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29 vistas65 páginasMainsheet No 85 To 88
El documento es el volumen 22, número 85 de 'The Wacusheet', una revista dedicada a la filatelia latinoamericana. Se discuten eventos recientes como la participación en exposiciones internacionales y la creación de un sitio web para facilitar la comunicación y el comercio de artículos de filatelia. Además, se presentan notas sobre los sellos 'DOS CTS' de Costa Rica, analizando su origen y características.
Cargado por
Peter MoorerDerechos de autor
© © All Rights Reserved
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0% encontró este documento útil (0 votos)
29 vistas65 páginasMainsheet No 85 To 88
El documento es el volumen 22, número 85 de 'The Wacusheet', una revista dedicada a la filatelia latinoamericana. Se discuten eventos recientes como la participación en exposiciones internacionales y la creación de un sitio web para facilitar la comunicación y el comercio de artículos de filatelia. Además, se presentan notas sobre los sellos 'DOS CTS' de Costa Rica, analizando su origen y características.
Cargado por
Peter MoorerDerechos de autor
© © All Rights Reserved
Nos tomamos en serio los derechos de los contenidos. Si sospechas que se trata de tu contenido, reclámalo aquí.
Formatos disponibles
Descarga como PDF o lee en línea desde Scribd
The Wacusheet
Journal for the Spanish Main Society dedicated to Latin American philately
Editor: Brian Moorhouse
P.O, Box 05 Peterborough PE39TQ_ England
‘Telephone: 01733-268708 Fax: 01733 262838 E-Mail: [email protected]
Volume 22: No.85 ISSN 0268-3237 February 1997
Editorial
‘As stated in the last issue of The Mainsheet, we now hooked up onto the internet (world wide web)
and have an e-mail acdress which is now fully functional. This is "[email protected]”.
We have also set up a web page site and this is located at "htp:/iwww.moorhouse.u-net.com”, At
this moment it is in its infaney but we have set up a Private Treaty list of Latin American postal
history with just under 2000 items in total. We also hope to insert the forthcoming auction
catalogue onte the site. The next auction sale will be on 17th May and it should be on our web
page approximately five weeks earlier. If you do have access to the internet, do vist our website
‘You can e-mail us direct from the site by clicking onto our e-mail address on our letter heading,
We look forward to hearing from you!
In November we attended to Anphilex show at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. It was good to
s2e several non-US. Spanish Main members in attendance including Herbert Moll from Peru,
Percy Bargholtz from Sweden and Thomas Kannegiesser from Chile. The exhibits were superb,
There were several Latin American Aristocrats on display with the Brazil "Pack Strip’, the Buenos
Aires 1859 Ip tete-beche pair, the 1925 "Black Honduras" airmail and the Uruguay 1858 180
colour error, The invited five-frame exhibits included Argentina courtesy of Afinsa, Brazil by
Everaldo Santos, Colombia by Dr. Hugo Goeggel, Costa Rica by Mimi Moorhouse, Nicaragua by
Dr. Arthur KM, Woo, Pera by Enrique de Bustamante, Uruguay by Dr. Gene Scott and Venezuela
by Dr. Knut Heister.
‘There was also an excellent array of one-frame exhibits from the members of the New York
Collectors Club with material from Bolivia (Brian Moorhouse), Brazil (Dr. Hugo Goeggel), Chile,
(Thomas Kannegtesser) Colombia (Deborah Friedman), Cuba (Ignacio Prats), Guatemala (Mimi
Moorhouse), Haiti (Peter C. Jeannopolous and F. Burton Sellers), Honduras (Dr. Helmuth Avi),
Mexico (Dr. James Mazepa, Omar Rodriguez and Gregory C. Todd), Paraguay (Dr. Norman
Hubbard), Peru (Dr. Michael D. Dixon), Uruguay (Nathaniel Litt) and Venezuela (Dr. Knut
Heister), Suzanne L. Haney also showed a frame of 19th Century covers showing postal use of
fecal stamps in Latin America
[regret that I have no details to hand at present for any future meetings but Ido have a couple of
dates to remind you of Firstly, the next auction will be on Saturday 17th May at the Great
Northem Hotel in Peterborough. Viewing will be from 10 a.m. and the sale will start at 1 pam.
promptly. Secondly, Spanish Main along with the Chile Group and the Central American Group
‘will be at Midpex in Coventry on Saturday 28th June. More details to follow.
The Mainsheet 1 February 1997 At the time of writing this we have just returned from the Hong Kong ‘97 show which was an
FIAP event (International Federation of Asian Philately). Latin American exhibits were a little thin
‘on the ground but Spanish Main member David Chiong was awarded a Large Vermeil for an
exhibit of Salvador postal stationery. A collection of Argentine postal stationery exhibited under a
pseudonym was also awarded a Large Vermeil and a third Large Vermeil went to Fritz Lange for
4 traditional exhibit of Mexico. It wasa five day show. We did the set up the day before the show
‘opened and as we were leaving the exhibition venue at 7 pm. (the show opened at 10 a.m. the
following day) formidable queue had already formed. Apparently the first in line had turned up.
at 9am, that morning and was preparing for a 25 hour wait until opening time. Alas though, the
‘queue was not forming to be first to see what the many dealers had to offer or to look at the
‘exhibits but, instead, was there to buy a new issue from the Hong Kong Post Office andl to receive
the special exhibition cancel. The Hong Kong Post Office managed three separate nev issues
during the five day show so you had the scenario of people leaving the exhibition at closing time
and immediately joining the queue for the next day. I don’t have any official figures but, in all,
‘there must have been some 300,000 visitors of which 299,750 were in Post Office queues. The first,
day was chaos with many dealer stands being completely cut off by queues running in all
directions. The show was held on the 5th and 7th floors ofthe exhibition building and the queues
‘went up, down, then up again and across the hale in all directions. At closing time on the opening
day (7 p.m) there were still thousands of people in queues waiting for stamps and cancels
Fearing a potential rot if they evicted all the people that had spent the day queuing the Post
Office counters stayed open until after midnight to cater to all their customers. Luckily the
security learned fast and, on the following days, had the queues running around the edges of the
halls ¢o that, atleast, one could walk round the central areas.
