The Cuban Lottery & Whale Bones

What can the title of this post possibly have to do with United States philatelic history? Read on, it is a fascinating tale. And I will answer the question.

This is a formal Spanish business letter dated January 17, 1874, a stampless folded letter sent from Havana (Habana), Cuba. It is addressed to Sr. Dr. E. F. Carranza in New York. The letter primarily concerns financial transactions involving lottery tickets and the shipping of goods.

Adressed to "C.F. Caruana Esqr, New York"

The return address on the back of the letter is written in Spanish:

• G. Ramos y Ca. (The company name, "G. Ramos and Co.")

• Habana 17 Enero 1874 (The origin and date: Havana, January 17, 1874)

• Rec. 23 Id Id (Abbreviation for "Recibida": Received on the 23rd of the same month/year)

• Cont. 29 Id Id (Abbreviation for "Contestada": Answered on the 29th of the same month/year)

The "Rec." and "Cont." lines were added by the recipient. In the 1800s, businesses maintained meticulous ledgers to track how long it took for letters to arrive and how quickly they were processed. "Id Id" is an abbreviation for ídem, meaning "the same," used here to avoid repeating "Enero 1874."

First two lines on the back of the letter with senders name and address. The next are bookeeping notations added by the recipient.

The new York City "DUE 10 - US CURRENCY" marking is a "depreciated currency" marking used by the New York City post office from 1862 to 1876.

The coin shortage of 1862 was a severe economic crisis during the American Civil War where virtually all metal coinage disappeared from circulation. By summer, an estimated $25 million in small change had vanished, forcing the public and government to adopt creative—and often bizarre—substitutes for daily transactions.

As pennies and dimes vanished, everyday commerce became nearly impossible. Initially, people used loose postage stamps as change. This was messy because the stamps were fragile, became dirty, and stuck together in pockets.

John Gault patented "encased postage," small brass frames with mica windows to protect stamps, creating "New Metallic Currency" that could withstand handling.

Authorized in July 1862, the government began printing paper notes that looked like stamps (5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢). These were the first official "Fractional Currency". All fractional currency was devalued by the US government in 1876.

10-cent fractional currency note

And this is why the New York City post office began using their depreciated currency markings. They put their faith in real money; like coins and greenbacks.

After the Civil War, the economy of the North began to stabilize. The post office saw no need to handle fractional currency.

The Letter

Havana, January 17, 1874

Mr. Dr. E. F. Carranza

New York

Dear Sir:

We have received your kind letters of December 11th, 18th, and 31st last, and the 7th of the current month, and have taken note of their contents.

In due course, the whalebone sample that you sent us via the steamer "City of Havana" was delivered to the firm of Messrs. L. Salado and Co., the cost of which we have credited to your account.

The aforementioned gentlemen have delivered to us $47 in gold for the prize obtained by ticket No. 15,340 in Draw No. 16, and with said sum, we have purchased for you in today's draw the following:

1/2 Ticket No. 18,350

1/2 Ticket No. 16,946

1/2 Ticket No. 3,087

which we include herewith, wishing you the best of luck.

With no other business for today, we remain your most affectionate, attentive, and faithful servants.

[Illegible Signature]

And that's the explanation for the title of this post.