334 / September 2008

1899, Fiscal 25. blue-green, surcharged "CORREOS/HABILIT.-1899" in black (without value surcharge); horizontally creased, but otherwise a fresh and fine unused example with some o.g., signed Brun, Graus certificate (Galvez-no.134)

1900, 50 c. in red on Fiscal 10 c. blue, a fine unused imperforate horizontal pair with variety "Habilitado" surcharge in red and black on right hand stamp; scarce and extremely fine, signed Roig (Scott-no.87var.)

1909, Provisional 50 c. green imperforate Fiscal handstamp "Bata" in red, used on large piece with 1909, 5 c. dark green and 20 c. violet, tied by framed "Correos de Bata" registered date-stamp in blue, reverse with Madrid arrival cds. (Jan 29); a rare usage, Graus certificate (Scott-no.87,90,98)

1880/86, Philippines 2 4/8 c. greyish ultramarine, a used example with large boxed "CER(TIF)" handstamp in black, only used in the Marianas; scarce (Edifil-no.59)

1871, 5 c. blue and 20 c. brown, tied by oval cross cancel to cover to San Sebastian, re-directed to Zarauz with adjacent 'MANILA 17 MAY 72', reverse with transit mark, some staining, but appealing bi-colour franking (Edifil-no. 21,23)

1876, 2 c. rose, (16 in multiples) tied by oval cross cancel to cover to the Department for Foreign Affairs in Rome, cover shortend at left with small imperfections, interesting cover (Edifil-Nr. 57)

1877, 12 cts.pta. on 25 m. black, inverted surcharge, part original gum, fine, Graus certificate (Edifil-no. 52hi)

1880, 5 c. violet-blue, horizontal pair, tied by 'R' and blue cds. of Manila to registered cover to Munich, reverse with transit and arrival mark, despite minor staining and some imperfections on reverse a rare and appealing item, Graus certificate (Edifil-no. 60)

1887, 8 c. on 2 4/8 c., two singles, tied by blue illegible cds. to preprinted cover to Liverpool, showing on front some faint writing, otherwise fine (Edifil-no. 72)

1890, 2 c. red-lilac, block of 6, good margins all around with upper sheet margin, unhinged mint, one stamp tiny thinned and small natural paper inclusion, still fine and scarce, EXIMA certificate (Edifil-no. 80s)

1894, 8 c. red-brown, horizontal pair, cancelled by boxed 'CERTIFICADO' on registered cover to Auckland via Singapore, reverse with transit and arrival marks, slight staining, otherwise fine (Edifil-no. 113)

LA UNION-ISSUE: 1898, 2 c. on 5 c. grey and 3 c. on 2 1/2 c. olive with red surcharge and 5 c. black surcharge on imperforated brown-yellow paper, tied by 'CORREOS UNIO 10 SET 98' to large part of registered cover, front showing blue boxed 'CERTIFICADO', stamps as usual trimmed at top and bottom, adherence tape all around and in the middle but nevertheless a stunning an exceedingly rare, probably unique item

ANTILLES USED IN PUERTO RICO: 1857, 1/2 r. blue, two singles with mostly good margins all around and distinctive different shades, tied by oval-cross cancel to folded cover to Corcega, front with blue cds. 'PONCE 24 AGO 64' and boxed 'GB 1F60C', reverse with transit marks, addressee one part blackend out, slight toning, horizontal filing fold, Graus certificate (Edifil-no. 7)

1/2 r. blue, block of·6, good margins, just cut into at lower right, tied by oval-cross cancel to cover front to Rio Grande, showing blue cds. and '3', vertical fold through three stamps but a very rare and unusual item (Edifil-no. 7)

1864, 1/2 r. green and 1858, Fiscal 1/2 onza black on yellow imperforate, tied to judicial cover front to Vega-Baja by network cancellations in black, used from Manaty/Puerto Rico (July 12), CEM certificate (Scott-no.19)

1/2 r. green on rose, block of 4, good margins at three sides cut into at top, tied by oval-cross cancel to judicial cover front to Ceiba with cds. 'PUERTO RICO 1 AGO 67' (Edifil-no. 10pa)

1868, 5 c. lilac-brown, a vertical pair on 1868 cover front, used from Arecibo to Camuy, tied by network handstamp in black, 'Arecibo-Puerto Rico' cds. (March 29) at right; a very rare stamp used in Puerto Rico, with just three covers recorded (Scott-no. 35)

5 c. lilac-brown, a horizontal pair in a pale shade on 1868 Official cover front, used from San Juan to Cabo Rojo, tied by network handstamp in black, 'Puerto Rico' cds. (April 23) below; a very rare stamp used in Puerto Rico, with just three covers recorded (Scott-no. 35)

Issues for Cuba: 1873, 25 c. grey, tied by maltese cross to large part of folded letter to Habana, endorsed 'vapor Moctezuma', horizontal filing fold through stamp, otherwise fine, a very scarce usage of this cancel which usually is only found as arrival mark (Edifil Antillas-no. 25)

