Sale No: 7
Lot No:240
Symbol:M. Sta. No. 1, Porto Rico, Aug 3 '98 (Playa de Ponce). Military station duplex on Spanish American War patriotic cover bearing 2¢ rose pink (279Bc), canceled by cork, addressed to La Moille Ill.; reduced slightly at left, 2¢ slight erosion, F.-V.F. Estimate; $1,500 - 2,000.
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE FIRST DAY USE FROM THE FIRST MILITARY POSTAL STATION AT PUERTO RICO.
Military postal service for the Spanish American war was operated by the Railway Mail Service. As early as June 29, 1898, the RMS was instructed to provide three clerks for duty in Puerto Rico. The clerks were assigned to Tampa, Florida until a U.S. base was established on the island. Henry Robinson was designated as Chief Clerk. After waiting for three weeks, the railway postal clerks were ordered to report to Nathan Smith, Postal Agent for Puerto Rico, in Newport News, Virginia no later than July 23. They were to prepare to depart for Puerto Rico immediately. Accompanying the RMS staff were three Post Office Clerks.
On July 28, Henry Robinson and his staff steamed from Newport News Va. on USS St. Louis to Ponce arriving July 31, 1898, one week after troops had landed. Arrangements had been made for Robinson to set up shop in the Customs House on the dock at Playa de Ponce, two miles from the city of Ponce. With limited furnishings and supplies available. Soldiers were sent to the Spanish post office in Ponce to remove what useful equipment was available for use in the new military post office. At 1 PM on August 3, 1898 Military Station #1 opened as a branch of the Washington, DC post office in Playa de Ponce, Puerto Rico. US$1,500-2,000 (Image)
Est. $1,500-2,000
Opening US$ 950.00
Sold...US$ 950.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:15:48 EST
Sold For 950
Sale No: 7
Lot No:241
Symbol:M. Sta. No. 1, Porto Rico, Aug 3 '98 (Playa de Ponce). Clear railway duplex strike on 1898 cover to Marlboro Mass. with violet "Soldier's Letter/Collect postage from Addressee/W.F. Dusseault, Chaplain/6th Regt Mass. Vols." four-line handstamp, adiditional "Soldier's Letter" in pencil, "Marlboro, Mass Rec'd, Aug 16, 1898" arrival backstamp and 2¢ postage due stamp tied by cork cancel; reduced slightly at left, Very Fine,ex-Acevedo. Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE FIRST DAY USE FROM THE FIRST MILITARY POSTAL STATION AT PUERTO RICO.
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. The provisional Porto Rico railway duplex was used for just ten days.
References: Illustrated in "Puerto Rico during the Spanish American War 1898-1900" by William Dipaolo, p. 34, fig. 11-14. US$1,000-1,500 (Image)
Est. $1,000-1,500
Opening US$ 800.00
Sold...US$ 800.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:16:18 EST
Sold For 800
Sale No: 7
Lot No:242
Symbol:(M. Sta. No. 1, Porto Rico, Aug 3 '98 (Playa de Ponce). Clear railway duplex strike ties 2¢ carmine (279B) on 1898 cover front to New York City; some cover creases, F.-V.F. and rare first day use,ex-Preston, Gallagher. Estimate; $400 - 600. US$400-600 (Image)
Est. $400-600
Opening US$ 325.00
Sold...US$ 325.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:16:41 EST
Sold For 325
Sale No: 7
Lot No:243
Symbol:M. Sta. No. 1, Porto Rico, Aug 5 '98 (Playa de Ponce). Clear railway duplex strike ties 2¢ rose carmine (279Bc) on 1898 cover to Rosemont Pa., original letter datelined "Ponce, Puerto Rico, August 5, 1898" with interesting content "I hear that another steamer is to leave the port today for the States and I write this to go by it. My last letter carried me to the afternoon of the 28th, the day of our arrival here…At 4 P.M. the General told me to accompany him and General Miles to Ponce…the Port was a scene of indescribable confusion. There were 15 transports and man of war in the harbor. The man of wars men were towing boat loads of soldiers to the short and the steam launchers were towing the lighters loaded with horses, mules, wagons, quartermasters and commissary stores. As soon as a battalion landed it marched off the hot and dusty road to Ponce…The custom house was occupied by Gen. Miles and Wilson and staff…"; flap tears ending in small edge tear, F.-V.F. with excellent war content, excellent war content. Estimate; $200 - 300. US$200-300 (Image)
Est. $200-300
Opening US$ 350.00
Sold...US$ 350.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:17:33 EST
Sold For 350
Sale No: 7
Lot No:244
Symbol:M. Sta. No. 1, Porto Rico, Aug 6 '98 (Playa de Ponce). Clear railway duplex on buff 1898 cover with patriotic crossed flag design endorsed "Soldiers Letter, Chas. K. Darling, Maj. 6th Mass. V.I." to Dedham Mass., 2¢ postage due canceled by manuscript, Dedham (8.16) arrival backstamp; some mounting abrasion on reverse, F.-V.F.,ex-Kugel. Estimate; $200 - 300.
