The John Birkinbine II Collection of of Arizona and New Mexico Postal History

**Mexican Period**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
1001		Circa 1824--Santa Fe (New Mexico) to Chihuahua, NUEVO MEXICO” Straightline Handstamp. Bold red strike with manuscript 3” reales due marking on undated envelope (red wax seal, top flap removed) addressed to Al Alcalde constitucional 1er nombrado rta ciudad, Chiguagua” (the Alcalde Constitucional Primero Nombrado, Chihuahua) from Del Ald 1o rta Villa de Sta. Fee” (the Alcalde Primero Nombrado, Santa Fe), official correspondence from early Mexican Republic period, sent by the constitutional alcade (equivalent to mayor) of Santa Fe to his counterpart in Chihuahua, with pencil notation 1820” (archival notation, but it cannot be the mailing year), manuscript notation on back listing five surnames VERY FINE WITH A PERFECT STRIKE OF THE EXTREMELY RARE NUEVO MEXICO” STRAIGHTLINE--THIS IS REPORTED TO BE THE EARLIEST RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS MARKING, AND THE ADDRESS PROVIDES IRREFUTABLE PROOF THAT IT WAS USED AT SANTA FE IN NEW MEXICO. In December 1821 news of Mexican independence reached Santa Fe in New Mexico. After two centuries under Spanish colonial rule, the city took steps to create a representative government as part of the Mexican Empire (the country transitioned to a Republic in 1823-1824). The Alcalde Primero Nombrado (First Mayor Named) was the title under the constitutional government and is used as part of the address on this cover from the Alcalde of Santa Fe to the Alcalde of Chihuahua. The notation at lower left is significant, because it identifies the origin as Santa Fe, providing the earliest evidence we have that the NUEVO MEXICO” straightline was applied there and not at one of the other post offices in New Mexico. The cover was carried south from Santa Fe on the Spanish Royal Road of the Interior (El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro), and this part is known as the Chihuahua Trail. It was rated 3” reales postage due. Covers from New Mexico during the early Republic period are exceedingly rare. Ex Risvold (acquired from Nicholas Follensbee, 1999) (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. 20,000-30,000 CLOSED Will close during Public Auction
1002		1823 May 20--Belén (New Mexico) to Chihuahua via Tomé, TOMÉ” Straightline Handstamp. Bold reddish-brown strike with manuscript 3” reales due marking on folded letter written and addressed in blue to A. Dn. Lorenzo Lopez del Como de Chihuagua” (Chihuahua) datelined Belen Mayo 20 de 1823” and signed D’amaso”, forwarded to Arizpe with Arizpe Ye. 3” (3 reales) manuscript due marking VERY FINE WITH A BOLD STRIKE OF THE EXTREMELY RARE TOMÉ” STRAIGHTLINE--THIS DATED LETTER IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE TOMÉ MARKING AND ALSO AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF MAIL CARRIED DURING THE SHORT-LIVED MEXICAN EMPIRE PERIOD. Belén was founded in 1740 as Nuestra Señora de Belén by a group of Spanish colonists led by Diego Torres and Antonio Salazar. This letter was first carried north to Tomé and then south to Chihuahua on the Spanish Royal Road of the Interior (El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro), and this part is known as the Chihuahua Trail. It was rated 3” reales postage due at Chihuahua, then forwarded to Arizpe with an additional 3 reales due. The May 20, 1823, use of the TOMÉ” straightline is about 20 years earlier than the next dated example. The Mexican Empire existed briefly, from the signing of the Treaty of Córdoba and the declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire in September 1821 until the emperor’s abdication in March 1823, when the Provisional Government took power. The First Mexican Republic was proclaimed in 1824. Covers from New Mexico during the Mexican Empire period are exceedingly rare. Ex Risvold (acquired from Nicholas Follensbee, 1999) (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. 20,000-30,000 CLOSED Will close during Public Auction
1003		1845 August 4--Pinos Hacienda (New Mexico) to Chihuahua via Tomé, TOMÉ” Straightline Handstamp. Clear strike in red with manuscript 4rs” reales due marking on folded letter to S. Dno. Jose Cordero Chiha.” (Chihuahua) datelined Pinos, Agto. 4 de 1845” and signed Manuel Anto. Ortero”, small part of top back panel removed VERY FINE WITH A CLEAR STRIKE OF THE EXTREMELY RARE TOMÉ” STRAIGHTLINE. This letter was carried south from Pinos Hacienda to Tomé. It was postmarked at Tomé and rated 4 reales due, then carried further south on the Spanish Royal Road of the Interior (El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro), and this part is known as the Chihuahua Trail. Ex Dr. Mazepa (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. 5,000-7,500 CLOSED Will close during Public Auction