One interesting double standard was a Post Office bulletin to dealers stating that only genuine
philatelic products can be sold at the exhibition e.g. stamps issued by member countries of the
U.P.U, Meanishile they were doing a roaring trade in selling limited availability plastic pillar
boxes at 80 HK dollars each (about £5.50 each). It was being said that the Hong Kong Post Office
expected to make HK$400 million profit from the show !
‘Once the visitors had fulfilled their quest with the Post Office the next venture for many of them
was the determination to fill so-called philatelic passports with stamps and cancels from the
various different post offices and postal agencies that were present at the exhibition. With the cost
of a stamp and cancel ranging from HKS10 to HK$20 a time many of these "souvenirs" could
easily have cast around HKS1500 or more which is something over £100 a time. 1 wonder if
anyone has ever tried to sell one of these iterns sometime after the event ? Twould think that they
‘would be almost totally unsaleable. I personally think that these items should be outlawed. In fact,
T would go a lot further and suggest that the major international exhibitions should try and do
‘without the post offices and postal agencies at all would be interested if any of our members
haveany views on this ?
| was about to embark on my thoughts on the never ending flood of new issues but I think that I
will leave this topic for another occasion.
On future exhibitions we will be at Pacific '97 in San Francisco a the ene! of May. This promises to
be one of two major Internationals of the decade and we look forward to seeing many of our
‘philatelic friends from around the world at this show. Our booth number will be L9' and we look
forward to seeing you there!
July 24th-26th will see another "Rare Stamps of the World’ exhibition at Claridge's in London,
‘Again, there isa great line-up of invited exhibits and all members who are able are urged to try
_and attend this important event, As before, we are one ofthe limited number of boothholders
Finally, Ihave just two available copies of a new book on Bolivia by Marcos G. Escalier entitled ‘La
‘Tercera Emision de Sellos Postales de Bolivia’; 269 pages, fastbound with paper covers. Price £26
incl. surface mail postage. First come, first served.
The Mainsheet 2 Februany 1997 Costa Rica: Notes on the vertical 'DOS CTS" surcharge
Mimi T. Moorhouse
The recent acquisition of small group of these seldom seen stamps caused me to look and see what
exactly had appeared in print about them. Virtually everything I found had been published in The
Oxcart, the quarterly publication of The Society of Costa Rica Collectors. This was mainly an
accumulation of information and comments assembled by Hal Edwards under the title ‘Lets
Examine the ‘DOS CTS’ Overprint’ and this included a translation of The Ross ‘DOS CTS’
‘Overprints’ by Fred O'Neill G. which had originally appeared in Casta Rica Filatelicn, No.86,
Farther comments by Mark Fromer and JW. Sauber appeared in later issues of The Oxcart.
‘The ‘DOS CTS' surcharges were apparently listed in two formats in the 1893 Scott Postage Stamp
Catalogue. Cave an 1897 copy to hand and they also appear in that listed as Scott 10 ‘DOS CTS
black surcharge on Yr blue and Scott 11 described as "2c on Yr blue, red and black surcharge’. The
‘ext edition I have to hand no longer lists Scott 10 or 11 but there is a footnote as follows: "The Yar
stamps surcharged 'DOS CTS 'were never placed in use, and are said to have been surcharged toa
dealer's order." The current Scott states "The lar surcharged ‘DOS CTS'is nota postage stamp".
Kohls Briefmarken Handbuch mentions the following (translation): "..Philately announced in the
‘middle of 1883 the issue of a Yr stamp (with or without the red '2/cts’ surcharge) with a black
vertical surcharge DOS CTS. This surcharge, itis said, was distributed by the office of the
Universal Postal Union and, according to Collins and Calman, some of these were bought in the San
Jose post office in 1882 by a highly reputed New York collactor”
‘The current Saenz Catalogue lists the 'DOS CTS’ surcharge together with the Ross overprints and
surcharges It lists the following varices (Saenz numbers are quoted)
Nous "DOS CTS on vr first plate
c ditto - double surcharge
a "DOS in red, ‘CTS'in black
Nous "DOS CTS' on vr second plate
a ditto- double surcharge *
+ NO-1Sa was added in the list of Additions and Corrections to the Saens Catalogue compiled by
Hector R. Mena and Hel. 7, Edwards in 1987.
Alvaro Bonilla Lara in his article “The Ross Fantasies" in the Payt American Philatclist mentions the
"DOS CTS' surcharge at the end of the article as follows: "Undoubtedly Ross made one other
surcharge, but I believe it was an essay as it was not made in quantity (itis quite rare) nor does it
resemble any of the other types of overprints. The one I am talking about is a vertical surcharge
‘DOS CTS'in black reading from top to bottom and printed on the ¥ real of the second plate”. (NB.
Bonilla Lara quotes the surcharge as reading down whereas it should, of course, be reading up).
It has been the fate of the 'DOS CTS’ surcharge to be invariably grouped with the various Ross
surcharges and overprints and many collectors have simply assumed that the ‘DOS CTS"
surcharge was just another of Ross product. However, it would appear that the first mention of
the (DOS CTS’ surcharge was made in 1882 and the frst Ross creations did not appear until mid
1883 (The Ross purchase of the remainders was approved on 23rd May 1883) so it can probably be
safely assumed that the ‘DOS CTS' surcharges did not, in fact, originate from Ross.
This leaves the question "What exactly is it?"
Thave to hand the following seven stamps for consideration.
1 One copy (Fig, 1) with DOS CTS with ‘DOS'in red and ‘CTS! in black on tar first plate. The
surcharge measures 3mm high by 15.75mm length.
The Mainsheet 3 February 1997 One copy (Fig. 2) wit ger black outline capital letters on Yar second plate,
surcharge measures 52510
Five copies (Figs. 37) with 'DOS CTS’ double surcharge in black on Jér second plate. The
basic single surcharge measures Srim high by 17.5mum length,
February 1997 ‘These are three distinctly different types of ‘DOS CTS’ surcharges. The first (Fig. 1) has been
reported and is certainly the stamp listed in Saenz as NO-14d. The second type (Fig, 2) is, as far as,
Tam aware, a "one-off" but it is a quite well executed professional style production and s0 is
included here. The third type (Figs. 3-7) is the most interesting (Saenz NO-15a). [am going to stick
my neck out and say that [believe that al the stamps with this particular type of surcharge show
double surcharges though sometimes they can be very difficult to see without the aid of a
magnifying glass as in some instances the register of the second surcharge is almost perfectly on,
top of the first surcharge Fig. 7).
(Of the latter five stamps, two can be classified as having basic 'DOS CTS' double surcharges, one
(Fig. 4) has an additional 2/cts. surcharge in red exactly as the issued 2-cent on Yar stamp (SG 8,
Scott 9), another (Fig. 5) has an additional 2/Cts.’ surcharge in red with the 2 exactly the same as
the previous stamp but with the 'Cts" showing a capital'C’ and a different style font. (NB This is
different to the famous large ‘C’ font found on the error SG8b) while the final stamp (Fig. 6) also
has an additional '2/Cts.’ surcharge in red but with both the and the ‘Cts' in different fonts to
the issued 2-cent on Yar stamp.
Fred O'Neill G, illustrated an example of Fig. 4 in iis aforementioned article and Hal Edwards
illustrated an example of Fig. 5 which apparently was missing the's' of Cts (possibly due to poor
register). Lam not aware at present of another example of Fig. 6
Very importantly, all the red surcharges on the three latter stamps are placed on top of the black
DOS CTS’ double surcharges. It has been previously reported in the philatelic press, notably by
Alex Cohen as a result of information from Stanley Gibbons Ltd, that the black surcharge was
wet 5 February 1997 placed over the red surcharge. Based on the copies I have to hand this would appear to bean error
as inall three cases iis absolutely conclusive that the red is over the black. I would mention here
that Hal Edwards in his article in The Oxcart was also of the opinion that the red surcharge was
placed over the black surcharge. It is important to also mention that all the red ink used on all the
stamps with the various DOS CTS' surcharges does match in very well colour-wise with the red
Inks used! for the 1881 2-cent on Yr surcharges.
The fact that the various reel 2-cent surcharges are over thv black ‘DOS CTS" surcharges would
certainly seem to place the date of the 'DOS CIS’ surcharge to either earlier orto around the same
time as the appearance of the 2-cent on Yar surcharges which is believed to be in January 1881. This
being the case there is then a very strong possibility that these 'DOS CTS’ surcharges are genuine
forerunner essays for this issued 2-cent surcharge, The reason for tie double ‘DOS CTS’
surcharges is very probably an attempt to create a bold typeface (rather similar to the way some
typewriters and printers several years ago used a slightly set-off double strike facility to mimic a
bold type face). Judging by the copies to hand this was not a success due to generally poor
rogistering and it was doubtless concluded that this format of (DOS CTS’ surcharge could not be
used.
‘Also the placing of the red 2-cent surcharges on stamps with the black 'DOS CTS' surcharges
‘would enable either the postal officials or the printers to instantly see which of the surcharge types
‘was clearer and, of course, which colour was also clearer,
Author's conclusions
None of the 'DOS CTS’ surcharges are Ross productions.
‘The double ‘DOS CTS surcharges in black are genuine essays forthe 1881 2-cent surcharges.
‘The additional three different types of red 2-cent surcharges struck over the double 'DOS CTS’
black surcharges are also genuine essays for the 1881 2-cent surcharges.
‘There is a good possibility that both the 'DOS' in red 'CTS' in black surcharge on #4 first plate
(Gaenz NO-14d) and the large outline capital letter 'DOS CTS’ surcharge in black on the tar second
plate can also be considered as essays for the ISB1 2-cent surcharges.
Important Note:
Forgeries of the 'DOS CTS' surcharges undoubtedly exist. Do remember that the DOS CTS' stamps
‘were listed and illustrated in the Scott catalogues in the later part of the 19th Century and priced
‘at $15 (Ge.10) and $30 (Se.11) in the 1897 edition. These were the two most expensive stamps in the
basic Costa Rican listings and this was quite a premium figure bearing in mind that the 1883 20-
cent on 4r UPU surcharge was priced at $4 mint at the time. This lsting would have ensured that
there was a demand for the stamps and, as with many stamps where demand exceeds supply, the
orgers undoubtedly stepped in to help fill the gap.
Ido have ta hand four other different types of DOS CTS' surcharges. However, as these are rather
‘crudely produced and as examples of three of the four different types are algo on used stamps, it
probably reasonably safe to assume that these can be classified as probable forgeries
5 February 1997
Mains Fig. § has ‘DOS’ in red and ‘CTS’ in black on tr first plate measuring 2.75mm high by 16min
length. Fig. 9also has 'DOS' in red and ‘CTS’ in black on tar second plate measuring 3mm high by
18mm length.
Fig, 10 is in black only on ssr second plate and measures 25mm high by 15.5mm length and Fig
11 is also in black only on Yar second plate and measures 2.75mm high by 17mm length. This
particular surcharge is struck double, one upright ané one inverted,
Hal Edwards illustrates a 'DOS CTS' in black reading down on 4r second plate in his article in The
(Oxazr! which he says might be a forgery. Others forgery types doubtless exist!
Please note thet all the illustrations used in this article are 400% actual size,
References: As noted in the text
Editor's Note: We can supply copies of the above article with the illustrations in full colour on 100
{gsm surfaced paper. These make an excellent reference tool. They can be mailed unfolded in a flat
envelope for £5.00 (UK & Europe) or $10.00 rest ofthe world including postage.
Shipwrecked in the Magellan Straits
A recently acquired stampless envelope addressed to New York City showed an intriguing
Printed return address on the reverse, Sandy Point, Straits of Magellan’. The front of the cover
showed a handstruck '1/~' British rate marking deleted in manuscript with an American straight
line ‘Due 35" arrival rating alongside. The reverse showed a '5A/LIVERPOOL/PS PACKET
circular datestamp Grd August) and a New York arrival ds (15th Augus). ‘The contents of the envelope were intact ancl thought difficult to decipher in places read as
follows:
'atagonia: June 27 1876
My Dear Mother,
‘You see by the heading of this letter that Iam in a Spanish or rather Chilean area, the farthest
settlement to the south in the western hemisphere. Now I suppose you have heard of our
misfortune being wrecked inthe Straits and that your son has ture wrecker. We tan ashore in a
dense fog which settled down very suddenly. In ten minutes from the time we struck we had
eight fect of water in lieu (. No lives lest luckily. As the ship struck she held on. Had she gone
fone length further I might not be writing to you.as the water was very deep, one hunclred feet and
had we gone there nearly all hands would have been lost as we could not have (launched) the
boats in ime but asit isa hands aresafe and well.
Thad a long and cold trip from the wreck o this town, about 25 miles, for assistance. retained a
man-ol-war and we are now saving all freight and stores and outfit The officers and crew on the
Georgia thought I was lost with the crew as they did not recognise the vessel andl our boat was nat
turning astern, Such a weleome I never received as did when I boarded the ship from all hands.
The loss of the Georgia wos totally unavoidable and should Mr. Clyde ask if you have hear fom
me, just say yes and that Iwas well. Should he ask if Isaid anything about the loss say I said she
Went ashore in a fog, I'l have to stand his questions when I artive back and I don't know when
that willbe. We are now waiting forthe ly. Don't worry as Lam welland hearty. lam now here
looking after the stuf saved and am stopping at the ..(?). a noble fellow of whom T wil tll you
‘when I see you. His family and brother and sisterin-laws are very kind to us (Capt. Hickman and
‘ysel), Music is all the rage here and Tam getting on first rate with the family by singing for and
‘with them leaving their favourite songs. The officers in the manvof-war have donea great deal for
me and I find some fine fellows on board. I find it very inconvenient not speaking Spanish but I
am learning a litle and can ask some questions and ansiver others. My thick clothes are looking
‘ery seedy tncouth and alls shall double up on underclothes and wear my flannel suit
began a letter to you and several of my friends upon leaving Rio but have been too busy to finish
these, Now mother don't worry about me, [ am in good hands although I am in an outlandish
place. When the crew arrives which will be in a day or two I shall stand watch day and night so
that the Clyde will not pass. Three engineers and myself will watch. If friends ask for me give ther
zy kind love and regards. I shall move my quarters from here when Mr. Coy (2) comes up and the
three engineers and myself will quarter ata little place near the beach so as to be on hand when
ny ships come through. Should we miss the Clyde Idon't know what we should do as the English
‘company is mighty mean in the pairing of wracked crews. We expect the Clyde in ten days or
{@).. perhaps four and the best I can do about getting home is August or Sept
Must close now with love to all relatives ane! friends and much for yourself father and May.
Your aff. Son, James M. Lincoln.”
June 27th, the date the letter was written is, of course, in the middle of winter in the Southern
hemisphere and the Magellan Straits and surrouncling area wouki be particularly inhospitable at
that time of yoar. Looking at the postal markings for a moment the LIVERPOOL/PS PACKET
backstamp is quite interesting, There are very few examples of this marking recorded, around 20,
according to Howat in his book "South American Packets" of which around one-third are a PAID
version of the handstamp. All are known used between May 1872 and July 1876 and were applied
in Liverpool exclusively on mail received from Pacific Steam Navigation Company vessels.
Looking at the August 3rd date and checking the shipping lists we can discover that PSNC ship.
Galicia is recorded as having left. Valparaiso on 21st June travelling via Rio de Janeiro (10th July)
and arriving in Liverpool on the 4th August so it is very likely that this leer travelled on this
The Mainsheet 8 ry 1997 vessel. The anomaly in the one day difference could easily be explained by the clerk having forgot
to change the date on the cancellation from the day before.
Unfortunately I have been unable to discover anything about the stricken vessel, Georgia, or about
the expected passing vessel, Clyde. These are obviously American ships. There were a couple of
Clyde's in the Pacific Mail Steamship Company fleets but one was launched and lost before 1876
and the other wasnt launched until much later. The magnificent handbook, The Dictionary of
Disasters at Sea 1824-1962, doesn't mention the Georgia but its scope is limited and it only lists
foreign merchant ships of over 1000 tons gross and over where there were a loss of five or more
lives. Perhaps one of our U'S. members can give us some information on the Georgia ?
More on Ligne F
J.V. Woollam
In their article on the French steamship service on the west coast of South America 1872-74,
(Mainsheet Nos. 79 and 80) the two authors, Percy Bargholtz and Robert A. D'Elia, write that itis
‘itficut to see the commercial logic behind the establishment of Ligne F". That may be more true
of the earlier years (1867-69) than the later ones when the service was finally introduced. I write
that because the Pacific Steam Navigation Company began a regular monthly service between
Liverpool and Valparaiso via French ports in March 1869 which turned into a major commercial
success, causing a build-up of French cargo awaiting shipment. Extra ships had to be chartered
while waiting for the delivery of a new building programme. The details are given in Howat's
“South American Packets" page 263.
