Salomon Rosenthal Collection of Mexican Maritime Mail
February 20, 2008
| Images | Description | Current Bid |
 | Lot #501 MEXICO SPANISH SHIPS - 1774-1790 1774 King Carlos III, by Royal Decree dated August 6, 1764 created the "Empresa Estatal de Correos Maritimos", with a base at the port of La Coruna. Eight ships were constructed for monthly service to Cuba. According to the "Reglamento Provisional Del Correo Maritimo de Espana A Sus Indias Occidentales", mail for the "Indies" was sorted at La Coruna into eight boxes for different destinations, each sealed and only to be opened upon arrival. The "Espana" marking was applied at La Coruna for the purpose of avoiding mistakes when charges were assessed on arrival. Mail for Guatemala was included in the box for "Nueva Espana" A FL from Barcelona, 6 October to Guatemala, pre-paid with 3 reales (internal notation), faint "Catalu¦a", hs, sent by "Colon" departing La Coruna on November 1st to Havana, then by a smaller ship ("balandras") to Vera Cruz and conveyed overland to Guatemala, fine early letter from Spain, via Cuba and Mexico to Guatemala  | Price Realized $2,400.00 |
 | Lot #502 MEXICO SPANISH SHIPS - 1774-1790 1779 The "Real Ordenanza De Los Correos Maritimos Del Estado", also referred to as "Reglamento Definitivo", issued 26 January, 1777 added a detail and made minor operational changes to the existing service. However, after 1779, war with England caused disruptions, and service was practically suspended during the war with France, 1793-95. By October 1796, Spain was once again at war with England and most mail carrying ships were taken or sunk. A small FL from Sevilla, 21 July, red "Espana" and "Andalusa Alta" handstamps, sent by paquebot "Cortes", departing La Coruna August 1779 to Havana. From there, it was taken by a smaller boat to Vera Cruz, then overland to Mexico City | Price Realized $2,100.00 |
 | Lot #503 MEXICO SPANISH SHIPS - 1774-1790 1781 FL from Vera Cruz to Maracaibo, Venezuela, red "Vera Cruz" in oval with "YNDIAS" applied in transit at Cuba, 1Real due for Inter-colonial postage, fine early letter from Mexico to Venezuela | Price Realized $1,200.00 |
 | Lot #504 MEXICO SPANISH SHIPS - 1774-1790 1781 outer FL from Caracas to Mexico City, with straight line "Caracas" handstamp, fine, with ms charge margins, overall ageing, fine. One of less than five known from Venezuela to Mexico during the Colonial Era | Price Realized $1,200.00 |
 | Lot #505 MEXICO SPANISH SHIPS - 1774-1790 1784 FL from Vera Cruz, June 1 to Madrid, with "Nueva Espana" in red denoting the origin of the letter. Taken by a small courier boat to Cuba, then by paquebot "N. Principe", leaving Havana 16 July and arriving at La Coruna on 25th August, rated 6 reales, fresh and v.f. | Price Realized $2,500.00 |
 | Lot #506 MEXICO SPANISH SHIPS - 1774-1790 1787 FL from Cadiz to Mexico City, with red "Cadiz" departure handstamp, forwarded to Guayaquil. There is a small "6" endorsement, otherwise no evidence of postage due, with "Espana" applied in transit to indicate origin, fine example of early transit through Mexico to Ecuador | Price Realized $2,700.00 |
 | Lot #507 MEXICO SPANISH SHIPS - 1774-1790 1789 FL (July) from Mexico to Le Havre, France, carried by the goleta "Magdalena", sent via Spain (with "Nueva Espana" in handstamped in red to indicate origin); it arrived at La Coruna September 3rd, the "20 decimes" rating was annulled; re-rated "27", fine and rare letter to France. Examples of surviving mail to and from countries other than Spain prior to 1815 is almost non-existent | Price Realized $1,600.00 |
