Lot 20137 – WITHDRAWN

WITHDRAWN

Ponce Provisional. 1898, 5c violet, “POSTAGES/5 cts./CORREOS” handstamp on cut square yellowish paper, a wonderful strike with sharp impression, ample to huge margins, original gum with light hinge rest, showing violet Ponce Mayor’s counterstamp as encountered in the genuine unused examples and which shows part of a Spanish coat-of-arms, surprisingly still displaying the royal crown; a magnificent example of fewer than 25 recorded of this, the earlier and one of just two provisional stamps issued during this interim period; cert. Friedl (1952); Scott (unpriced); ex Junghanns.

Note: Following a request of the Mayor of Ponce, Mr. Ulpiano Colóm, to Major General James H. Wilson, who authorized the issue. The mail could be only dispatched to cities under American military jurisdiction, and the correspondence delivered to residences had to be additionally charged with 1c per letter on receipt.