Me. sa Le
ae
€
areteay
20 ton are ee
vor x A
‘The cover illustrated here was carried by the "Yoruba from Bordeaux via the Straits of Magellan to
Chile (see endorsement at upper left). The 'Yoruéa’ (an iron screw steamer of 1705 tons) was
chartered by the P'S.N.C. for 1872 from the African Steamship Company of London. The cover is
postmarked Bordeaux 15th March 1872 and itis interesting to note that the first sailing of Ligne A
from St. Nazaire to connect with the new Ligne F was on 7th February 1872. The rate paid was
Ir. and a boxed ‘P-P.’ mark (paid to port) was applied and a Chilean circular "I5' (centavos) due
Ties Mainsheet 9 Febrary 1997 marking applied to cover postage from Valparaiso, the port of arrival, to Santiago. As 1
understand it from the previously mentioned article, the rate by the Ligne F route was If 30c
Which route and service should be the more popular with French merchants and correspondents ?
‘Via Nicaragua, Ahead of the Mails
‘hael P. Birks FRPS,L
Part 4-"The Express Agents & William Walker
‘The Express Agents
Express agents received letters and either arranged for their delivery to the postal service or to the
addlressee. Some of the companies operated on both coasts and could handle letters between them
and in co-operation with forwarding agents, also in Europe. Most of these agents used the Panama
route, but Adams é& Co. Express occasionally and Gregory's Express frequently used the
Nicaragua route.
Joseph Gregory started his company in early 1850 and operated until 1853, On the west coast he
operated between San Francisco, Sacramento and the northern mining towns, and had
connections to other parts of the world using his own couriers to accompany the freight and mall
He did not have his own office in New York but used the services of Thompson & Hitchcock as
forwarders
‘The cover above (Figure 22) was written In Glasgow on 29th August 1851 and bears the cachet
"Gregory's Atlantic and Pacific/EXPRESS/Forwarded by THOMPSON é HITCHCOCK/149,
Pearl St, N.Y." It travelled on the third "via Nicaragua” trip east to west in response to a letter
carried on the first trip west to east. The letter comments on the faster transit which has just
opened.
‘The remarkable rapidity with which this express of Gregory has been conducted induces us to
adopt the same medium in forwarding this present letter and we shall send a duplicate by the
‘usual British Mail via Jamaica
The Mainsheet 0 Febrazre 19 Gregory's "Pocket Letter Book", published in 1851, lists agents in Liverpool, Patis, Boston, New
Orleans, Acapulco, Hong Kong and Hawaii as well as in New York, His monopoly of the
‘Nicaraguan route atthe time is emphasised beneath the lst of agents as follows:=
Having the ONLY EXPRESS by the NICARAGUA ROUTE, and the best possible
facilities via PANAMA, we forward Treasure &c, by either route as desired, fo ary
City or State in the UNION; and also, to ENGLAND, IRELAND, SCOTLAND and
FRANCE, by the West India Mail Steamers via Panama and Chagres, or by Collins
for Cunards’ Steamers via New York. The saving effected in time required for
transmission, and the LOWEST POSSIBLE RATE OF CHARGES, renders this at
once, the
Most Economical Express Line Extant !
JRera
2 ep nae
A second cachet was employed on Gregory's mail, but without the name ofthe forwarding agent
as shown in Figure 23, a letter which was written in New York on 27th September 1851 and left
that day on the second trip of the Illinois and travelled via Panama. It has been suggested that after
the opening of the Nicaragua route, it was used almost exclusively by Gregory and so it seems fair
to assume that this cachet was used on mall sent via Nicaragua but Ihave no evidence of this.
Vale, ay
hie Mane si Viye
Win < Getive A ee
ioe “¢ ' :
iso kdy | Ahern Alten. Pom
(es Aoki
fofo
\2 at.. #e Eofrw
7 u Febroary 19
The Mai ‘Adams & Co. Express most often used the Panama route, but this cover, Figure 24, is clearly
endorsed "Per Aciam & Co. Express via Nicaragua”. Written in San Francisco on 20th May 1854, it
left on Ist June aboard the Sierra Nevada arriving in New York on 24 June aboard the Prometheus. It
was carsied the whole way outside the mails.
There was also several minor Express Companies for which Tam unable to show markings such as
Berford anc Company. In the San Francisco Bulletin Of 21st December 1851 and advertisment
appeared as follows,
BBERFORD & COs EXPRESS
"For the Atlantic States, November 1, 1851, by the splendid fast running steamer
TENNESSEE
(Geo. M. Totten, commander.
A Special Messenger will be despatched as usual, who will take charge of our
Express, Goods, Gold Dust, etc, and deliver tall parts of the States without
delay
ASPECIAL MESSENGER
by the new route, via Nicaragua, November Ist by the now and fast running
steamer
PACIFIC, Jarvis, master.
Who will take charge of our INDEPENDENT MAIL, and packages of every
doscription, Letters received til 3 clock, andl parcels til 2 o'clock on day of sailing,
BERFORD & CO.
California Exchange.
Corner of Kearney Street
‘The Company was bought out by Wells, Fargo & Co, in June 1854.
‘The California Penny Post Company, was incorporated at Sacramento on 25th June 1855. In the
autumn of that year it advertised the following rates,
“Prepaid envelopes from the east to California, Ten Dollars per
huncired; For the Atlantic States, via NICARAGUA, Fifteen Dollars.
per hundred.”
Later on letters from the east to California via Nicaragua were carried for five cents in addition to
the United States postage.
