Auction 265th - 273rd - Day 1

1864 (Sept 18): Entire letter from San Bartola Mine near Calama to St. Clair, PA; USA,  with circular "LAMAR / FRANCA" in green addressed via Forwarding Agent "J.M. ARTOLA E HIJOS / COBIJA" with oval black cachet at left, mailed there with rare "PAID-TO-PANAMA" straight line in red (the sole recorded usage of this handstamp - see Parmenter & Gordon page 3/7) and manuscript '1/-' rate prepaid in red. Double arc Panama' cds on obverse and struck on entry with 'Steamship / 10' in black. Back flap missing but with faint 'Callao' British P.O. cds in black. Some aging but a great rarity with the sole recorded "PAID-TO-PANAMA" handstamp.rnrnProvenance: Collection James De Voss.rn                   Investphila, Lugano, Sept 2009, lot 1059.