1846 (May 29). Entire letter from Mataró (Spain) to Ponce, with ‘Baeza’ datestamp on dispatch, additionally struck in red with “¾ ø” marking showing the weight, which was paid with 3 Reales (manuscript notation visible at top left), and fancy “EM” (P.E. 23) for “Empresa Marítima”, being the Cuban Maritime Company which operated handling mail from 1827 to 1851. Minor edge splits. A very unusual incoming mail to Puerto Rico through the “Empresa Marítima”. Provenance: Roca, Acevedo and Sitjà. (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. Provenance: Roca, Acevedo and Sitjà. (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. Provenance: Roca, Acevedo and Sitjà. (Image)

1802 (Aug 23). Entire letter from San Juan de Puerto Rico to Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain), hs on dispatch with Italic “Islas De/Barlovento” postmark (P.E. 19), carried via Havana to Coruna, entering Spain at this port and erroneously struck with “España” straight-line (Kouri type II), which was intended to be used on outgoing and not incoming mail to Spain, therefore being mistakenly treated as mail from the Peninsula and rated “1” Real in manuscript at Tenerife. An exceptional usage as a result of the following features: the extraordinary application of the “España” postmark on incoming mail to Spain, one of just three letters documented bearing the “Islas De Barlovento” & “España” maritime hs in conjunction, believed to be unique with an erroneous internal rate on incoming transatlantic mail to Spain. Provenance: Roca and Sitjà. (Image)

1824 (March 6). Entire letter from San Juan de Puerto Rico to Cádiz (Spain), with manuscript “José María” at top indicating the ship which transported this missive in a direct transmission from San Juan to final destination, hs on arrival by red “Yndias” and “5R” due according to the single weight rate introduced in 1807. Fine and very rare. (Image)

1832 (Aug 28). Entire letter from San Juan to Barcelona, cleanly hs by two- line “Islas De/Barlovento.” Postmark (P.E. 6) in red, charged on delivery with “5R”, with clear receiving datestamp on reverse. A most infrequent usage of this type on mail from Puerto Rico; as a matter of fact, no examples with type 6 were included in the extensive and renowned Gaspar Roca collection of Puerto Rico. (Image)

1841 (March 12). Entire letter from San Juan de Puerto Rico to Tarragona (Spain), delightfully struck with “M/Santander” & “De Yndias” (P.E. 8) postmarks in red, with manuscript “9” corresponding to an unpaid maritime letter up to 9 adarmes. The coinciding shades led to believe that both markings were applied in Santander. (Image)

1842 (April 2). Entire letter from San Juan to Havana, hs on dispatch with red “Puerto Rico” double oval, then placed on board an Empresa de Correos Marítimos” ship as confirmed by “Correo Maritimo N°2” oval hs (P.E. 45), being exceedingly rare in yellow. Ink erosions on front, as frequently found. A very scarce and interesting usage of the “Empresa” on mail originating from Puerto Rico. (Image)

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. Provenance: Roca and Acevedo. (Image)