Puerto Príncipe. 1898 1c on 1m orange-brown, first printing, mint reconstructed strip of five made from rejoining a strip of three and a pair, making the complete setting, good centring, right hand stamp with thin spot, otherwise very fine and clean; only 600 printed, ex Tows and Prats, cert. P.F. (1975). (Image)

1898 (Dec 28) Cover sent to Havana, franked with 1c on 1m and 2c on 2m orange-brown, first printing, tied by the Puerto Principe cds, with arrival cds for Havana dated Jan. 8 1899, slight imperfection to top right of envelope which by no means affect the significance, this being an extremely important provisional mailing with the 3c Spanish colonial rate for inter-island correspondence; there being thirty covers with stamps of this issue known but many of these are in the Cuban Postal Museum in Havana; one of two reported examples of the 1c value on cover; cert. P.F. (2014). (Image)

1898 2c on 2m orange-brown, first printing, position 4, used, tied to a piece by a scarce and crisp military station Puerto Principe postmark, some climatic toning to edges, rare cancel on this issue, normally found with the island cds, and rarely so finely struck; cert. P.F. (1976); ex Prats. (Image)

1898 2c on 2m orange-brown, first printing, tied to large piece, the letter must have been addressed within the province and then forwarded to France; some creasing, some damage and soiling that do not diminish its importance; the 2c Spanish colonial rate being a very rare franking; ex Prats. (Image)

1898 Registered mail receipt from a correspondence originating in Yaguarachi (Ecuador), franked with 2c on 2m orange-brown, first printing, position 3, tied by blue Puerto Principe cds in January 1899; some creasing and imperfection at top; a very rare 2c Spanish colonial rate for this type of postal document; one of two known registered mail receipts with Puerto Principe franking (both included in this sale); ex Manning. (Image)

1898 2c on 2m orange-brown, first printing, position 5, used, tied to a piece by a spectacular military station Puerto Principe oval ds, scarce postmark on this issue, which is normally found with the island cds and extraordinarily scarce so fine; ex Prats. (Image)

1898 2c on 2m orange-brown, first printing, position 2, tied to a piece by a superb military station Puerto Principe postmark, dated November 11, this being one of the best examples of this cancel, very fine; ex Prats. (Image)

1898 Registered mail receipt from a correspondence originating in New York (USA), franked with 2c on 2m orange-brown, position 4, first printing, tied by blue Puerto Principe cds on 18 January 1899, backstamped in Havana (22 January, just two days before the stamps were withdrawn); some creasing and damage at top not detracting; a 2c Spanish colonial rate is very rare for this type of postal document, being one of two known registered mail receipts with Puerto Principe frankings (both included in this sale); ex Prats. (Image)

1898 2c on 2m black, first printing, trial impression of the complete setting of five on green paper; very fine and clean; one of only three recorded; cert. P.F. (1989); ex Prats. (Image)

1898 2c on 2m orange-brown, first printing, mint strip of five, rejoined and hinged to reinforce separation, positioned low, very small thin spot at left, otherwise very fresh and clean; only 600 printed; signed Bloch; ex Prats. (Image)

1898 2c on 2m orange-brown, first printing, position 1-2, used pair, tied to a piece unusually by a military station Puerto Principe postmark, some climatic toning to edges, rare postmark on this issue normally found with the island cds and with the two types of surcharge (Scott 178 and 179); cert. P.F. (1976); ex Prats. (Image)

1899 (Jan) Registered cover sent to Germany, franked with 2c on 2m orange-brown, first printing, positions 1-2-3-4-5, applied as two pairs and a single, the complete five settings tied to the back by the Puerto Principe cds, with purple registry handstamp on front, very fine condition and extremely important, being the 5c Spanish colonial rate for foreign mail plus 5c registry fee; this is the only recorded cover with complete setting of five as well as the only known example to Germany; signed Bloch; ex Tows, Brock Juhring, Robertson and Kouri. (Image)

1898 (Dec 28) Cover sent to Nuevitas (Cuba), franked with 2c on 2m orange-brown, first printing, strip of five with the displaced two cent overprint, neatly tied by the Puerto Principe cds, although a much reduced cover with soiling and damage, not detracting from this important item being a rare example of the 10c triple Spanish colonial rate overpaid by 1c, as well as the only known cover with an intact strip of five from this provisional issue; ex Tows and Prats. (Image)

1899 (Jan) Cover sent to Columbia, franked with 2c on 2m position 4, and 3c on 3m position 5, orange-brown, two different values from the first printing, tied by Puerto Principe cds, 16 January transit of Havana and arrival on back, minor flaws to envelope, an important item showing the 5c Spanish colonial rate for international mail, as well as being a significant piece; one of two known 3c stamps from the first printing on cover (both offered in this auction); cert. P.F. (2013). (Image)

1898 2c on 2m orange-brown, first printing, position 2, 4 & 5, three singles each exhibiting the inverted surcharge variety, used, Puerto Principe cds, two tied to piece, a useful selection of the overprint error, with just minor toning to position 2, otherwise fine; positions 4 and 5 have cert P.F. (2005); ex Prats. (Image)

1898 2c on 2m orange-brown, first printing, position 1, inverted surcharge, used, Puerto Principe blue cds on 22.12.98, fine example of the overprint error; cert. Graus (1990). (Image)

1898 2c on 2m orange-brown, first printing, position 2 and position 1 surcharge on sheet selvage, tied to piece by a very fine 28.12.98 Puerto Principe cds, well centred stamp, clear printing, very fine, a spectacular example of this scarce error printing of overprint on selvage; ex Roberston. (Image)

1898 2c on 2m orange-brown, first printing, position 2, error of inverted surcharge, used, Puerto Principe cds, perfectly centred stamp, crisp printing, very fine, a wonderful example of the inverted overprint; cert P.F. (2005). (Image)

1898 3c on 3m orange-brown, first printing, positions 1, 3, 4 & 5, four mint singles, hinged, position 1 with a thin and tone spots, position 4 a small corner crease, otherwise all fine examples, a scarce selection, 600 printed from this issue; ex Prats. (Image)

1898 (Dec 20) Cover sent to Havana (Cuba), franked with 3c on 3m orange-brown, first printing, position 4, neatly tied by blue Correo de Puerto Principe cds, with crisp blue Havana cancel to back dated 29 December, horizontal creases and small tear to the top hardly perceptible, a very fine example; one of only two known 3c stamps of the first printing on cover; ex Prats. (Image)

1898 3c on 3m orange-brown, first printing, position 3, inverted overprint variety, used, Puerto Principe cds, fine example of the surcharge error; cert CPSA (2004). (Image)

1898 3c on 3m orange-brown, first printing, position 5, surcharge overprint inverted, used with blue Puerto Principe cds, well centred, pulled perf at base, otherwise very fine example of the error; signed Bloch. (Image)

1898 3c on 3m orange-brown, first printing, positions 5, inverted overprint, used, blue Puerto Principe cds, beautifully centred, good colour, perforation nibbled at base, very fine example of this scarce surcharge variety; signed Bloch; ex Prats. (Image)

1898 3c on 3m orange-brown, first printing, position 4, inverted overprint error, used, tied to piece by blue Puerto Principe cds, a fine example of this surcharge variety; signed Bloch and Tows; ex Tows and Prats. (Image)

1898 3c on 3m orange-brown, first printing, positions 1-2, a spectacular inverted surcharge combination used pair, neatly tied to a small piece by a blue Puerto Principe cds dated 20.1.1898, presenting superior quality, very fine and clear impression, with the single cancel further enhancing appearance; signed Bloch and Tows; ex Tows and Prats. (Image)