2013 Rarities of the World continued...

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE GIBARA 2-CENT PROVISIONAL HANDSTAMP ON A DOUBLE RATE SOLDIER'S LETTER FROM CUBA TO THE UNITED STATES AT THE END OF THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. ONLY FOUR FULL COVER EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED.

Similar to the experience of towns in Puerto Rico at the end of the Spanish-American War, severe shortages of stamps were experienced in Cuba at the end of 1898. The shortage was dealt with initially by using revenue stamps as postage in some locations, but as even these adhesives ran out, provisional issues were needed. The best known provisionals are the Cuba Puerto Principe issue, and in Puerto Rico, the Ponce and Coamo issues (see lots 434-444 in this sale).

The Gibara Provisional was the only one in use in Cuba at the same time as the Puerto Principe issues. It was not reported in the philatelic press until 1997. Only four covers are recorded (including one with 5c denomination), plus two fragments at the Cuban Postal Museum (one a 5c). The cover offered here is the only known 2c double-rate use and also the earliest known use. An article by Dr. Yamil H. Kouri on the Gibara provisional appeared in the Collectors Club Philatelist (Sep.-Oct. 2012, copy included). It illustrates this cover and discusses all known examples of the provisional. (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 1891 2-CENT LILIUOKALANI IMPERFORATE HORIZONTALLY.

With 2012 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE PHILIPPINES 1903 6-CENT OVERPRINT ISSUE.

With 2013 P.S.A.G. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged. (Image)

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VERY FINE. A CHOICE AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1898 5-CENTS PONCE PROVISIONAL ISSUE. FEWER THAN 25 ARE KNOWN.

The Ponce issue has long been celebrated as the only 1898 Provisional specifically authorized by the United States Government, through Major General James H. Wilson. Along with its famous cousin, the Coamo Provisional, the Ponce is one of only two known 1898 Provisionals issued as adhesive stamps. A thorough discussion of the issue can be found in an article by Raul A. Parez-Rivera at the following link (http://sfpr.freeforums.eu/t34-articulo-puripex-2008-the-ponce-provisional-unanswered-questions-and-some-commentaries ).

Ex Junghanns. With 1952 Friedl certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE COMPLETE SHEET OF THE PUERTO RICO 1898 COAMO PROVISIONAL ISSUE.

The Coamo stamps were created in August 1898 during the Spanish-American War, in response to the lack of a functioning postal service and the absence of stamps in the period between the retreat of Spanish forces and the full establishment of an American military postal system. Fifty sheets of ten stamps were typeset in black on unwatermarked paper, on which was applied a brownish gum. Four different types exist based on differences in the numeral "5". The violet "F Santiago" (mayor of Coamo) handstamp was applied as a control mark to avoid counterfeits. Few of the stamps were ultimately used and only 10 covers survive.

Approximately 30 of the unused sheets were purchased by Mr. Alfred O. Tittmann, a stamp collector, on Oct. 26, 1898. Tittmann brought the sheets to the United States and Charles E. Mekeel cut up and sold many of the stamps as singles. While various writers have estimated that between six and ten sheets survive, Dr. Ronald H. Gonzalez identifies 21 different full sheets in his census, though some are from old photos and may not be genuine or may have been cut apart.

Gonzalez Census No. 20. Initialed "C.H.M." (Charles H. Mekeel) on back. With 1978 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE COMPLETE SHEET OF THE PUERTO RICO 1898 COAMO PROVISIONAL ISSUE.

The Coamo stamps were created in August 1898 during the Spanish-American War, in response to the lack of a functioning postal service and the absence of stamps in the period between the retreat of Spanish forces and the full establishment of an American military postal system. Fifty sheets of ten stamps were typeset in black on unwatermarked paper, on which was applied a brownish gum. Four different types exist based on differences in the numeral "5". The violet "F Santiago" (mayor of Coamo) handstamp was applied as a control mark to avoid counterfeits. Few of the stamps were ultimately used and only 10 covers survive.

Approximately 30 of the unused sheets were purchased by Mr. Alfred O. Tittmann, a stamp collector, on Oct. 26, 1898. Tittmann brought the sheets to the United States and Charles E. Mekeel cut up and sold many of the stamps as singles. While various writers have estimated that between six and ten sheets survive, Dr. Ronald H. Gonzalez identifies 21 different full sheets in his census, though some are from old photos and may not be genuine or may have been cut apart.

Gonzalez Census No. 12. With 1964 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE COVER AND LETTER. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY TWO KNOWN COVERS BEARING A PAIR OF THE RARE 5-CENT 1898 COAMO PROVISIONAL. IT IS ALSO ONE OF ONLY THREE KNOWN FRANKINGS TO SAN FRANCISCO.

