1898 (Aug 3). Cover (reduced at left) bearing very fine strike of Playa de Ponce "M. Sta. No1/Porto Rico" duplex railway postmark, violet "Soldier's Letter/Collect postage from Addressee/W.F. Dusseault, Chaplain/6th Regt Mass. Vols." hs, 2c postage due stamp tied by cork cancel; an extraordinary first day cover mailed on the day the first military office opened, this provisional railway postmark being used for just ten days; ex Acevedo. Note: This first station opened in the former Spanish Custom House at Playa de Ponce and operated there until September 17th, when it was moved from the beach to the main post office in Ponce. (Image)

1898 (Sept 18). Registered envelope to New York, bearing 5c pair and strip of three, tied by Arroyo Mayor oval cancels, showing violet "REGISTERED/SEP 18 1898, /Military Station No. 1, Washington, D.C./PONCE, PORTO RICO" four-line hs, from the second location of the Mil. Sta. #1 in Marina Street in downtown, opened on September 16; stamps with light gum soaks and cover with usual edge imperfections, but a very scarce usage; cert PF (2011). (Image)

1898 (Oct). Cover to Sheffield bearing "U. S. S. Cincinnati," Italic hs, New York "Due 2 cents" marking paying the soldier's letter rate and duplex at right. (Image)

1898 (Oct 8). Printed matter to Barcelona, sent ten days before the Spanish turnover, franked by 1c green, tied by Military Station n. 1 cds of Ponce, a very rare usage of this reduced rate. (Image)