Sale 120: Important Mexico

Lot 3001    

Mexico, 1739, Veracruz, Correo Mayor De (Veracruz), circular negative handstamp (Yag-Bash VC1) on colonial folded letter dated August 8th, 1739, addressed to Mexico City with a transit time of six days, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $15,000 - 20,000.

AN EXTREMELY RARE AND THE EARLIEST RECORDED POSTMARK OF MEXICO AND POSSIBLY THE SECOND EARLIEST IN THE AMERICAN CONTINENT. ONLY FOUR EXAMPLES OF THE VERACRUZ "CORREO MAYOR" COLONIAL HANDSTAMP ARE RECORDED AND ONLY TWO FROM THE 1730'S.

The postal system during colonial times started in 1580 as a private monopoly called "Correo Mayor". From 1604 on, this monopoly was auctioned by the Viceroy to the highest bidder, who would run it without investment or intervention from the state. This business was inheritable. The first handstamp postmark appeared on the 1730's in Veracruz. This system ended in 1766 when the monopoly reverted to the state.nnThere are 13 different "Correo Mayor" postmarks known with less than 40 covers recorded. So few exist because the service was limited to a handful of large cities, it was expensive, the majority of the population was illiterate and postmarks were applied only to the top cover in a bundle. Out of the four Veracruz postmarks, one of them may be an earlier cover however it's "1736" year date is mentioned as part of the text and not in the docketing so some experts believe this cover is undated. The only earlier handstamp postal markings in the American Continent are from New York (1707) and Lima (1735). Experts do not agree whether the 1707 New York marking was applied in England or in America.

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Realized: $14,500

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Lot 3002    

Mexico, 1782, Temascaltepec (Temascaltepec), boxed two-line handstamp on colonial folded letter to Mexico, dated June 28, 1782; slight rough reduction at left slightly affecting postmark, F.-V.F., very rare, unlisted in Yag-Bash.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

Realized: $1,700

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Lot 3003    

Mexico, 1783, Chalco (Chalco), bold encircled straight line handstamp (Yag-Bash CL1) on folded letter to Mexico, dated March 27, 1783, Very Fine and choice.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $400

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Lot 3004    

Mexico, 1785, Jalapa (Jalapa), bold red straight line handstamp (Yag-Bash JA1) on colonial folded letter to Mexico, dated May 25, 1785, matching "2" rate handstamp, Very Fine and choice.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Realized: $600

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Lot 3005    

Mexico, 1789 Q.Amilpas (Cuautla), bold boxed handstamp on colonial folded letter to Cuernavaca, dated May 30, 1789; front with tears one sealed affecting postmark, F.-V.F. appearance, a unique colonial postmark, unlisted in Yag-Bash.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

Realized: $1,200

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Lot 3006    

Mexico, 1798 Durango (Durango), red boxed handstamp (Yag-Bash D1) on colonial folded letter to Chihuahua, matching oval "Franca, Ontuña" postmaster name handstamp, partial wreath cachet handstamp and red "3" rate handstamp on reverse, Very Fine and choice.
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

Realized: $1,200

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Lot 3007    

Mexico, 1800, Orizava (Orizava), bold straight line handstamp (Yag-Bash OR1) on ca. 1800 folded letter sheet to Teotitlan, red oval cachet handstamp from tobacco company, Extremely Fine.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Realized: $500

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Lot 3008    

Mexico, 1800, Tulancingo (Tulancingo), red two-line boxed handstamp (Yag-Bash TU1) on ca. 1800 colonial folded letter sheet to Mexico, manuscript "Rl. So." endorsement at top (Real Servicio), Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $325

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Lot 3009    

Mexico, 1801, Horcasitas (Sonora), blue straight line handstamp on ca. 1801 colonial registered folded letter sheet to Arizpe, with cross hatching marks in corners and signature of the postmaster Nobora, manuscript "Pago 3r" rating on reverse, F.-V.F., quite possibly a unique postmark, unlisted in Yag-Bash.
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

The rate of 3r seems below the normal registration rate of 1 peso, but this is undoubtedly a registered item. Maybe 10-15 registered fronts or covers exist during the colonial era.

Realized: $1,700

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Lot 3010    

Mexico, 1802, Chihuahua, Franqueado En (Chihuahua), red two-line handstamp (Yag-Bash CH2) on folded letter to Monclova, dated December 31, 1802, with perfect strike of coat-of-arms government cachet handstamp, manuscript "3" rating on reverse, Very Fine.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

Realized: $900

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