Posted on the third day of postal operations, arrived in Dedham where charged 2¢ postage due for a soldier letter. No penalty charged. US$200-300 (Image)
Est. $200-300
Opening US$ 150.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:18:04 EST
Sold For 0
Sale No: 7
Lot No:245
Symbol:M. Sta. No. 1, Porto Rico, Aug 7 '98 (Playa de Ponce). Railway duplex on legal-size War Department Penalty cover with imprint cross out and endorsed "Soldier Letter, Douglas Steele, Assistant Adjutant General, 1st Brig. 1st Div. 1st…" to Peoria Ill., precanceled U.S. 2¢ postage due affixed, forwarded to Summit Mountain N.Y., Aug. 24th arrival backstamp; small edge flaws and wear, F.-V.F. and early use. Estimate; $200 - 300. US$200-300 (Image)
Est. $200-300
Opening US$ 150.00
Sold...US$ 150.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:18:30 EST
Sold For 150
Sale No: 7
Lot No:246
Symbol:M. Sta. No. 1, Porto Rico, Aug 9 '98 (Playa de Ponce). Bold duplex strikes tie U.S. 1¢ green (279) and two 2¢ rose carmine (279B) singles on Boysen Co. corner card cover to New York City, Very Fine first week use. Estimate; $150 - 200. US$150-200 (Image)
Est. $150-200
Opening US$ 120.00
Sold...US$ 120.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:19:00 EST
Sold For 120
Sale No: 7
Lot No:247
Symbol:M. Sta. No. 1, Porto Rico, Aug 11 '98 (Playa de Ponce). Railway duplex ties 2¢ carmine (279B) on Camp Thomas Flag patriotic updated from "Guayama, P.R." to New Milford Ill., forwarded to Rockford Ill., reverse with New York (8.20) machine transit, Chicago Carrier (8.23) and Rockford arrival; some wear, F.-V.F. Estimate; $200 - 300.
This cover was posted one day before signing of the peace protocol at Washington D.C. US$200-300 (Image)
Est. $200-300
Opening US$ 160.00
Sold...US$ 160.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:19:22 EST
Sold For 160
Sale No: 7
Lot No:248
Symbol:Military Sta. 1, Porto Rico, Wash. D.C., Aug 18 '98. Buff cover with pencil "Ships Letter, U.S.S. Puritan" endorsement to Davenport, Iowa, Aug 27th arrival backstamp; cover torn at left, slightly reduced at right, Fine and rare first-day strike of permanent Military Station 1. Estimate; $200 - 300.
The U.S.S. Puritan was a heavily armed warship that saw duty blockading the port of San Juan and the attack on Fajardo. US$200-300 (Image)
Est. $200-300
Opening US$ 210.00
Sold...US$ 210.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:20:22 EST
Sold For 210
Sale No: 7
Lot No:249
Symbol:Military Sta. 1, Porto Rico, Wash. D.C., Aug 18 '98. Duplex on "Hold the Fort Boys, We are coming to Help You" caricature patriotic cover to Macungie Pa., endorsed "Soldiers letter" and signed by commanding officer, pencil "Due 2¢" and 2¢ postage due affixed, reverse with New York (8.26) transit and Macungie arrival cds; reduced at left, Fine and rare first-day strike of permanent Military Station 1. Estimate; $150 - 200. US$150-200 (Image)
Est. $150-200
Opening US$ 180.00
Sold...US$ 180.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:20:53 EST
Sold For 180
Sale No: 7
Lot No:250
Symbol:Military Sta. 1, Porto Rico, Wash. D.C., Aug 23 '98. Duplex ties 2¢ carmine (279B), corner faulty, on "On to Havana!" patriotic design showing Soldier and Flag in Havana Bay addressed to Good Spring Pa., Philadelphia (8.30) backstamp transit, enclosed letter datelined "Guayama Aug 18th 98" just five day before Military Station No. 2 opened at Guayama; upper left corner torn, light aging, Fine. Estimate; $150 - 200. US$150-200 (Image)
Est. $150-200
Opening US$ 110.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:21:31 EST
Sold For 0
Sale No: 7
Lot No:251
Symbol:Military Sta. 1, Porto Rico, Wash. D.C., Sep 10, 98. Neat duplex cancels U.S. 2¢ green entire endorsed "Soldiers Letter, Edward L. Pierce, Co. F., 1st U.S.V., Porto Rico" to Syracuse N.Y., letter datelined "Sept 9, 1898, Ponce, Porto Rico" and mentions "…I hear all sorts of rumors about going home but nothing definite. My own opinion is that we will start in about a month. Our Colonel has deserted us and gone home, what for I don't know. They say the doctor ordered him home…", Very Fine. Estimate; $75 - 100. US$75-100 (Image)
