Sale 1185 — 2018 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Wednesday, 27 June, 2018
Category — Colonial, Stampless, Clipperton Island, Free Frank
Clipperton Island-San Francisco, 5(c) Violet Brown, 10(c) Dark Orange (Unlisted in Scott). Two 5c, with Panama, 1895, 20c Violet (19) affixed over the 5c stamps, all tied by "Agencia Postal Nacional, Panama, 5 Mar. 1903" circular datestamp with dotted oval grid duplex cancel on cover to San Francisco, two different March 18 receiving backstamps, minor edgewearVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE COVER WITH TWO DIFFERENT CLIPPERTON ISLAND STAMPS, USED FROM PANAMA TO SAN FRANCISCO. THIS IS THE ONLY SUCH USE RECORDED.
A fascinating article on Clipperton Island was written by Wolfgang Baldus in the Oct. 2009 issue of The Postal Gazette. Clipperton Island lies 670 miles southwest of Mexico in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It is named for the English mutineer and pirate, John Clipperton, who made it his hideout in 1705. The island is a ring of dead coral surrounding a lagoon, and was rich in guano. From 1892 to 1897 the Oceanic Phosphate Company had operations on the island, which was estimated to contain one million tons of fertilizing material. Plans called for 150-200 miners, but the population never exceeded 25 people. Plans were made to use the stamps on mail to and from the island, and ten denominations were created. Very few covers are known.
Accompanied by 1918 note from London stamp dealer Fred Melville
