FRANCA EN BEXAR. (later San Antonio Tex.). Bold red two-like postmark on folded letter from the military commander of Coahuila y Texas in Bexar to the army commander of the province of Coahuila at Monclova, manuscript endorsement "Real Servicio" (Royal Service) at top, dated May 27, 1809, manuscript "3" reales rate on back

VERY FINE. A RARE LETTER FROM TEXAS DURING THE SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD WITH THE "FRANCA EN BEXAR" SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD MARKING. PROBABLY NO MORE THAN FIVE COMPLETE POSTMARKED LETTERS FROM SPANISH COLONIAL TEXAS ARE IN PRIVATE HANDS. THIS IS ALSO THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF THIS MARKING ON A COMPLETE LETTER LIKELY TO BE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.

This letter was marked Royal Service but still appears to have been charged "3" reales postage. Vince King reports that only four complete Spanish Texas letters are in private hands. The cover offered here, unknown to researchers, increases the record to a total of six, which includes one in the J. P. Bryan collection (no. 5), which is likely to remain institutionalized: 1) "BAHIA" and "FRANCA" handstamps, to Cordero in Bexar, Aug. 11, 1807 (King collection); 2) "BEXAR" black handstamp, to Cordero in Monclova, ca. 1801-05 (King collection); 3) "BEXAR" red handstamp, to Cordero in Monclova, 1803 (or 1808-09), offered in our Sale 1071; 4) "BEXAR" red handstamp, to Don Jose Juoqine in Monclova, Apr. 27, 1808, ex Camina (Siegel Sale 757, lot 2); 5) "FRANCA/EN BEXAR" red handstamp, to Cordero in Monclova, May 1, 1810, ex Camina (Siegel Sale 757, lot 3, now in the Bryan collection, likely to be institutionalized); 6) "FRANCA/EN BEXAR" red handstamp, dated May 27, 1809, to Monclova, the cover offered here. In addition to these complete letters there are a few recorded cover fronts, and of course markings used after Mexican independence (1821).

Illustrated on p. 9 of Texas: The Drama of its Postal Past by ter Braake. See website PDF for contents

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