Spanish Possession Of Cuba - 1868 Business Correspondence

Picked this up today for my Cover the World collection of covers from every stamp-issuing authority.

It is an 1868 letter (business correspondence) mailed from Cienfuegos to Manzanillo, Cuba.

The stamps says "Ultramar" which literally translated means "Overseas". I believe this makes Cuba a Spanish Possession, but not yet a colony.

To be honest, I wish I knew more about the stamp itself. I am having difficulty finding it in Scott.



At some point I will sit down with this cover, a bright light and a magnifying glass and translate it. The writing is amazingly good penmanship.

Spanish Colonies
Cuba and Puerto rico
SG type 9
10c blue? SG33 perf 14 1867 oops 1868
comes in deep blue as well

I was so focussed on the stamp, I completely
ignored the cancellation, what a fascinating example.

I admit it was the cancel that made it a sale. I think you could call it a constellation or field of stars? It makes sense if you are talking about overseas territories. The only way to get there was by ship, navigating by sun and stars.

What year is in the bottom tablet? Can't quite make it out.

Being a 10c, it has to be 1868
10c not issued 1869

Detail shot of the stamp/cancel.

The company referred to in the address (Ramirez & Co.) was a Mercantile House/Importer. There are several references on the internet of them having imported molasses to the US via the ship "Central America".

smauggie, check Cuba Scott #32 and see what you think.

I think I was suffering from catalog blindness.

That's the one.

I wonder how that grid cancel was fabricated? I've not seen that many, but I've never seen a sharp one. Yours might be about the sharpest I've seen...

Info please? Anyone?

I like the suggestion "constellation" postmark,
sums it up beautifully.

The Corner tablets...any suggestions there?

CO and RR

I think "Regina" will be there somewhere

As an aside, for years I was curious about why
the monarchs of great britain faced which way on a stamp.
I felt there was a reason, turns out it was with coins,
with each subsequent reign, the monarchs face would face
in the opposing direction.
Numismatists may confirm that?

Don't be mislead by the name "Ultramar" (Overseas). Cuba was just a colony from the start (in 1493) up yo the end more that four centuries later (1898) governed by a Virrey (up to 1717) and captain general (up to 1898)sent from Madrid, and was exploited like that up to the end. That's why Cubans revolted many times.

I don't know the meaning of "CORR". Perhaps, it has something to do with "CORREOS" (Postage in Spanish)?

As for the postmark, the 1996 Specialized Edifil list the following postmarks used in 1860/67





And the following ones in 1868/69, but it's clearly possible that stars postmark was used later. In fact I've seen it quite often on Cuban covers.

Thank you again for this great info! While perhaps not rare, the constellation postmark is the most attractive.

Here is the letter itself.



A rough translation:

Cienfuegos
(something) Cuba June 26 1868
Messrs Ramirez y Oro
Manzanillo

My dear sirs: On the date of 22 of this month Mr. Don Juan Vasques Roberes that he was visiting you at your home to bring you the $161.60 that we had announced we would do, though we now regret the portion of the remitted amount of $60 for our order of French stockings (or socks) which we think is quite fair to return to you as the stockings run (easily wear out). We would appreciate if you would remit to us the $60 for the French stockings at your earliest convenience.

Offered today in person,
Ferret Vidall

In Pencil - We confirm receipt of the $161 by means of Mr Don Juan Vasques Roberes.
The rest is hard to make out.

Spanish Overseas (Ultramar) stamps were used in Cuba, Puerto Rico & the Philippines, Scott 2 & 3.
Cuba & Puerto Rico were Scott's 1, 9-14, 17-21, 32-4, 35A-7, 39-41, 43-5, 47-9, 51-3 & 55-7
Havana (only) Scott's 5-8, 15 & 22.
Cuba (only) Scott's 4, 16, 23-31, 35, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54 & 58-70

Fascinating stuff, Smauggie
early evidence of (lack of) quality control.
In those days I would assume socks were expected
to last many years.

They would have all account been made on a knitting machine.
Socks:
Its name is derived from the loose-fitting slipper, called a soccus in Latin, worn by Roman comic actors.