Cuba 1849 - Troy, New York to Coliseo, Cuba, SFL with very rare "EMPRESA - N(ORTE). AMERICA" cds, applied in yellow in Cuba by the Empresa de Correos Marítimos.
An 1849 complete SFL with a three page letter from Troy, New York to Coliseo, Cuba. Addressed to Mr. Samuel Selden, Ing^o Sta. Agustina, Coliseo, Isla de Cuba. - "TROY - N.Y. - DEC 20" cds and straightline "PAID" applied in blue on front. "EMPRESA - N. AMERICA - 2 ENE 1850" double rim cds and a numeral "1" (due) applied in yellow by the Empresa upon arrival in Cuba. Manuscript: Via Steamer Isabell from Charleston at the upper margin. This "EMPRESA - N. AMERICA" cds applied in yellow (amarillo) is listed by Ginovart y Tizón as Type 52 (in use between 1849 and 1851) and classified as RRR (Rarisima or Very Rare) meaning that only from 3 to 10 are believed to exist. There is some internal separation of the paper (about 4 inches in length) alonside the right side fold on the front page only, but everything else is intact, as seen in the picture of the letter itself. The letter, which is of a personal nature, informs the recipient, among other things, of the death of their grandmother. Back in the early 1990's a similar cover was offered at auction by a New York City auction house and it was estimated then at $1,000.00 but I never found out about the final selling price, or if sold at all, for that matter..