Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

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United States Postal History and Confederate States continued...

Texas Postal History (non-Confederate periods)

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

4122

BEXAR. Lightly inked but full and clear strike of red straightline handstamp with large manuscript "3" reales rate on folded letter to Don Antonio Cordero at Monclova, capital of Coahuila, Mexico, the letter contains a date which appears to read "18 de Sept 1803" (possibly 1808 or 1809 -- the handwriting is difficult to read)

VERY FINE. A RARE COMPLETE LETTER FROM TEXAS DURING THE SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD WITH THE LARGE "BEXAR" STRAIGHTLINE. PROBABLY NO MORE THAN FIVE COMPLETE POSTMARKED LETTERS FROM SPANISH COLONIAL TEXAS ARE IN PRIVATE HANDS.

The recipient of this letter, Manuel Antonio Cordero y Bustamante (1753-1823), served as acting governor of Coahuila (1797-98), governor of the same province (1798-1817) and acting governor of Texas (1805-08). He relocated from Monclova (in Coahuila) to Bexar in 1805 at the start of his term as governor of Texas. He ruled Texas until November 7, 1808, when he was replaced by Manuel María de Salcedo.

This letter to Cordero has the red "BEXAR" straightline (this Texas town was later renamed San Antonio). The letter is not marked "Royal Service" and was charged "3" reales postage. It is similar to a letter in our Camina sale (Sale 757, lot 2). Vince King reports that only four complete Spanish Texas letters are in private hands. We record a total of five, which includes one in the J. P. Bryan collection (no. 5), which is likely to remain institutionalized: 1) "BAHIA" and "FRANCA" handstamps, to Cordero in Bexar, Aug. 11, 1807 (King collection); 2) "BEXAR" black handstamp, to Cordero in Monclova, ca. 1801-05 (King collection); 3) "BEXAR" red handstamp, to Cordero in Monclova, 1803 (or 1808-09), offered in this sale; 4) "BEXAR" red handstamp, to Don Jose Juoqine in Monclova, Apr. 27, 1808, ex Camina (Siegel Sale 757, lot 2); 5) "FRANCA/EN BEXAR" red handstamp, to Cordero in Monclova, May 1, 1810, ex Camina (Siegel Sale 757, lot 3, now in the Bryan collection, likely to be institutionalized). In addition to these complete letters there are a few recorded cover fronts, and of course markings used after Mexican independence (1821).

Ex Guggenheim (Image)

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E. $ 10,000-15,000

SOLD for $14,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

4123

BEXAR. Red double-line oval handstamp with manuscript "3" reales rate on large part of cover front only to Bahia (later Goliad), Very Fine use from the Mexican period (after 1821), carried on the original Spanish Mission Trail from Bexar (later San Antonio) to Bahia (later Goliad), full covers with this marking are valued at more than $10,000 (Image)

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E. $ 750-1,000

SOLD for $550.00
Will close during Public Auction

4124

(Republic of Texas, Galveston 1839) "S P NEW YORK". Straightline handstamp boldly struck on folded cover with "Galveston May 1839" dateline intact, addressed to Capt. James Burnham in Kennebunk Me., entered U.S. mail with red "New York Ship Jun. 29" circular datestamp, manuscript "20-3/4" rate, small stain at bottom right corner, a Fine example of the rare "S.P. [Steam Packet] New York" straightline on mail originating in the Republic of Texas, the elegant sidewheel steamer New York was acquired by Charles Morgan of the Southern Steam Packet Co. and placed on the New Orleans-Galveston run along with the Columbia in 1839, a slightly sharper strike of this rare straightline marking realized $8,500 hammer in the Spink-Shreves Risvold sale, the cover offered here is interesting in that it did not enter the U.S. mail at New Orleans, but was carried further by a coastal steamer to New York and placed into the mail there, from the Calvet M. Hahn collection (Image)

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E. $ 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $2,100.00
Will close during Public Auction