We will come to Wines & Co.'s Express shortly.
‘The beginning of the End
‘The declining political fortunes of the Liberal party in Leon in Nicaragua forced them to seek the
services of a mercenary and his followers and in May 1855 William Walker and his 56 "Immortals"
landed taking control ofthe country by October of that year. He proceeded to get himself elected
as President of Nicaragua but organised opposition by other Central American countries forced
this surrender at Rivas on Ist May 1857. He invaded again on 24th November 1857 but had to
surrender on 8th December and was never to return.
Wines & Co's Express was organised in January 1855 and established an agency in San Francisco
In July that year. This company had, in addition to routes to Furope, a route to the rest of Central
America, presumably based in Granada, Nicaragua, from where, it has been suggested, they
Virtually ran the Nicaraguan postal system during the brief Walker aciministration. Certainly iis
generally accepted that there was a very close connection between the Company and Walker.
The Mainsheet 1 Feta 1997 The oval ADMON.DE CORREOS DE GRANADA marking shown below is known used by the
Walker Postal Administration in Granada and only five examples of it have been recorded,
Fg
his cover (Figure 25) was written in San Miguel, E1Salvador, on 25th January 1856 and endorse!
Via San Juan de Nicaragua” (le! Sur). It travelled to Granada where it received the ova!
ADMON.DE CORREOS DE GRANADA marking. Frou here it was taken on to New York by
‘Wines & Co, outside the mails, on the Nowthor Light
‘William Walker worked closely with the Transport Company but by April of 1856 the confit was
interrupting the functioning of the route and by the first week of January 1837 the conflict had
caused the route to close.
Figure 26 shows a cover which was carried outside the mails on the last commercial trp across
Nicaragua by the Transport Company. It was written by a soldier in Walker's army and is headed
Head Quarters of the Army, Office of Commissary General, Rivas - Jany. 1st 1887" and shows a
return address J.C.W. Brennan, care of Col. Brano V, Natzmer, Commissary General, Nicaraguan
Anmy, Rivas, Nicaragua’ It was endorsed "Politeness of Mr. L W. Evelyn" on the front and the
seat B February 1997 contents refer to Mr. Evelyn as being companion who was travelling to New York and departing
fon the lake steamer leaving that day. This boat was actually captured by the Central American
Forces but the passengers were allowed to continue on thelr way. The cover was then carried
aboard the Tenessee which arrived in New York on 18th January 1857.
Walker was completely blockaded on 3rd January and no more mail left until after his surrender
(on Ist May. The above cover was probably one ofthe last items of mail to be sent by any member
of Walker's Army prior to the blockade being enforced. There were three trips macie on each side
after this leter passed through Nicaragus however these were rot commercial sailings but carried
passengers who were actually volunteers to join Walker's Army. These potential troops were, of
course, turned back
Walker returned to Nicaragua on 24th November 1857 with one hundred and fifty men, after
slipping past an American ship in the harbour in San Juan del Norte, He immediately sent fifty
‘men to capture the fort at El Castillo and the river steamers. In response to the second invasion
Commodore Fiiram Pauling, Caplain of the gunboat the Waéwsh was despatched from Aspinwall
and arrived off San Juan on 6th December blockading the river and the port. Two days later
marines were landed and Walker surrendered. His men abandoned the fort and all had gone by
2th December
‘The cover shown at Figure 27 was sent to Commander Pauling on 17th December 1857 and carried
by US. ship to Jamaica, and by a British non-mail ship (indicated by the "JAMAICA/SHIP
LETTER" mark) on to San Juan del Norte in the absence of the Nicaraguan route steamers. It i
{ranked with 34 in adhesives, which pald a combination of US and British postage. ICe carried.
by US. ship to Kingston, Jamaica where it was backstamped on 28th December, The additional
24c was for the rate between any two British Offices or ports in the Caribbean. Captain Pauling
hhad already left San Juan del Norte by the time the leter arrived and was endorsed on the reverse
forwarded fom San Juan del Norte by your obs. servt. W. Johnson Jr.” The letter was returned to
The Mashect 1 February 1997 St. Thomas probably by British ship where it was backstamped 6th January 158 at the Brilish post
office and conveyed on to New Orleans, where Pauling had taken Willa, Waller
ae. pther Fe
Deane Pee Bobet e gio
Bie Lee we tel Gee
Thisis the only known cover associated with Walker's secon! expedition,
William Walker was eventually shot by firing squad at 8 o'clock on 12th September 1860 in the
city of Trunillo in Honduras.
Fig.27
Guatemala: More Notes on Small Quetzal Covers
Dr. Alfred Guggisberg from Biel in Switzerland has sent in a photocopy of a registered cover
dated Sth July 1889 sent from Guatemala City to Halifax, Nova Scotia. fis fanked with two
copies ofthe 20c value thereby paying a triple rate plus registration fee, Covers bearing the 20¢
value are very few and far between and this is, I believe, the first cover to come to ight with a
multiple franking ofthe 20 value
The Mainsleet t February 1997 Earlier this month | had the opportunity o examine a close hand the famous 2c "inverted cover
that had been inthe Luis Cervera collection. This fs a cover sent from Jalapa to Guatemala Cy
franked by a single 2c with inverted centre ted by a mute cancel with # CORREOS/TALAPA ede
atongside dated 27th June 1885.1 regret that I didn't like what I sav. Firstly, the envelope hat
criginally been seated when sent through the mail and had been opened tthe left herd on
artival. It as therefore an interna letter and, as such, shioukd have had! 5 in postage. Seconcly,
‘upon careful examination, it was obvious thal the colour of the nk ofthe mute cancel was very
different shade of violet to the colour ofthe ink used for the Jalapa cls. They should, of course, be
the same, My personal conclusion on this cover is thatthe 2c stamp does not belong.
