Lot 20120 – 1898 (Aug 3). Cover with Playa de Ponce Military Station n. 1, FDC

1898 (Aug 3). Cover (reduced at left) bearing very fine strike of Playa de Ponce “M. Sta. No1/Porto Rico” duplex railway postmark, violet “Soldier’s Letter/Collect postage from Addressee/W.F. Dusseault, Chaplain/6th Regt Mass. Vols.” hs, 2c postage due stamp tied by cork cancel; an extraordinary first day cover mailed on the day the first military office opened, this provisional railway postmark being used for just ten days; ex Acevedo.

Note: 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.