Est. $75-100
Opening US$ 100.00
Sold...US$ 100.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:22:04 EST
Sold For 100
Sale No: 7
Lot No:252
Symbol:Military Sta. 1, Porto Rico, Wash. D.C., Sep 28, 98. Clear duplex ties 2¢ rose pink (279Bc) on Military Station No. 1 Cuba YMCA blue imprint cover to Kersey City N.J., reverse with Philadelphia (10.7) transit and Jersey City (10.7) arrival cds, Very Fine,ex-Kugel. Estimate; $150 - 200. US$150-200 (Image)
Est. $150-200
Opening US$ 95.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:22:23 EST
Sold For 0
Sale No: 7
Lot No:253
Symbol:Military Sta. 1, Porto Rico, Wash. D.C., Oct 8, 98. Duplex ties 1¢ green (279) on legal-size printed circular datelined "Ponce, P.R. 1. Octubre de 1898" to Barcelona, Spain, bold "Gonzales, Bonnin * Co., Ponce, Pto.-Rico" double-oval; couple small edge flaws, file fold, Very Fine and scarce 1¢ printed matter use,ex-Thompson. Estimate; $200 - 300. US$200-300 (Image)
Est. $200-300
Opening US$ 450.00
Sold...US$ 450.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:22:49 EST
Sold For 450
Sale No: 7
Lot No:254
Symbol:Military Sta. 1, Porto Rico, Wash. D.C., Dec 7 '98. Sharp duplex strikes tie U.S. 1¢ dark green (279) and 5¢ dark blue (281) on green 1898 Jaime Oliver Mayol, Ponce, Pto.-Rico. corner card cover to New York City at double the 3¢ letter rate, partial arrival backstamp, Very Fine. Estimate; $150 - 200. US$150-200 (Image)
Est. $150-200
Opening US$ 300.00
Sold...US$ 300.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:23:16 EST
Sold For 300
Sale No: 7
Lot No:255
Symbol:Military Sta. 1, Porto Rico, Wash. D.C., Jan 15 '99. Sharp bold strike of cds duplexed with barred oval cancels U.S. 2¢ blue on cream (UX13) to New York N.Y., light arrival cds, Extremely Fine and scarce Porto Rico military station use. Estimate; $200 - 300. US$200-300 (Image)
Est. $200-300
Opening US$ 180.00
Sold...US$ 180.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:23:54 EST
Sold For 180
Sale No: 7
Lot No:256
Symbol:Military Sta. 1, Porto Rico, Wash. D.C., Feb 8, 99. Duplex ties U.S. 3¢ purple (268) as postage due on Moses & Helm New York City advertising cover bearing 2¢ carmine (279B) tied by "New York, N.Y. Jan 28, 1899" flag machine cancel to Ponce, Puerto Rico, New York "T, 15 Centimes N.Y." due duplex, blue crayon "3" cent due rating, purple "Feb - 8 1899" straightline; lower left corner nick, F.-V.F. Estimate; $150 - 200. US$150-200 (Image)
Est. $150-200
Opening US$ 200.00
Sold...US$ 200.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:24:54 EST
Sold For 200
Sale No: 7
Lot No:257
Symbol:Military Sta. 1, Porto Rico, Wash. D.C., Mar 15, 99. Duplex with "1" duplex ties on legal-size cover endorsed from Ponce P.R. to Norwalk Conn., arrival backstamp, F.-V.F. Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.
A RARE FIRST DAY OF USE OF THE "PORTO RICO" OVERPRINTED POSTAGE ISSUE.
This was also the last day of the Washington D.C. post office's administration of the Military post offices in Puerto Rico. US$2,000-3,000 (Image)
Est. $2,000-3,000
Opening US$ 1,600.00
Sold...US$ 1,600.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:25:35 EST
Sold For 1600
Sale No: 7
Lot No:258
Symbol:Military Sta. 1, Porto Rico, Wash. D.C., Rec'd, Apr 26, 99. Bold backstamp on 1899 illustrated building ad cover bearing U.S. 2¢ red (279B) tied by "Malden Mass. Apr 18, 99" duplex to New York City, forwarded to Ponce, Puerto Rico with 2¢ Postage Due, pair and single, each canceled by cork cancel, New York "T, 15 Centimes" due handstamp, slightly rough opening at left, 2¢ due single with corner flaw, F.-V.F. Estimate; $150 - 200.
