The Alfredo Frohlich Collection: The Evolution of Postal Systems in Panama 1777-1881

**Spanish Colonial Period, 1777-1831**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
1501		PANAMA, 1777 "PANAMA" with Condensed "PA" Handstamp. Bold Brownish straightline handstamp on folded letter datelined Feb. 19, 1777 from Panama to Guayaquil, manuscript endorsement "Franca a la mano" and signed "Castano", letter is in regards to a partial repayment of debt, light vertical file folds VERY FINE. A SUPERB STRIKE OF THIS RARE CONDENSED "PANAMA" HANDSTAMP -- WHICH IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED USE OF A PRE-STAMP MARKING IN PANAMA. ONLY TWO EXAMPLES ARE KNOWN. AN ESSENTIAL ITEM FOR ANY AWARD-WINNING EXHIBIT COLLECTION. The other recorded example, ex Camino and Goeggel, has a similar quality strike but is undated. Ex Goeggel. With 2013 Moorhouse certificate. (Image) View PDF of certificate Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 7,500-10,000 SOLD for $7,500.00 Will close during Public Auction
1502		PANAMA, 1790 Folded Letter from Chagres. Datelined "Chagres near Panama, Nov. 29th, 1790" with perfect "RH" handstamp and addressed to "Mr. Robert Hodgson, if he should stop at Corn Islands" (which is located off the coast of Nicaragua), carried privately with no indication of postal markings, fascinating letter in English in which the author states he is going to arrive in the coming months and "where I think you had better stay and receive some Robinson Crusoe education...", docketing indicating cover received on Oct. 10, 1791, Very Fine, this is one of the earliest Panama covers and the earliest known cover from Chagres, ex Goeggel, with 2013 Moorhouse certificate (Image) View PDF of certificate Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 500-750 SOLD for $700.00 Will close during Public Auction
1503		PANAMA, 1804 "SANTA FE". Bold and clear strike of red straightline handstamp on small folded letter datelined in Portovelo on Dec. 4, 1804 and addressed to Azpeitia, Spain, rated "6rs" (reales) for unpaid single letter rate, minor split in fold at top VERY FINE AND RARE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE "SANTA FE" HANDSTAMP USED IN PANAMA. The "SANTA FE" handstamp, per postal rules of Sept. 1, 1779, was to be used not only in Santa Fe de Bogota, but other areas in the postal district. This was done prior to the creation of the Portovelo handstamp. Only two covers, including this one, are known used outside of Santa Fe de Bogota (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 3,000-4,000 SOLD for $1,900.00 Will close during Public Auction
1504		PANAMA, 1808 "PANAMA". Red straightline handstamp on folded letter datelined Dec. 2, 1808 from Panama to Sante Fe de Bogota, additionally struck with red "FRANCA" handstamp, addressed to Camilo Torres who was the leader of the Revolutionary Forces and was elected President of United Provinces of Nueva Granada in 1815, Very Fine, a rare combination of strikes with only 21 "PANAMA" examples recorded during the Colonial Period, only four of which have the "Franca" handstamp, ex Camino and Goeggel, with 2013 Moorhouse certificate (Image) View PDF of certificate Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 2,000-3,000 SOLD for $1,400.00 Will close during Public Auction
1505		PANAMA, 1809 "PANAMA". Red straightline handstamp on folded letter datelined Jun. 30, 1809 from Panama to Sante Fe de Bogota, additionally struck with red "VYVA FERNANDO 7" patriotic handstamp, addressed to Camilo Torres, rated "5" reales for a double letter up to 2 ounces, "PANAMA" straightline with slightly oily ink residue VERY FINE. THE UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF THE PATRIOTIC "VYVA FERNANDO 7" HANDSTAMP ON COVER. The "VYVA FERNANDO" straightline refers to King Ferdinand VII of Spain who was then imprisoned in France by Napoleon Bonaparte. Ironically, the addressee Torres went on to become a leading politician and revolutionary figure in support of independence from Spain. He became President of the United Provinces of Nueva Granada in 1815 and was executed on Oct. 5, 1816 for treason against the Spanish monarchy. Ex Goeggel. With 2013 Moorhouse certificate. (Image) View PDF of certificate Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 4,000-5,000 SOLD for $2,200.00 Will close during Public Auction
1506		PANAMA, 1816 "PORTOVLO". Clear brownish red straightline handstamp on folded letter datelined in Portovelo on Feb. 16, 1816 and addressed to Panama, no indication of rate but should be 1-1/2 reales for under -1/2oz, contents referring to large shipment of silver FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE "PORTOVLO" HANDSTAMP. ONLY TWO ARE RECORDED USED DURING THE COLONIAL PERIOD AND THIS IS THE ONLY ONE FROM PORTOVELO. The other recorded Colonial use of this rare straightline is dated 1811 and was sent from London, England to Lima, Peru via Portovelo. Ex Goeggel (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 3,000-4,000 SOLD for $2,100.00 Will close during Public Auction
1507		PANAMA, 1816 "PANAMA". Red straightline handstamp on folded letter datelined Nov. 19, 1816 from Panama to Lima, Peru, manuscript "Par la Bot Abarcal", rated "4" reales for a double letter up to 1-1/2 ounces, Very Fine, only 21 covers with this handstamp are recorded during the Colonial period, ex Goeggel, with 2014 Moorhouse certificate (Image) View PDF of certificate Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 500-750 SOLD for $550.00 Will close during Public Auction
1508		PANAMA, 1819 "PANAMA". Perfect strike of red straightline handstamp on immaculate folded letter datelined May 6, 1819 from Panama to Lima, Peru, manuscript "Paquebot Correo Y", Very Fine, only 21 covers with this handstamp are recorded during the Colonial period (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 500-750 SOLD for $1,400.00 Will close during Public Auction
1509		PANAMA, 1819 "PANAMA". Well-struck red straightline handstamp applied in transit on folded letter datelined Sept. 9, 1819 from Lima, to Cadiz, Spain, via Panama, red "10R." handstamp struck on arrival, cover with light overall soiling VERY FINE. OF THE 21 "PANAMA" HANDSTAMPS KNOWN ON COVER DURING THE COLONIAL PERIOD, ONLY THREE WERE APPLIED IN TRANSIT. THIS IS THE ONLY EASTBOUND COVER KNOWN. There are a total of four covers addressed to Spain -- the other three having originated in Panama. Interestingly, the 10 reales due marking would indicate this letter was treated as a second weight letter from Panama rather than from Peru. Ex Goeggel. With 2013 Moorhouse certificate (Image) View PDF of certificate Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 4,000-5,000 SOLD for $3,250.00 Will close during Public Auction