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Lot# 38 - Auction 234-243

  • Lot# : 38 Philippines

    1794: Entire letter clearly datelined "Manila, 5 Aprile 1794" internally, travelling on the Trans-Pacific route via Mexico, with unique framed "S. BLAS" transit handstamp in black (Yag & Bash fig. GD85 / Tizon fig. 1) and equally fine "NUEVA / ESPAÑA" handstamp in red. The Pacific route was safer for Spanish Galleons, especially at this date when The French Revolutionary Armies were invading Catalonia. The letter, in Italian, states that the writer cannot sell gold for a good price, that he had received little help after a disisterous fire in Manila, and that his wife had given birth to their ninth child with six still alive. An exceptional entire, the file folds backed for protection but one of the rarest and finest of all Colonial period Maritime letters recorded. Signed Todd AIEP.rnNote: This is the letter from which both Yag & Bash and Manuel Tizón listed the 'S. BLAS' handstamp.
    Starting bid : 12,000 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold