Salomon Rosenthal Collection of Mexican Maritime Mail
February 20, 2008
| Images | Description | Current Bid |
 | Lot #788 MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1861-63 Covers 1861 Cover (partly restored on back) from San Francisco, franked with 16 cents U.S. (10c and pair of 3c) overpaying the rate by 6c, to Guadalajara, via a ship of the PMSC line to Acapulco, where 2 reales was charged for internal postage, fine  | Price Realized $900.00 |
 | Lot #789 MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1861-63 Covers 1862 Cover from Acapulco, 20 September, forwarded by the U.S. Consulate (blue handstamp), sent via the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. steamer to Panama, by rail to Aspinwall, and by U.S. Mail Steamship Co. steamer to New York, arriving October 25th, with "Steamship 10" hs, arrival docketing on back, cover with tear and refolded at top | Price Realized $900.00 |
 | Lot #790 MEXICO U.S. SHIPS - 1861-63 Covers 1862-63 Undated, U.S. Civil War era cover, probably originating in Confederate Texas to Bagdad, Mexico with handstamp "Forwarded by Commercial Express Co. Bagdad Mexico" (also a large "Correos" seal) to Matamoros where "Franco" handstamp was added, placed aboard ship to New Orleans where "Ship 8" (double rate) was applied, "Paid" (manuscript) written after Hebert and Escousse paid the 8 cents and forwarded it to the addressee, fine. Although there was considerable "blockade-running" from a few southern ports, the major port cities, including New Orleans and Galveston, had by this time either been captured or effectively blockaded by union forces. The Union navy, however, could not extend its blockade to the Rio Grande, an international river. Thus, Southern cotton flowed westward and down the rive, on the Mexican side (usually), to a port town of Bagdad, a few miles from Matamoros. Here the barges and small steamers, flying the Mexican flag, would take the cotton "outside the bar", where ocean-going vessels, flying under various European flags were anchored, awaiting their turn to load or unload cargo. At the height of the cotton trade, up to three hundred ships might be anchored outside the bar. Bagdad was in fact a secure Confederate outlet to world markets. and unusual blockade runner from Texas to New Orleans, ex-Ferrary collection | Price Realized $2,300.00 |
