Louisiana1803, May 21. Ship's register cover from New Orleans to Bordeaux, bearing fine strikes in

Louisiana1803, May 21. Ship's register cover from New Orleans to Bordeaux, bearing fine strikes in red of "Yndias" straight-line and the exceedingly rare "Nueva Orleans" oval handstamps on dispatch, signed by Marín, the postmaster of New Orleans, with accompanying "franco" notation indicating postage paid, being 32 reales handwritten on back following the norm for this postal document. Well preserved on reverse with all four flaps complete, including the red wax used to close the cover and being one of the characteristics which determined the ship's register to be considered as a sealed postal correspondence. Louisiana was under Spanish administration, as part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, from 1762 to 1802, when it was retroceded to France according to the Third Treaty of San Ildefonso (1800) and the Treaty of Aranjuez (1801). However, Spain agreed to continue administering the territory until 30.11.1803, when the French took possession of the colony, three weeks before being purchased by the United States on 20.12.1803. One of only two items recorded in private hands bearing the Spanish laureated „Nueva Orleans“ postmark, with the added significance of being one of only two ship’s register covers known originating from a colony and sent to a non-Spanish destination (this item had to be submitted to the Spanish consul to Bordeaux, as indicated on front). Additionaly, this is an exceptional postal usage during the short period of Spanish provisional administration after the official transfer to France. Ex Kouri.