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Auction: SW1002 - Latin America, including the Tito Collection - Part I
Lot: 1149

Uruguayan Maritime Mail. 1791-1900, an extraordinary and highly advanced collection comprising nearly 300 covers and covering many postal history aspects of the maritime Uruguayan mail, beginning with the Spanish Colonial period with scarce postmarks of Montevideo and rare cover with contents about the expected declaration of war against England, following with two very rare entires during the short British occupation in 1807, including one very rare military mail written on board H.M.S. ´´Diodeme´´; the Spanish rule from 1807-11 and the Artiga´s Revolution periods are also represented with scarce items from this period including interesting historic contents; the very interesting Portuguese-Brazilian occupation is illustrated with four rare items; the later conflicts including the French blockade of The River Plate and the Great War are interrelated  to the sections of maritime conveyance with involvement of foreign countries, comprising U.S.A., Belgium, Great Britain, France, Sardinia & Italy and Spain. A remarkable British P.O. at Montevideo section includes four items with the scarce ´´Paid/At/Montevideo´´ crowned circle; rare British maritime companies are also included with very rare items such as two of fewer than five items known with the ´´Falmouth-Packet´´ cds (used on mail carried by the ´´Tait & Co.´´), or the green ´´South-Amern./Liverpool/Packet´´ with one of just six items recorded by Howat. It continues with French maritime mail, with the following highlights: military mail with the ´´Corresp. D´Armées/Saintonge´´ octagonal datestamp (ex T.V. Roberts and Berkinshaw-Smith), the largest franking known of the 1862 10c. on mail originating from South America (ex Bustamante), astonishing combination frankings including the famous France 1877-78 25c. block of four together with Uruguay 10c., the very rare ´´Ligne K/Paq. Fr. N° 1´´ handstamp, ´´Poste Françaises/Estramadure´´ on mail double crossing the Atlantic, etc. The most significant items of the Italian conveyance are the combination covers showing the desirable ´´Da Montevideo/coi Postali Italiani´´ & ´´con Bastim. Mercant.´´ postmarks. When one exclusively considers Uruguayan aspects of the mail, it has to be noted the fascinating ´´Correo de Montevideo´´ sealing marking in negative which exceptionally used, as postmark on 6.4.1852, on just two items known, or the significant quantity of covers with the rare ´´Montevideo/(52)´´ oval datestamp, rare usages of the 1866-72 ´´Large Numerals´´ Issues with better frankings, as well as the involvement of most unusual forwarding agents with their cachets. This stunning assembly includes the large part of the Roberto Fontaina García collection, comprising also material from other significant maritime collections formed by Hernández Rocha, Sabbatini, Menck Freire, Jaumandreu, Parmigiani, Campigotto and Serra. Condition varies from fine to excellent, generally being nicer than typically found. An impressive and patiently gathered assembly which constitutes a most comprehensive and delightful collection for exhibition, with the possibility of being expanded. Viewing is absolutely recommended. Starting Price US$ 25,000

Sold for
$28,000