25 c. grey, tied by pre-philatelic straight-line 'SEIBA' to judicial cover front from San Juan to Ceiba, very rare and interesting cover, vertical filing fold, otherwise fine

25 c. grey, two single stamps, tied by oval-cross cancel and pre-philatelic straight-line 'AUGUAS BUENAS' to cover to Farlaven (Asturias), exceedingly rare and in fine condition

Spain 1865, 1 r. green, good even margins all around, cancelled by black oval-cross cancel, fine (Edifil-no. Espana 72)

OWN ISSUES: 1881, 3 c. brown, tied by blue pre-philatelic straight-line 'RIO GRANDE' to cover to Navia with adjacent 'DESPUES DE LA SALIDA', arrival mark, some age wear, extremely rare cover (Edifil-no. 52)

1882, 2 m., ten stamps in pairs and singles, tied by oval-cross cancel to cover to Marseille with adjacent 'PLAYA DE PONCE 11 OCT', arrival mark; addressee cut out, one stamp defect, otherwise fine (Edifil-no. 57)

1 c. grey-green, two singles, tied by 'PERIODICOS FRANCO' to cover to London, transit mark 'LE HAVRE 12 SEPT 87', reverse with arrival cancel, horizontal fold affecting both stamps, otherwise good condition (Edifil-no. 61)

5 c. blue-gray, strip of 3, a pair and a single stamp, tied by pre-philatelic straight-line 'GURABA' in blue to registered cover to San Francisco, on front handwriting 'No. 747 GÜRABO' and remarks 'UN-CLAIMED' and '2nd NOTICE', reverse with two violet register marks and triangle 'DEAD LETTER OFFICE AUG 12-82', some imperfections but nevertheless an exceedingly rare combination of pre-philatelic mark and registered cover (Edifil-no. 65)

10 c. blue-green, horizontal strip of three, tied by cds. 'YAUCO 8 MAR 89' to registered cover front to London, endorsed 'per Vapor Espanol', little stained, otherwise fine (Edifil-no. 67)

1891/92, 1/2 m. de peso olive grey in an interpanneau strip of six (with 'Via de Cadiz' on interpanneau margin), used on printed entire letter to Barcelona from San Juan; lightly cancelled in black. Two insignificant creases, one between second and third stamp, but an extremely rare example of the Printed Matter rate (Scott no. 76). This cover is illustrated in the Garcia-Lomas handbook on page 182

2 m. de peso violet-brown, single and strip of four on 1892 cover to New York, tied by oval framed "Franco" handstamps in black, reverse with New York arrival (Nov 28); some envelope creasing but scarce (Scott-no.84)

1893, Landing of Colombus 3 c. dark green, First Day Cover to Rio Pedras franked by mis-perforated stamp with extra vertical row of perforations through centre, tied by 'Admon Central / Puerto Rico' cds in black. Arrival cds on reverse of a very scarce cover (Scott no. 133)

1898, 1 m., 4-5 m., 3-4 c. and 20 c., tied by straight-line 'FRANCO' to registered cover to Toa Alta with adjacent 'BARRAN/QUITAS', a very rare and spectacular multicolour franking, Graus certificate

1 c. tête-pêche together with pair of 3 c. brown and 5 m. orange-brown and single 2 c. blue-green, tied by double-circle cds. 'ARROYO 24 ENE 98' to cover to Malaga with arrival mark, back flap partly missing and adressee somewhat restored, exceedingly rare and maybe unique, Graus and CEM certificates (Edifil-no. 135e,134,136-37)

2 c. blue-green and 8 c. brown horizontal pair, used on registered 1898 cover to New York with "Impuesto De Guerra" 1898, 5 c. blue-green, tied by framed "Certificado/San Juan" date-stamps in violet, framed registration cachet below (also in violet); faults but a rare mixed franking (Scott-no.141,146,MR7)

1 c. black-violet, 2 c. dark blue-green, 3 c. dark brown and 5 c. rosine, used with "Impuesto De Guerra" surcharged 2 c. pale claret and 2 c.dull violet, all tied to registered cover to Lincoln, GB by framed "Certificado/Ponce" date-stamp, French octagonal Ligne B Paquebot date-stamp alongside (July 22) and London transit (Aug 5); a very rare mixed franking (Scott-no.140,141,142,144,MR4,MR5)

2 c. blue-green and 8 c. brown, used on 1898 cover from Ponce to London via Martinique where forwarded with 1892, Martinique 25 c. black on rose, tied by Fort De France cds. in blue, reverse with St. Pierre/Martinique cds. in red (May 26) and London arrival cds.; faults but a remarkable usage (Scott-no.141,146)

6 c. dark blue, used in combination with "Habilitado Para 1898 y 1899" 2 c. red-brown (2) surcharged in red, tied to October 1898 cover by San Juan cds. in black, New York arrival cds. on reverse of a very scarce cover; illustrated in Garcia Lomas handbook on page 226 (Scott-no.145,159)