New York assessed 6¢ postage due (3¢ short payment plus 3¢ penalty) as it now required U.P.U. postage for mail to Puerto Rico. US$150-200 (Image)
Est. $150-200
Opening US$ 110.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:26:03 EST
Sold For 0
Sale No: 7
Lot No:259
Symbol:Military Sta. 1, Porto Rico, Wash. D.C., May 29, 99. Bold duplex ties 2¢ red (279B) imprint single on Post Office Department, Post Office at Ponce, Porto Rico (Military Station No. 1.) penalty imprint cover from Chief Clerk W.W. Sterling to Trenton N.J., reverse with New York (6.5) transit and Trenton (6.5) arrival cds, Very Fine,ex-Kugel. Estimate; $150 - 200. US$150-200 (Image)
Est. $150-200
Opening US$ 150.00
Sold...US$ 150.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:26:42 EST
Sold For 150
Sale No: 7
Lot No:260
Symbol:Registered, Sep 18 1898, Military Station No. 1, Washington D.C., Ponce, Porto Rico. (Baker SR-3). Purple four-line postmark on cover bearing 5¢ dark blue (281) pair and strip of three, tied by "Arroyo" oval postmarks on cover from Arroyo to New York City, purple Oct. 6th arrival backstamp; some light gum soaks, small edge tear at left with bit of paper loss on back, a Very Fine and rare registry use,ex-Thompson, with 2011 P.F. certificate. Estimate; $300 - 400. US$300-400 (Image)
Est. $300-400
Opening US$ 600.00
Sold...US$ 600.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:28:11 EST
Sold For 600
Sale No: 7
Lot No:261
Symbol:Advertised, Nov 6 1898, Military Station No. 1, Washington D.C. / Ponce, Porto Rico. Purple four-line postmark on cover bearing 2¢ carmine (279Bc) tied by "Southbirdge, Mass. Oct 11, 98" duplex to General Hospital at Ponce, Puerto Rico, neat "Military Sta. 1, Porto Rico, Wash. D.C., Rec'd, Oct 28, 99" arrival backstamp, magenta ms. "Not at U.S. Gen. Hospital" at top, purple "Forwarded to Dead Letter Office, Washington D.C." two-line handstamp; small edge flaws, Very Fine strike,only two recorded examples. Estimate; $400 - 600. US$400-600 (Image)
Est. $400-600
Opening US$ 950.00
Sold...US$ 950.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:29:25 EST
Sold For 950
Sale No: 7
Lot No:262
Symbol:Guayama, Pto. Rico, 9 Set 98. Blue Spanish cds ties U.S. 1¢ green (279), 2¢ pink (279Bc), latter two singles, on 1898 cover to Liverpool, England, sharp "Military Sta. 1, Porto Rico, Wash. D.C., Rec'd, Sep 10, 98", New York "T, 25 Centimes" due handstamp, Liverpool U.S. Packet (10.1) backstamp and bold "5d" pence due handstamp; top right corner nick, otherwise Very Fine. Estimate; $300 - 400.
The Spanish handstamp was in use until September 29th 1898 when the American canceller became available. US$300-400 (Image)
Est. $300-400
Opening US$ 300.00
Sold...US$ 300.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:30:14 EST
Sold For 300
Sale No: 7
Lot No:263
Symbol:Mil. Sta. No 2 W.D.C., Guayama, Porto Rico, Feb 26 '99. Sharp duplex strike with "2" barred oval tying 1¢ green (279) and 2¢ rose pink (279Bc) pair, additionally canceled by cds rim on 1899 Farmacia Bruno corner card cover to New Haven Conn., reverse with partial military transit and New Haven (3.6) machine arrival; bit of edge wear and small tear, right 2¢ creased, a Very Fine, a Very Fine strike of this scarce duplex on commercial mail. Estimate; $200 - 300. US$200-300 (Image)
Est. $200-300
Opening US$ 325.00
Sold...US$ 325.00
Closed..Jun-07-2025, 13:30:35 EST
Sold For 325
Sale No: 7
Lot No:264
Symbol:Playa de Mayaguez, Pto.-Rico, 23 Ago 98. Spanish double-circle on buff cover endorsed "Soldiers letter - J.S. Mansfield, Captain 11 Infantry, Comd'g Co. H" at left to DeRuyter N.Y., reverse with "Military Sta. 1, Porto Rico, Wash. D.C., Rec'd Aug 24, 98" and New York (8.30) transits; stain and reduced at right, Fine and scarce Spanish provisional cds use. Estimate; $300 - 400. US$300-400 (Image)
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