (one a double transfer) and a block of four, some varieties including #7 with a major cracked plate, somewhat mixed condition but largely fine.

Est. $750-1,000

SOLD for $5,750.00
Will close during Public Auction

120

7-15

#7-15, Interesting balance of the U.P.U. surcharges mounted on fifteen exhibition pages, with much of the value in varieties and multiples, with sixteen blocks ranging in size from four to a full sheet of 100, includes the largest known multiples of #7 (sheet less one stamp) and #8 (sheet of 100), varieties include seven of the "DOS CTS" surcharges (considered to be essays), a pair of the 1c inverted surcharges showing both types (1918 RPS certificate), four 20c values including a sheet-margin example and one with a double transfer, appears to be mainly fine or better; a most useful lot for the specialist of this issue.

Est. $1,000-1,500

SOLD for $2,400.00
Will close during Public Auction