1850 (Aug 31). Entire letter from Mayagüez to Barcelona, with small fumigation slits applied at the Lazareto de Mahón (Minorca), with hs including “5R” and “Yndias” straight-line featuring small “s” (a very interesting and most uncommon variety), both rarely struck in blue, backstamped with ‘Baeza’ c.d.s. on arrival and charged, for local delivery in Catalonia, with 6 maravedíes due marking. Ex Roca and Acevedo. (Image)

1860 (April 17). Large envelope from Valencia, being remarkably addressed to the Captain General (highest rank in the hierarchy) of Puerto Rico stationed at San Juan, endorsed “S.M” standing for “Servicio Militar”, denoting military correspondence, with fancy cachet of a military court in the General Headquarters of Valencia and Murcia, with signatures at base and manuscript text confirming the official nature of the contents, displaying Valencia dispatch c.d.s., “A” marking for “Abono” indicating pre-payment and, delightfully struck, “España” straight-line (type 16) in blue, backstamped in transit at Madrid. Some slight aging as usually found and few worm holes at left. The only reported example of this very rare marking in blue; additionally, this is the penultimate usage documented in America of a “España” postmark. Cert. CEM. Ex Roca, Acevedo and Sitjà. (Image)

1871 (Apr 7). Mourning entire letter from Mayaguez to the USA with 1865-73 4d vermilion, wing marginal (trimmed perfs. at foot), tied by very fine "C61" barred oval of San Juan, Porto-Rico "PAID" cds below, British St. Thomas transit bs and N.Y. Steamship arrival on obverse. Very fine. (Image)

1874 (Sept 5). Cover from Valladolid (Spain) to the President of the High Court of Puerto Rico at San Juan, endorsed “S.N.” standing for “Servicio Nacional” as required for official correspondence, with oval cachet of the Court of Valladolid, exhibiting two strikes of dispatch c.d.s., perfectly struck with “España” straight-line in black. Few worm holes mainly at upper right. One of just two documented examples of this handstamp in black, with the main feature, conferring its rarity, being the fact of representing the latest usage recorded of a “España” postmark in America. Ex Roca, Acevedo and Sitjà. (Image)