Salomon Rosenthal Collection of Mexican Maritime Mail
February 20, 2008

ImagesDescriptionCurrent Bid
Lot #762
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1849 The Pacific Mail Steamship Company operated between Panama (starting January 17, 1849) and San Francisco, with calls at Acapulco, Manzanillo, San Blas and Mazatlan. A FL (7 November) from Tepic to Lima, forwarded in Mazatlan by Pedro Faure, sent by steamer "California" to Panama, November 22nd, forwarded by unknown agent, 1 shilling "Paid in Panama" (crown circle in red) then by the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. steamer "New Grenada" departing November 27th and arriving at Callao on 9th December. The penciled "2" is the 2r charge in Peru (1r for ship letter and another 1r for internal postage), fine. A rare cover used during the Gold Rush to Peru
Envelope
Price Realized
$2,500.00

Lot #763
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1849 FL from Mexico, 22 December to Panama with postage paid to Acapulco where it was placed on board a Pacific Mail Steamship Co. steamer, forwarded in Panama, with blue "Franco" handstamp applied in Mexico, fine
Envelope
Price Realized
$475.00

Lot #764
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1853 A contract awarded to the "Mexican Ocean Mail and Inland Co" resulted in the inauguration of the New Orleans - Veracruz mail route on 14 April, 1853, using the company's steamers "Texas" and "Orizava". This was the first of three contracts before the Civil War, and remained in force until September 1856. A FL from New York to Tabasco, Mexico, sent via New Orleans, forwarded there August 1st by "J.W. Zacharie & Co." (embossed oval) franked with 4x3c red (overpaid by 2 cents) and continuing on the steamer "Texas" departing August 13th and arriving Veracruz, August 18th, where it was charged 3 reales due for internal postage.
Envelope
Price Realized
$1,400.00

Lot #765
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1853 FL from Veracruz (departure pmk on back) to New York, via New Orleans, with red August 26 cds and black "Steamship 20" (for a double-weight letter), carried by the steamer "Texas" (endorsement), v.f.
Envelope
Price Realized
$240.00

Lot #766
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1855 Outer FL from Hamburg, 27 May sent by a HAPAG packet "Borussia" (N.Y. Bremen packet handstamp) arriving in New York July 1st and retained until October 5th, when it was franked with 10c green (perforated) and placed aboard the U.S. Mail Steamship Co. steamer "Moses Taylor" bound for Aspinwell. Continuing by rail to Panama, then by a Pacific Mail Steamship Co. steamer "Sonora" to Acapulco where it entered the Mexican mail, handstamped and rated 2 reales, sent to Colima via Manzanillo, received October 9th, some paper erosion, great item
Envelope
Price Realized
$1,500.00

Lot #767
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1855 Although forerunners of Wells Fargo operated in the 1840s, the company first began its services under the familiar name in 1852. Steamboats were a major part of the West Coast Service as early as 1853, extending service to Mazatlan in early 1855. Outer FL from Mazatlan ("Franco" in wreath handstamp), with "Wells, Fargo & Co. Mex. Coast Messr. October 1855" in blue, addressed, to San Francisco. Apparently the earliest recorded Wells Fargo item out of Mexico, overall ageing but excellent markings
Envelope
Price Realized
$3,250.00

Lot #768
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1856 Outer FL from New Orleans to Veracruz, franked with vertical strip of 4x5c red brown (top stamp defective at left), tied by September 1 departure cds, sent via the steamer "Texas", 20c U.S. paying postage for a double-weight letter, rated 3 reales on arrival, some paper erosion and cleaning, otherwise fine and incoming letter, ex-Klein collection
Envelope
Price Realized
$1,500.00

Lot #769
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1856 Outer FL from Mexico City, October 4 to New York, franked with +r and 4r Hidalgo, sent via a non-contract vessel (when the first contractors had defaulted) by private means and placed in the mails in Mobile, Alabama, 20 October 1856. Since Mobile did not have a "Steamship" marking at that time, a "10" cents due handstamp was applied. Manuscript 27 October arrival postscript, addressee's name overwritten by pen, fine
Envelope
Price Realized
$1,700.00

Lot #770
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1857 Outer FL from San Francisco, June 4 to Mazatlan, by the steamer "John L. Stephens" of the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. to Colima, where it was forwarded by "Rucker, Motz y Cia" who added a 2 reales stamp, tied by oval June 12 departure datestamp, arriving at destination 26th June. A fine letter from the United States, with internal franking added in Mexico
Envelope
Price Realized
$325.00

Lot #771
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1857 Wrapper (with a complete newspaper) originating from Mazatlan, with a red "Franco" (in wreath) and boxed departure datestamp, taken by a Pacific Mail Steamship Company's "Golden Gate" 18 December, via Panama to New Hampshire, probably carried from Panama by the "Philadelphia", arriving in New York on 17 January, handstamped "2" cents due
Envelope
Price Realized
$1,500.00

Lot #772
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1857 "Department of State U.S.A." endorsed "Official Business" cover from Washington, D.C. to Mexico City, via New Orleans where it was forwarded by the Collector of Customs and placed aboard the steamer "Texas" on 30th September 30th, carried free as official business to the Consul of the United States in Mexico City, arriving in Veracruz, where it was franked with 1r and 2r Hidalgo, tied by October 5 datestamp in oval and forwarded by the U.S. Consul
Envelope
Price Realized
$900.00

Lot #773
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1858 After the original contractors abandoned to New Orleans-Veracruz route, temporary contract was awarded to C.K. Garrison (to expire on July 1, 1858), using the steamers "Texas" (to October 1857) , then "Tennessee". Cover from Minatitlan, dated 11 March in manuscript, franked with pair of 1r Hidalgo, paying 2 reales internal postage, sent by steamer "Tennessee" to New Orleans, with "Steamship 10" and March 24 arrival pmks, little edge toning and minor cover flaws
Envelope
Catalog #3
Price Realized
$1,000.00

Lot #774
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1858 Outer FL from Mexico City, December 21 to New York, franked with 2r and 8r Hidalgo, paying 10 reales quadruple rate, by "Tennessee" to New Orleans, with January 11th, 1858 and circular "Steamship" markings, departing New Orleans on "Empire City", via Havana, arriving on 1st February. Manuscript "40" rate, additional notes in red ink refer to other correspondence, addressee's name overwritten by pen, fine
Envelope
Price Realized
$1,200.00

Lot #775
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1858 Outer FL from Panama ,13 February to Mazatlan, via the steamer "Sonora" to Colima, forwarded by "Oetling y Cia" to Tepic, where 1r and 2r stamps were added, tied by boxed "Franqueado an Tepic" in red, forwarded again by "Augsburg Ricke & Co", date inserted by pen, fine. One of only three recorded from Panama
Envelope
Price Realized
$4,500.00

Lot #776
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1858 FL from Puebla, May 5 to New York, franked with 4r Hidalgo, tied by "Franco Puebla" departure handstamp, sent by "Tennessee" to New Orleans where it arrived on May 10, with "Steamship 10" due, fine first issue letter to a foreign destination, ex-Todd collection
Envelope
Price Realized
$1,700.00

Lot #777
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1858 cover from Mexico City to New York, franked with two 2x2r green, with manuscript instructions "por el vapor Tennessee", which it obviously missed and went instead by private vessel, as indicated by the straightline "Ship" and "5" handstamps (the rate for under 3,000 miles and representing 3c inland plus 2c to the ship's captain), with New Orleans, 29 January 1858 cds and from there to New York, fine non-contract vessel usage, with 1995 Mepsi cert.
Envelope
Catalog #3
Price Realized
$1,100.00

Lot #778
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1858 Advertising cover ("Paper and Printers' Warehouse" on back) from San Francisco, franked with 10c green, tied by December 6 cds, to South Hadley Falls, Massachusetts, via the short-lived route through the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (endorsed at top). Service on this route was inaugurated 27 October 1858 and lasted until 30 September 1859. Only internal U.S. postage was required. The cover was conveyed by Pacific Mail Steamship Co. steamer "Golden Gate" to Acapulco, across the Isthmus to Minatitlan, Veracruz (December 20th), then taken by the steamer "Quaker City" to New Orleans, arriving 23rd December. Only a few recorded
Envelope
Price Realized
$5,250.00

Lot #779
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1859 After the interim agreement with C.K. Garrison expired, a new agreement was reached with Charles Morgan, owner of the "Tennessee", to service New Orleans to Veracruz route. This continued until the outbreak of the Civil War, when the steamer was impressed into the Confederate Navy (February 1861). Outer FL from New Orleans, 15 February to Mexico, franked with U.S. 60c (pair and strip of four of 10c green), paying six-times weight, for internal postage to port, with departure cds, charged 8 reales due in Mexico, filing fold at right, fine and impressive item
Envelope
Price Realized
$2,600.00

Lot #780
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1859 Outer FL from Mexico City to New Orleans, franked with 2r and 4r (1856 Issue) paying high rate for both double-weight and express service ("extraordinario") to Veracruz, with "Steamship 20" and Jan.12 arrival cds, filing fold at right, otherwise fine
Envelope
Price Realized
$8,500.00

Lot #781
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1859 Outer FL from Mexico City, June 4 to France, franked with 4r Hidalgo, sent by "Tennessee" to New Orleans, than by another steamer via Havana to New York, and from there by British Packet "Kangaroo," departing July 2nd for Liverpool, charged 12 decimes due from recipient, 22 cents debited by the United States (representing 10c steamship to New York, plus 12c from New York to France), with appropriate markings on both sides, Barcelonnette arrival 19 July, fine
Envelope
Price Realized
$4,000.00

Lot #782
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1859 FL from New Orleans, August 26 to Monterey, franked with 10c green, charged "2" reales due in Havana, Cuba, with "NA1" (North American Origin indicator), with another "2" charged on arrival in Mexico, fine
Envelope
Price Realized
$525.00

Lot #783
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1859 Outer FL from Mazatlan to San Francisco, franked with 2r Hidalgo, tied by April 2 departure datestamp, carried by a Pacific Mail Steamship Co. steamer, handstamped "6" cents (ship rate) due for letters to port of arrival. The San Francisco arrival pmk of May 12 indicates that the Mazatlan departure handstamp was probably not reset from April to May, as the normal travel time was 10 days between the two cities, fine and rare item, only a few west-coast recorded, illustrated in Mexican Maritime Mail (page 244)
Envelope
Price Realized
$4,500.00

Lot #784
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1860 FL from Lagos to Mantova, Lombardy-Venetia, sent via Mexico City, franked with 1r and 2r Hidalgo, via Veracruz to New Orleans by "Tennessee", departing August 10 by steamer via Havana to New York (August 21 arrival, "6" marking applied by mistake) and by British packet "Europa" (of the Cunard Line) to Liverpool, crossing to France and overland to Italy, rated 27 decimes, with "42" (cents) debited by the United States in manuscript, with 7 September arrival and "Distribuzione 1" pmks, fine cover to an unusual destination, signed Sorani
Envelope
Price Realized
$1,800.00

Lot #785
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1860 FL from Glasgow, franked with 3x1p, 2p and 1sh (special rate for letters to Mexico via the USA of 1 shilling 5 pence), sent by closed mails, carried by Cunard "Persia" to New York (arriving September 27th), and then again by closed mails to Mexico, rated 2 reales on arrival, fine
Envelope
Price Realized
$700.00

Lot #786
MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1849-60 covers
1860 Outer FL from Paris to the U.S. Consul in Vera Cruz, sent by unknown means to New Orleans, where it was "Forwarded by E.J. Forstall" (oval handstamp), franked with 3c red on September 1st, carried by the schooner "Potomac", with no charges assessed in Mexico, some cover mending at top, fine
Envelope
Price Realized
$450.00

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