A final item is a cover from Las Marias (Quezaltenango Dept.) to Guatemala City (shown as a
lece). This is, I believe, the fist known Small Quetzal cover recorded from this location. The
office Is listed in the handbook as opening in February 1877 and as having closed at an
luncetermined later date. No trace of this particular Las Marias canbe found on cusrent maps
A Philatelic Cruise
Roy H. Simon of ‘Overdale’, Wetherby Road, Bardsey, Leeds LS17 9BR (Tel: 01937 $3576) is
organising a 7-day "Philatelic Cruise” out of Miami on 9th November 1997. It will bea short
vacation aimed primarily at collectors anc thelr families whose philatelic interests are in the West
Indies, South and Central America and Mexico. The cruise line will be The Royal Caribbean.
‘The cruise itinerary will include Halt, Jamaica, Grand Cayman plus two locations in Mewico.
Based on an outside B deck cabin, the price would be £947 + £76 port taxes per person (based on
sharing a double cabin) and would included scheduled return economy fights from London to
Miami (leaving 8th November), overnight hotel in Miami, transfer, full board on board ship and
hotel day room after the cruise prior to the return Aight. The price forthe cruise only (full board
on board ship) would be £548 + £76 port taxes.
1 any Spanish Main members are interested then they should contact Mr. Simon who will be
pleased to send them further details. Apparently the cruise prices quoted offer a substantial
discount oF around £620 per person on the usual brochure prices!
The Miso 16 February 1997 ‘The WMacusheet
Journal for the Spanish Main Society dedicated to Latin American philately
Editor: Brian Moorhouse
P.O, Box 105 Peterborough PES9TQ. England
‘Telephone: 01733-268708 Fax: 01733 262838 E-Mail: [email protected]
Volume 22: No.86 ISSN 0268-3237 May 197
Editorial
Firstly, apologies for the lateness of this edition of The Mairsheet. We had originally hoped to get
it printed and distributed in May prior to going over to San Francisco but, alas in the end, it was
not to be!
Well, Pacific 97 has now been and gone. Collectors came from all over the world and, al in all,
‘commercially, it was.a very good show. It did have some ups and downs though especially on the
‘organisational side which appeared both dictatorial and amateurish at times, Not once throughout
the eleven day show did the organisers deign to come and visit the standholders to see if
everything was allright. The standholcers are usually one of the major financiers of any philatelic
exhibition and the blatant disregard and ‘couldn't care less' attitude for their welfare was very
apparent. The show was split into two halls and the change of layout plans and entrance plans
‘made after standholders had chosen their particular pitches let many unhappy people. The two
halls were some two or three hundred yards apart which fact was not immediately apparent on
the layout plans. Infact the standholders in the North Hall (the smaller of the two halls) were, at
one time, considering a class action suit against the organisers.
The customs ‘arrangements’ made by the organisers appeared disastrous with, at one time, well
over 50 hand carried exhibits, including all the U.K. entries sent via the commissioner, being held
up for two days by customs officers atthe airport because of lack of paperwork. The exhibits only.
just made it into the frames in time! The U.K. dealers who attended disregarded the organisers
suggestions and made their own arrangements and, as a result, suffered no problems or delays.
AAs I said earlier collectors and exhibitors came from all over the world and we were pleased to
meet and renew acquaintances with many people, The overall standard of exhibits was very high.
Our members featured prominently in several classes with the Court of Honour including.
displays by Robert A. D’Flia (Pre-philatelic and First issue Ecuador), Dr. Norman Hubbard (Chile
Lithographs) and Quintus Fernando (Early Nicaragua). The FIP Championship Class included
Everaldo Santos (Classic Brazil), L. Wallace Dean III (Haiti Postal History) and Jose V. Galvalisi
(Classic Argentina).
Large Golds awards included Ana Maria Goldschmidt (Bolivia 19th Century), Hugo Goeggel
(Classic Brazil), Knut Heister (Classic Venezuela) - also a Grand Prix International nominee, Fritz
Walter Lange (Mexico), Julio Cesar Ponce (Peru Colonial Period), David Chiong (Early El Salvador
= the fist LG for this country /and James P. Gouigh (Postage Dues).
The Mainsheet 1 May 1997 old awards incided Mimi Moo:house (First Issues of Costa Rica), Marcos Chusyd (Brazil Dom
Pedros), Ado Saame y Samame (Classic Por), Dr. Ahur KM. Woo (The Early Bird, Perey
Bargholtz (Pera Postal Rates 1826-1879), Philip Kenton Grtsh Mail to and from Latin Atverca,
Jan Fisted (Argentina Postal Stationery), Finn Siernholck Brazil Petal Stationery)
Large Veraietl awards included Richard Washburn (Honduras 11h Century), Alvaro Castro
Harrigan (Costa Ria post UPU period), Kenneth Rowe (Colombia 1908 Numeral ue) Deh
Palmer (Chile Pesta Stationery) and Derek Pocock (Nicaragua Postal Stationery)
‘Vermeil awards included Bernd Sander (Colombia Cancellations), John West (Chile - Postal
History of Valparaiso), George Maier (Ecuador Colonial Perio), Herbert Moll (Peru Postal Rates
1879-1900), Deborah Friedman (Colombia Postal Stationery) and Fred O'Neill (Cost Rise
Airmail)
Various Large Siver Silver and other awards were also made as well as several special prizes that
Went along with the higher tated medals
Apologies in advance i we have inadvertently omitted any names!
