2013 Rarities of the World continued...

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE 5-CENT 1898 COAMO PROVISIONAL ISSUE USED LOCALLY ON COVER, DURING THE APPROXIMATE THREE-WEEK PERIOD IN WHICH REGULAR STAMPS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST KNOWN ON-COVER USE. (SEE ALSO LOT 444)

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

Census No. 201-COV-01. Ex Tittmann and Junghanns (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE 5-CENT 1898 COAMO PROVISIONAL ISSUE USED LOCALLY ON COVER, DURING THE APPROXIMATE THREE-WEEK PERIOD IN WHICH REGULAR STAMPS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THIS IS THE LATEST KNOWN USE.

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 .

Census No. 201-COV-10. Ex Tittmann and Junghanns (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE 5-CENT 1898 COAMO PROVISIONAL ISSUE USED LOCALLY ON COVER, DURING THE APPROXIMATE THREE WEEK PERIOD IN WHICH REGULAR STAMPS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST KNOWN ON-COVER USE. (SEE ALSO LOT 444)

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 .

Census No. 201-COV-02. Ex Tittmann and Junghanns (Image)

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FINE APPEARING AND EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1898 PROVISIONAL HANDSTAMP FROM GUANICA PUERTO RICO, EMPLOYED IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR WHEN REGULAR STAMPS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. ONLY TWO EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED.

U.S. troops landed at Guanica on July 25, 1898, and moved swiftly east to Ponce, where the first military mail station was established on August 3. As with the more famous Coamo and Ponce adhesives, the Guanica Provisional was created to prepay the 5c for transmission inside Puerto Rico during the period of transition when stamps were not yet available. There are two types recorded and this is Type 2. Only two examples of this handstamp are known, the other dated Nov. 28. The inscription at top of this cover is an interesting political statement by the postmaster at Guanica, declaring the town to be part of the United States.

Ex Sanborn, Preston, Scalley and Gallagher. Illustrated in Puerto Rico Specialist (First Edition, Oct.-Dec. 1970) and in Stamp Specialist (Chartreuse Book, p. 79) (Image)

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FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE MAYAGUEZ 1898 4-CENT PROVISIONAL HANDSTAMP. A GREAT RARITY OF PUERTO RICO AND UNITED STATES POSSESSIONS PHILATELY.

As with the more famous Coamo and Ponce Provisional adhesives, the Mayaguez Provisional was created to prepay transmission of mail inside Puerto Rico during the period of transition when stamps were not yet available. Unlike the other 5c issues, this issue was oddly denominated 4c. The cover is accompanied by a letter written in Spanish from the Secretary of the Municipality of Toa Baja at the time, Mr. Jose Manuel De Loira, stating that he was present when the letter was received by the addressee and that he kept the cover as a curiosity.

Ex Junghaans. Illustrated in Stamp Specialist (Chartreuse Book, p. 80) (Image)

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VERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE UTUADO MAYORALTY HANDSTAMP USED AS A PROVISIONAL AND SENT THROUGH THE LINES TO SPANISH-CONTROLLED SAN JUAN.

It is believed that in Utuado at this time, the mayor's office had control of the mail service, received payment for letters and struck the office's seal as evidence of the 5c prepayment. In the mayor's seal the coat of arms of Spain has been replaced with a star. This is also known to have been done in the towns of Camuy and Quebradillas upon arrival of American forces. When this cover was mailed in September 1898, Spanish troops still controlled San Juan. They did not complete their withdrawal until Oct. 18

Ex Junghaans, Scalley and Gallagher. Illustrated in Stamp Specialist (Chartreuse Book, p. 81) (Image)

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FINE AND RARE SET OF THE "PUERTO RICO" SPECIAL PRINTINGS. ONLY 100 SETS WERE PRODUCED

In 1900 one pane of 100 stamps of each was prepared for display at the Paris and Pan-American Expositions. The 5c, 8c and 10c were never regularly issued with the "Puerto Rico" spelling and so are only known as Special Printings. Many were destroyed after the exhibitions. This set lacks the "Specimen" handstamps.

Each with 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)

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FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE SET OF THE "PUERTO RICO" SPECIAL PRINTINGS. ONLY 100 SETS WERE PRODUCED

In 1900 one pane of 100 stamps of each was prepared for display at the Paris and Pan-American Expositions. The 5c, 8c and 10c were never regularly issued with the "Puerto Rico" spelling and so are only known as Special Printings. Many were destroyed after the exhibitions. This set lacks the "Specimen" handstamps.

Each with 1997 and 2002 P.F. certificates (Image)

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