334 / September 2008

1800 (ca.), large parcel front fragment with very high manuscript rate '129 1/2 rs.' at top and scarce framed 'Franqueado/en Leon' handstamp in blue (Harris 37, unlisted in this colour)

1810 (ca.), cover front to Leon with good strike of scarce 'Managua' script handstamp in brown (Harris 5)

1823 (July 20), entire letter from Masaya to Guatemala struck with superb 'LEON' framed handstamp in blue

1851 (ca.), USA 6 c. green postal stationery envelope, addressed to Rockland, Maine, endorsed 'Via Nicaragua' at top, struck with New York cds. (March 14), carried on 'Star of the West' and restored cover, also to Maine franked by 1851, 3 c. brown-red pair, tied by 'New York/Ship' cds. (Feb 24) with part strike of framed 'VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS.' struck in blue

1854 (April 1), entire letter from San Francisco to Boston, endorsed in manuscript 'Via Nicaragua', struck with rare 'VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS' in blue; carried on the 'Pacific' and from Nicaragua on the 'Northern Light'; franked by fine pair of 1851, 3 c. brown-red, tied by New York cds. (April 25) in black; a fine and scarce item

1854, Front only of USA 6 c. green postal stationery envelope, front only, endorsed at left 'Via Nicaragua' and at lower left 'Per Steamer Brother Jonathan, Jan 1st 1854', cancelled by New York/Ship datestamp (Jan 24) in black. The 'Brother Jonathan' was owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt, running the Pacific route from March 1852

1854 (Jan 16), cover from San Francisco to Bridgeport, Ct. with 'VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS.' in red, bearing pair of 1831, 3 c. brown-red, margins just touched, tied by New York cds. (Feb 9) in black; re-addressed on arrival with 'Bridgeport/3 Paid' cds. in red over the 'Via Nicaragua' handstamp, back to New York; an unusual usage, copy of letter from Stanley Ashbrook accompanies the lot

1854 (Jan 16), entire letter from San Francisco to Boston, struck with very rare unframed 'VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS.', struck in red (unlisted by Simpson in 'U.S. Postal Markings 1851-61'), franked by USA 1851, 3 c. brown-red imperforate pair, margins all around, tied by New York cds. (Feb 9) in black, slight file fold away from adhesives; a very rare entire

1862, 2 c. black, imperforated plate proof on laid white paper and 1869/71, imperforated plate proof on card (6) resp. India paper (9)

2 c. black, die proof on card board, fine and rare

1790/1820 (ca.), neun Vorderseiten, dabei bessere Stempel, u.a. zweimal L1 "NICARAGUA" in blau und braun, Ra "Granada" in braun, "Masaya" in braun und "LEON" und "MANAGUA", interessante Partie