A reminder that we now hooked up onto the internet (world wide web) and have an email
address which now fully funcional This "brian@moothouse-wneLcom” We have also setup
web page site and this is locted at "hitps/wwwamoorhouseswnetcon
Spanish Main along withthe Chile Group and the Central American Group willbe at Midpexin
Coventry on Saturday 28th June. There wil be displays inthe frames and mun socety tales oo
ellas a bourse area. Further details regarding Spanish Main activities at Midpexcan be ebtaned
from Davie Hankey (0161-449.0693)
On Saturday July 19h, The Spanish Main Society has been invited by the BAEF (British
‘Acrophilatelic Society) toa meeting which sto be devoted tothe Acrophilately of Latin Ameren
This is being held at The Bish Philatelic Centre, 107 Charterhouse Stret, London ECT and ie
timed to start around 11 am. All Spanish Main members are invited to attend and some of the
displays given willbe by Spenish Main members. Anyone i, ofcourse, welcome to bring slong 2
few pages of interesting alrmail items ! Further details can be obtained from Richard Sound
(telephone 01883-42186)
July 24th 26th wil see anther "Rare Stamps ofthe Worl” exhibition at Claridge’s in London,
This time the area for the displays hasbeen expanded somewhat and again, thete is great line.
up of invited exhibits inching Latin America with Brail (Everalde Santos) Guatemala (De
Arthur KM, Woo), Mexico Fritz Walle Lange) and Uriguay (Dr, Norman Hubbard) ps
‘ateral from the collection of HM the Queen and the National Postal Museumn and all member
who are able are urge to try and attend this important event. As before, we ae one of nied
numberof booth holders,
The next auction willbe held on Saturday 15th November at the Great Northern Hotel in
Peterborough andthe losing date forthe inclusion of material will be 3st August Catalogues
will be sent out about 4 weeks prior to the sale date.
ur next commercial outing willbe to the APS Stampshow which,
this year, is being held in Milwaukee atthe Wisconsin Center from
2st to 24th August, Our booth mumber will be 622 and we can be
found out-of-hours, prior to and ionmdiately after the event at the
Hyatt Regency Hotel adjacent to the Wisconsin Center
Amongst the competitive exhibits at this show, al being well willbe
five frames of my Chaco War collection. This will be its fist
competitive showing!
We look forward to meeting many of our friends, members and
clients from the surrounding areas
The Mainsheet 2 May 1997
APS.
STAMPSHOW 97
‘August 2124
‘Won
10h AneaTAPS Convention Salvador: More on the 1930 Bolivar 15c double figures of value
Brian Moorhouse
While recently looking through a box of covers I found one which is of obvious philatelic origin
bearing, as it does, 1c, 3c and 10c values of the 1930 Bicth of Menendez series together with an
additional imperforate pair of the 3c value. It was sent registered and addressed locally in San
Salvador in February 1935 just over five years after the issue date ofthe stamps.
If we go back to the original articles (Mainsheets 76 and 78) we will see that we were looking at a
double figure of values variety on the 15c value of the 1930 Death Centenary of Bolivar series. The
reason for the article was the fact that the APS had issued a certificate saying the variety was
bogus and when I asked them to reconsider there opinion, they did and the reached the same
conclusion that the variety was a bogus proctuction. In the article I suggested that as they four
designs were the same and as the printing figures for the stamps were small it would not be
unreasonable to assume that the basic stamps were printed without a value and that the value
was added in a separate printing operation thus making a double value variety a distinct
possibility.
What has this to do with a cover bearing stamps from a different issue ? Well, the stamps from
the Birth of Menendez series were issued on 3rei December 1930 with the stamps for the Death
Centenary of Bolivar series following two weeks later on the 17th December. Both were sets of
four different values with the same basic designs and both were produced by lithography
‘undoubtedly by the Schoo! of Graphic Arts in San Salvador.
The imperforate pair of stamps of the cover which, conveniently, are alongside a normal
perforated 3c value clearly both show the 3' figure of value to be misplaced downwards some
4mm which means that itis very much overlapping the frame of the value tablet and part of the
actual stamp design. This would be an impossibility Ifthe stamps were printed from a single
plate, The pair of stamps on this cover proves that, for this issue and almost certainly for the
following issue, that the values were printed separately to the rest ofthe stamp design,
Conclusion: I therefore reiterate my belief that the 1930 Death Centenary of Bolivar 15c value with
the figures of valuedouble is a genuine item !
The Mainsheet 3 May 1997 Naval Cancellations of Easter Island
OW. Newport
‘The Chilean Navy has been associated with Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) almost from the day it
was annexed by Captain Policarpo Toro, Commander of the cruiser “Anjgames’ on 9th September
1886, Although the island was leased to tenants from 1895 to 1953, the navy had a small base there
for many years and stil maintains one. Naval vessels visited Easter Island at east oncea year and
took off the mail prior to the opening of a government post office in 1953. There was also a naval
governor ofthe island for some years after 1953,
‘The earliest letter that I have, sent via the naval base, is one of 1982 with the Chilean stamps
cancelled with a single-circle of 35mm diameter inscribed 'MARINA DE CHILE / Isla de Pascus!
with SUBDELEGACION / MARITIMA' in the centre (Fig.1), The cover is addressed to Senor
Capitan Ernst Krause, a/e Agencia Maritima Kosmos, Casilla 1650, Valparaiso and is
backstamped in Valparaiso on 26th December 1932
Sefior Capitan Ernst Krause
a/o AGEMOLA MARTTA KOSMOS:
Following this there isa cover (Fig.2) from 1935 addressed to Carlos Millan in Arauco, Chile with
the oval marking inscribed "REPUBLICA DE CHILE / ARMADA NACIONAL’ with
‘Subdelegacion Maritima / ISLA DE PASCUA' in the centre. This was taken by warship to the
Peruvian port of Callao where four 0c stamps were affixed and the cover was sent by aisnail on
te Lima and Santiago finally arriving in Arauco on 9th April 1935. Four covers (not illustrated)
Carried by the Califomian banker Templeton Crocker on his 150% diesel schooner ‘Zaca’ bearing a
