Postal History. 1839 (Aug 5). Entire letter from Montevideo to Lisbon, carried by the Royal Navy "Spider" and "Spey", Chas. Holland forwarding agent of London ms notation on back, framed "PAID AT/LIVERPOOL", "5/2" ms charge and '420' reis in blue on front, arrival bs. (Image)

1840 (Nov 19). Entire letter from Montevideo to Bordeaux, conveyed by the "Fauvette", "9" décimes charge, Rennes, Nantes and Bordeaux cds's on back; strongly worded contents in French about a convention which was interrupting trade, the consequences on the commerce after the end of a blockade, interesting extract incl. a Commission of the French Navy which went to a port occupied by "our ex-ally" Lavalle (circa 6,000 men) to inform him that, according to the Art. 3 of the Convention, it was agreed an amnesty for all ranks below sergeant, the sender defining this fact to be equivalent to: "Mackau orders to cut the throat of your officers and to pass to the ranks of Rosas (...) you will not want to believe in this infamous, cruel truth". After two years of the French blockade to the River Plate imposed by France on the Argentine Confederation under Rosas' rule, France and Argentina signed the Mackau-Arana Treaty; during the war, Generals Rivera and Lavalle were elected by the French to attack the Rosas Government; with the signature of the Treaty, Gral. Lavalle lost the French support and was defeated in Argentina. The Rosas' treatment of the French in Buenos Aires led to many of them to migrate to Montevideo. (Image)

1845 (Dec 31). Entire letter from Montevideo to Paris, red "MONTEVo." red straight line, framed "COLONIES/& ART. 12" hs lately used, struck on reverse with "SHIP LETTER/PLYMOUTH" hs incorrectly applied as Uruguay had not a postal agreement with Great Britain, then amended with "PACKET LETTER" hs according to the Anglo-French Postal Convention, charged "15" on delivery, a very rare usage. (Image)

1846 (Oct) - 1847 (Oct). Two entire letters from Montevideo to Genoa, both with "VIA/DI MARE/(A)", "10" & "4" charges in manuscript, one with "VILLAFRANCA" straight-line and disinfection slits, a rare carriage during the Great War and the subsequent blockade in the River Plate, when most of the mail was carried by British and French warships.

1846 (Aug 27). Cover from Montevideo to Bilbao, Spain, with red "BUENOS./AYRES" two-line hs in transit, carried by private vessel since the British packet service from Buenos Aires to Rio did not sail during this time-frame, "10R" charge on delivery. (Image)

1855 (Sept 5). Cover (slightly reduced at left and side flaps missing) to Liege, Belgium, superb oval ds of Montevideo in green, carried by the "Tay", British rate 1/4 and Belgian accountancy mark including 1/4d owed to Great Britain, the "Taxe Reduite" converting this into 16 francs with additional 2 francs local delivery charge, London and Belgian cds's on back, a delightful cover. (Image)

1858 (Jan 5). Entire letter from Montevideo to San Francisco, red oval ds on dispatch, carried by the "Avon", "1/-" and boxed "Returned for 2/2 1/2 Postage" in red with rate inserted in ms crossed out and apparently applied in error, London bs. (Image)

1860 (June 19). Entire letter from Montevideo to Hannover, struck with dispatch oval ds and with two rate notations, reverse with London & "Seebrief" cds's, per England & Aachen, Hannover/Emden transits and boxed blue Papenburg ds on receipt, a scarce destination. (Image)

1870 (Sept 29). Letter from the "Commandant en Chef" of the Pacific Fleet of the French Navy, from the "La Flore" frigate, written in Montevideo and contained in an envelope to France franked by France 1868 20c & 10c (2), two stamps with faults, tied by anchor lozenges with "CORR.D.ARM./LIG. J. PAQ.F.N°2" cds, carried by the "Gironde", bs on arrival, a rare French military mail from Uruguay. (Image)

1874 (June 28). Printed circular from Montevideo to Bordeaux, Anglo-French "GB/2F PK" accountancy hs, scarce French "20c" instead of 15c due marking, one of less than five covers known emanating from Uruguay with this printed matter exchange marking. (Image)

1888 (Oct 26). Envelope from Salto to Lucca, Italy, with blue ''AGENZIA CONSOLARE D'ITALIA IN SALTO" cachet, repeated on back, black Salto and Montevideo cds's, framed Uruguayan tax marking, charged on arrival with 1870-74 dues 5c and 30c pair, Genoa and Lucca bs. (Image)

Maritime Mail balance collection. 1846-82, group of transatlantic 44 covers mail sent to Spain, Italy, Austria and France, correspondence during the Great War, four items with Italian postage dues incl. one scarce 3.80 lire franking, three franked covers from the French consular office at Montevideo bearing two different rates (one with Díaz Paulos cert.), 14 items franked by perf. or imperf. (1) "Numeral" 10c. single frankings, etc; mainly very fine, viewing essential. (Image)