4125

"Bexar 4th Oct. 1839". Manuscript postmark on legal-size folded cover to clerk of commercial court in New Orleans, "four sheets $2.00" rate, blue "SHIP" handstamp applied at New Orleans, docketed at left, horizontal file fold and some overall wear and toning, still Fine and scarce Republic of Texas use from Bexar (later San Antonio) (Image)

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E. $ 400-500

SOLD for $425.00
Will close during Public Auction

4126

"San Antonio Sep. 27th 1845". Manuscript postmark with matching "Paid 25" Texas rate crossed out and blue "12" U.S. re-rate, "New Orleans La. Oct. 21" circular datestamp and "SHIP" handstamp on folded letter to "Capt. William Gillespie, Buzzard's Roost, Franklin County, North Alabama", written by R. A. Gillespie who served in the Texas Rangers, Gillespie was keen on going to war with Mexico, and he got his wish -- on Sep. 21, 1846, he was killed during the storming of the Bishop's Palace in Monterrey -- trivial light toning and edgewear, still fresh and Fine, very scarce late Republic period use, ex Camina (Image)

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E. $ 300-400

SOLD for $375.00
Will close during Public Auction

4127

"San Antonio Jany. 2nd 1846". Manuscript postmark with "Paid 25" rate on folded letter to Lima O., "New Orleans La. Jan. 20" circular datestamp with "SHIP" and "12" rate handstamps, light vertical file fold, some slight edgewear and some slight toning, still Fine and scarce, Texas' date of entry to the Union was Dec. 29, 1845, but it was not until Feb. 16, 1846 that the transfer of authority was made from the Republic to the State, the "Paid 25" represents 20c paid for Texas postage plus the 5c ship rate, the 12c for U.S. postage (2c ship fee plus 10c for distance greater than 300 miles) was paid by the recipient, illustrated and described in Texas Postal History Journal, Feb. 1991 (copy accompanies) (Image)

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E. $ 500-750

SOLD for $550.00
Will close during Public Auction

4128

BRAZOS/APL 10. 1847. Two-line handstamp and "10" rate handstamp on folded letter datelined "Camargo April 4th, 1847", to Lima O., written by First Lieutenant G.H. Nelson a Texas ranger serving as part of the U.S. forces in the Mexican War, light vertical file fold and some edgewear, Very Fine, accompanied by article from Texas Postal History Society Journal of Sept. 1991 tracing the routing of this and similar letters (copy accompanies) (Image)

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E. $ 300-400

SOLD for $300.00
Will close during Public Auction

4129

BRAZOS/JUNE 9, 1847. Two-line datestamp with "10" handstamp on folded letter to Princeton N.J., manuscript "Saltillo Mxo. 20th May" at lower left and datelined at Saltillo, Very Fine, interesting soldier's letter to his aunt describing daily observations (Image)

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E. $ 200-300

SOLD for $200.00
Will close during Public Auction

4130

BRAZOS/NOV 29. Two-line datestamp with "10" rate handstamp on brown 1847 cover to Richmond Va., sender's directive "Via New Orleans" at lower left and "From the Army" at top, trivial edgewear, Very Fine Mexican War use (Image)

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E. $ 300-400

SOLD for $250.00
Will close during Public Auction

4131

P'T. ISABEL/FEB. 4, 1847. Bold strike of two-line handstamp on blue folded cover addressed to the Secretary of War in Washington D.C., bold "10" handstamp, two vertical file folds incl. one with toning, otherwise Very Fine Mexican War use (Image)

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E. $ 150-200

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

4132

Reymosa (Mexico) to Brownsville Tex. Folded letter datelined "Reymosa, Mexico November 18, 1852" and addressed to Brownsville, bold "5" rate handstamp, sender's directive "Por el Comanche" which was a sternwheeler owned and operated on the Rio Grande by M. Kenedy & Co., light horizontal file fold, Very Fine (Image)

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E. $ 300-400

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction