Sale 1279 — The Magnolia Collection: Classic Uruguay Stamps and Covers
Sale Date — Tuesday, 28 March, 2023
Category — 1859 Thin Numerals - 100-120 Centesimos
URUGUAY, 1859, 100c Brown Rose, Thin Numerals (9a). Transfer Types 1-2-1/3-4-3, horizontal block of six with sheet margin at top, other sides large, unused (no gum), rich color, bottom center stamp with light thin, otherwise Very Fine and rare multiple, there are believed to be three blocks of six and two larger blocks recorded (all unused), ex Hoffmann, "Concordia", "Tito", and Moorhouse Estate
URUGUAY, 1859, 100c Brown Lake, Thin Numerals (9). Large to full margins, tied by "Admon de Correos, Montevideo, 19 AGOSTO, 1859" oval datestamp on blue folded letter to Salto, sender's blue oval handstamp and directive "Estado Oriental", cover with bleaching at top left and stamp with slight soiling, otherwise Fine and scarce single-franking use, ex Hoffmann, with 1981 Diaz certificate
URUGUAY, 1859, 100c Brown Lake, Thin Numerals (9). Horizontal strip of five, Transfer Types 3-4-3-4-3, mostly large to ample margins except touching at bottom left, used with 1859, 80c Yellow, Thin Numerals (8a), large to ample margins, all tied by four strikes of "Admon de Correos, Montevideo, 7 NOVE, 1859" oval datestamp on registered folded cover to San Carlos, with four clear strikes of "CERTIFICADO" framed handstamp, two of which also tie stamps, interior docketing references Nov. 10 receipt, mild vertical and horizontal file folds thru stamps of little consequenceVERY FINE AND REMARKABLE REGISTERED COVER WITH A STRIP OF FIVE OF THE 100-CENTÉSIMOS AND 80-CENTÉSIMOS THIN NUMERALS. WIDELY CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COVERS OF THE ISSUE AND OF URUGUAYAN PHILATELY IN GENERAL.
The cover offered here is one of only two covers with a strip of five of the 100c Thin Numerals, and it is the only cover with all Thin Numerals. This franking paid the half-ounce double registered rate. The other cover is offered in lot 97 (ex Hoffmann, Dr. Hubbard, and Moorhouse Estate). It is dated September 28, 1860, from Montevideo to San Jose, and has a strip of five 100c with the 60c Thick Numerals.
Illustrated in El Correo en el Uruguay by Marcos Silvera Antunuez, p. 48. Ex Burrus, Bustamante, Diaz, and "Tito". With 1989 P.F. and 2009 Rocha certificates.
URUGUAY, 1859, 100c Brown Lake, Thin Numerals (9). Vertical strip of five, margins tight to touching frameline at places, used with 1860, 60c Dull Lilac, Thick Numerals (13), large margins to touching frameline, all tied by two strikes of "CERTIFICADO" framed handstamp with additional strike below and strong strike of "Admon de Correos, Montevideo, 28 SEPTe, 1860" oval datestamp on registered folded cover to San Jose, couple file folds affecting 60c and top stamp of 100c strip, second stamp to bottom of strip with pre-printing paperfold horizontally across stampFINE. AN IMPRESSIVE REGISTERED COVER WITH A STRIP OF FIVE OF THE 100-CENTÉSIMOS THIN NUMERALS AND 60-CENTÉSIMOS THICK NUMERALS. ONLY A SMALL HANDFUL OF REGISTERED COVERS ARE RECORDED.
The cover offered here is one of only two covers with a strip of five of the 100c Thin Numerals. This franking paid the half-ounce double registered rate. The other cover is offered in lot 96 (ex Burrus, Bustamante, Diaz, and "Tito"). It is dated November 7, 1859, from Montevideo to San Carlos, and has a strip of five 100c with the 60c Thin Numerals.
Ex Hoffmann, Dr. Hubbard, and Moorhouse Estate. Signed Diaz.
URUGUAY, 1859, 120c Blue, Thin Numerals (10). Block of four with substituted transfers, Types 20-13/2-15--Type 13 is where 19 would normally be, and Type 15 where 1 would normally be--original gum, h.r., full to large margins, bright shade on fresh paper, small shallow thinVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF SIX RECORDED 1859 120-CENTÉSIMOS THIN NUMERALS BLOCKS WITH SUBSTITUTED LITHOGRAPHIC TRANSFER TYPES.
This is an extremely rare block from the area of the lithographic stone with transfers in positions that do not correspond with the normal 20-transfer arrangement. We know of only six 120c blocks with substituted transfers: 1) top sheet-margin block of 50, largest known, ex Hoffmann, Dr. Hubbard, "Concordia" and "Tito"; 2) top sheet-margin block of 9, ex Caspary, Lilly and "Concordia"; 3) left sheet-margin block of 6, ex Lee, Hoffmann and "Tito"; 4) block of four, ex Lee and Gordon N. John, the block offered here; 5) block of four, offered in this sale as lot 99; and 6) block of four, illustrated in Lee book, figure 50, plate K.
Ex Lee (illustrated in Lee book, figure 51, plate K) and Gordon N. John
URUGUAY, 1859, 120c Slate Blue, Thin Numerals (10a). Block of four with substituted transfers, Types 2-5/4-7--Type 5 is where 1 would normally be, and Type 7 where 3 would normally be--unused (no gum), full to large margins, deep shade on fresh paper, vertical and horizontal creases, faint toned spotsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF SIX RECORDED 1859 120-CENTÉSIMOS THIN NUMERALS BLOCKS WITH SUBSTITUTED LITHOGRAPHIC TRANSFER TYPES.
This is an extremely rare block from the area of the lithographic stone with transfers in positions that do not correspond with the normal 20-transfer arrangement. We know of only six 120c blocks with substituted transfers: 1) top sheet-margin block of 50, largest known, ex Hoffmann, Dr. Hubbard, "Concordia" and "Tito"; 2) top sheet-margin block of 9, ex Caspary, Lilly and "Concordia"; 3) left sheet-margin block of 6, ex Lee, Hoffmann and "Tito"; 4) block of four, ex Lee, offered in this sale as lot 98; 5) block of four, ex Gordon N. John, the lot offered here; and 6) block of four, illustrated in Lee book, figure 50, plate K.
Ex Gordon N. John. Signed Diaz.
URUGUAY, 1859, 120c Blue, Thin Numerals (10). Block of four, Types 2-1/4-3 (normal transfer arrangement), original gum, h.r.'s, large balanced margins, rich color, Extremely Fine and scarce block of the 120c Thin Numerals, signed Soto Hermanos, with 1981 Diaz certificate
URUGUAY, 1859, 120c Slate Blue, Thin Numerals (10a). Block of four, Types 17-18/19-20 (normal transfer arrangement), unused (no gum), full to large margins, deep shade, horizontal crease in top pair, otherwise Very Fine, scarce block of the 120c Thin Numerals, ex Gordon N. John, signed Diaz
URUGUAY, 1859, 120c Blue, Thin Numerals (10). Transfer Type 7, mostly huge to large margins all around, tied by clear strike of ornate blue "Sala de Comercio de Montevideo" oval handstamp on folded letter datelined Montevideo July 3, 1858, and addressed to Rosario, ArgentinaVERY FINE AND CHOICE STRIKE OF THE MONTEVIDEO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HANDSTAMP ON COVER WITH THE 120-CENTÉSIMOS THIN NUMERAL. ONLY THREE COVERS BEARING STAMPS ARE RECORDED WITH THIS CANCEL.
The "Sala de Comercio" handstamp was used on mail that went via the special postal facility of the Chamber of Commerce. This service was restricted to merchant use between Montevideo and Buenos Aires after the normal post office had closed for the day--a de facto semi-official private mail service with minimal post office involvement. The normal postal rate was in effect, but a surcharge was paid in cash at mailing. This letter makes reference to this merchant being very busy, which explains the mailing after normal post office hours.
Ex "Tito". With 2003 P.F. certificate
URUGUAY, 1859, 120c Blue, Thin Numerals (10). Huge margins to clear at bottom right, rich color, tied by red "Admon de Correos, Montevideo, 14 JULIO, 1859" oval datestamp on folded cover to Concordia, Argentina, Very Fine, very few covers are known with this red cancel which is only recorded in July 1859 during the first month of use, ex "Concordia" and Moorhouse Estate, signed A. Diena and Bolaffi
URUGUAY, 1859, 120c Blue, Thin Numerals (10). Huge margins, fresh color and strong impression, tied by "Admon de Correos, Montevideo, 6 OCTE, 1860" oval datestamp on folded letter to Buenos Aires, Argentina, blue "Apesteguy Hermanos, Montevideo" oval handstamp and directive "Por al Pampero", Extremely Fine, a Gem example used on cover
URUGUAY, 1859, 120c Slate Blue, Thin Numerals (10a). Mostly large margins to ample at top left, intensely rich color, tied by "Admon de Correos, Montevideo, 20 DICM, 1859" oval datestamp on folded letter to Buenos Aires, Argentina, cover with few slight stained spots, still Very Fine, a rare shade on cover which the certificate notes as "no more than 5 covers known", ex "Concordia", signed Diaz, with 2008 Rocha certificate
URUGUAY, 1859, 120c Blue, Thin Numerals, Half Used as 60c (10 var). Left vertical half, large to full margins including frameline at top, tied across the cut by "Admon de Correos Rep. O. Del Urug, Mercedes" oval cancel on ca. 1859 cover to MontevideoVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED BISECTED 120-CENTÉSIMOS THIN NUMERALS ON COVER. A MAJOR "SUN" ISSUES RARITY.
Bisected usage of any Thin or Thick Numerals stamp is extremely rare. We estimate approximately 20 extant bisect covers of either issue, mostly of the Thick Numerals. Only two recorded covers are known of the Thin Numerals, the example offered here and the 240c in lot 134. Most of the 120c bisects originate in towns and provinces outside of Montevideo, which experienced shortages of 60c stamps.
Ex Dr. Hubbard and Moorhouse Estate