The first knowledge in the philatelic world of the existence of the Coamo provisional stamps was most likely provided by Captain R. D. Potts's use of the stamps on mail to his wife in San Francisco, rather than Alfred O. Tittmann's purchase of the remainder sheets, which became known later. Shortly after Potts mailed his letters an article about the Coamo Provisional appeared in Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News. The cover offered here is the first of three sent by Potts to his wife and may have been the source of the Mekeels article. One other Potts cover also bears a pair and these two are the only Coamo covers recorded with pairs. While the stamps were not valid on mail sent outside of Puerto Rico, Potts was a collector and recognized the philatelic significance of using the Coamo Provisional on his mail. Ten Coamo covers are known in total, including the three which were sent by Captain Potts. The re-emergence of these covers after decades off the market has afforded the opportunity to compile an updated census of the known covers, which is available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/PR_201/PR_201.pdf

The accompanying letter from Capt. Potts to the New England Stamp Co. is dated January 28, 1900. It describes how he came into possession of provisional stamps while serving in the U.S. force that captured Coamo, and states that he sent three covers to his wife, using a total of five stamps. This exactly matches the known population of Potts covers and stamps used on them.

Census No. 201-COV-05. Ex Junghanns. Listed in Scott as pair on cover but unpriced. Scott Retail as single on cover (Image)

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VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE COVER WITH THE 5-CENT 1898 COAMO PROVISIONAL AND THE U.S. POSTAGE DUE HANDSTAMP APPLIED AT PLAYA DE PONCE. ONLY ONE OTHER COVER IS KNOWN WITH THE POSTAGE DUE HANDSTAMP.

The origin of the Coamo covers was discussed in a 1988 article in Possessions by Ovidio Davila. Davila states that Alfred O. Tittmann, the stamp collector who is known to have purchased the remainder sheets and brought them to the United States for sale, also obtained a number of Coamo covers with single stamps used to Ponce. He sold these covers to Mr. Robert L. Junghanns between 1920 and 1923. The six Coamo covers offered in this section come from the Junghanns collection.

Ten Coamo covers are known in total, including three which were used by Captain R. D. Potts on mail to San Francisco. Seven are known with single Coamo stamps exhibiting the proper local use within Puerto Rico during the approximate three-week period when regular stamps were not available. None of the stamps was cancelled at its origination, probably because there were no cancelling devices left in Coamo when the Spanish evacuated. The re-emergence of these covers after decades off the market has afforded the opportunity to compile an updated census of the known covers, which is available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/PR_201/PR_201.pdf

The presence of the postage due handstamp on this and the cover offered in the following lot is evidence that military postal officials in Ponce did not regard the Coamo stamp as paying U.S. postage. However, this was not applied consistently as these are the only two covers that have evidence of postage due.

Census No. 201-COV-06. Ex Tittmann and Junghanns (Image)

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VERY FINE. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY TWO LOCAL USES OF THE RARE 5-CENT 1898 COAMO PROVISIONAL ISSUE TIED ON COVER. IT IS ALSO ONE OF ONLY TWO KNOWN USES WITH THE U.S. POSTAGE DUE HANDSTAMP, APPLIED AT PLAYA DE PONCE.

The origin of the Coamo covers was discussed in a 1988 article in Possessions by Ovidio Davila. Davila states that Alfred O. Tittmann, the stamp collector who is known to have purchased the remainder sheets and brought them to the United States for sale, also obtained a number of Coamo covers with single stamps used to Ponce. He sold these covers to Mr. Robert L. Junghanns between 1920 and 1923. The six Coamo covers offered in this section come from the Junghanns collection.

Ten Coamo covers are known in total, including three which were used by Captain R. D. Potts on mail to San Francisco. Seven are known with single Coamo stamps exhibiting the proper local use within Puerto Rico during the approximate three-week period when regular stamps were not available. None of the stamps was cancelled at its origination, probably because there were no cancelling devices left in Coamo when the Spanish evacuated. The re-emergence of these covers after decades off the market has afforded the opportunity to compile an updated census of the known covers, which is available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/PR_201/PR_201.pdf .

The four known tied Coamo Provisionals on cover, including one of the two local uses offered here, were cancelled in transit or at the receiving post office (two are from the group sent by Potts). The presence of the postage due handstamp on this and the cover offered in the previous lot is evidence that military postal officials in Ponce did not regard the Coamo stamp as paying U.S. postage. However, this was not applied consistently as these are the only two covers that have evidence of postage due.

Census No. 201-COV-03. Ex Tittmann and Junghanns (Image)

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