Lot
3012 
San Francisco, 40, 1 June, red integral-rate cds on 1850 gray datelined folded letter to Anderson's Store Tenn., endorsed "Via New Orleans", carried on the PMSS Oregon to Panama arriving Jun. 21st, then by USMSS Georgia from Chagres Jun. 26th, the long letter describes the arrival of a gold miner at the San Francisco harbor, reads in part "…After a long and tiresome voyage of 34 days from Mazatlán, we arrived … about three o'clock yesterday morning. We sailed into the beautiful harbour where thousands of vessels can repose in perfect safety. Owning to the fact that our baggage had to go through Custom House, we were not able to get it to shore until today…There has been a very destructive fire in the city some 3 or 4 weeks ago which consumed almost three entire locks. The loss is estimated at 5 millions of dollars…We are now in a small Steamer and will leave for Stockton and the Southern diggins tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock. It is a 24 hour run and the price of passage is $25.00. I suppose the Northern mines are the most productive, but the snow is just beginning to melt and they cant do much in the next 4 - 6 weeks. The Southern mines are more healthy than the Northern so we have concluded to go to the mines above Stockton and if we do well, stay there, if not go to the mountains after the waters run down. I feel like we shall make something, I am more encouraged since we got here and the prospects brighter than since I left home, I saw a lump of gold this morning in its original state…J.L Rushing"; some wear and edge faults, address leaf separate, Fine and interesting gold miner's letter. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $525
Lot 3013
San Francisco, May 16, 1861, Republican State Convention, printed 8.25"x11" broadside requesting the election of Delegates to a State Convention to be held June 18th, including listing number of delegates by county; some wear and folds, F.-V.F.Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $350
Lot
3014
San Francisco, Cal Oct 8, double-circle datestamp with matching fancy cogwheel cancels tie 5¢ brown (76) and 30¢ orange (71) together on 1866 cover to Switzerland at the 35¢ Prussian Closed Mail rate, red printed International Hotel corner card, red "N.York 'Paid' Am. Pkt. Nov 3" exchange cds with matching "12" credit handstamp, blue "Aachen Franco" (11.17) framed handstamp and magenta "f 2" rating, reverse with Heidelberg-Basel (11.17) and Basel-Olten (11.18.66) backstamps, rating updated in red crayon to "6", Very Fine and attractive use. Estimate $500 - 750.
Lot
3015
(San Francisco) Steamer "Paul Pry, June 19, 1865", manuscript steamer endorsement cancels 3¢ pink (U59) buff entire to San Francisco Cal., Very Fine. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
A RARE SAN FRANCISCO INLAND STEAMER "PAUL PRY" MARKING.
Several steamships worked the waters in and around San Francisco, Stockton and Sacramento. In addition to carrying their cargo, they occasionally took mail from passengers on board to place in the convenient post office as way letters. The "Paul Pry" was a 300-ton steamer in operation from 1859 to 1881.
Lot
3016
(San Francisco) Steamer "Princess, Sept. 13, 1866", manuscript steamer endorsement cancels 3¢ pink (U59) buff entire to Suisun Cal., pencil note; top edge tear, accompanied by earlier Steamer Princess bill receipt, Fine. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
A RARE SAN FRANCISCO INLAND STEAMER "PRINCESS" MARKING.
The "Princess" was a 230-ton steamer owned by California Steam Navigation Co. in operation from 1860 to 1870.
Lot
3017
"Sellon's Ranch, Cal, Aug 22, 1864", manuscript postmark (YUB-1320) and matching manuscript strokes cancel 3¢ rose (65) on light buff cover to Longmeadow, Mass.; small perf flaw, Very Fine, One of only three recorded covers from Sellon's Ranch., ex-Polland. Estimate $400 - 600.
Between July 1861 and July 1866, Sellon's Ranch served as a post office. The location is unknown, other than being listed in Yuba county, and serviced by Marysville.
Realized: $725
Lot
3018
"Sonora mar 2/57", manuscript postmark with "Paid" handstamp and ms. "$1.35" rating for nine-times the 15¢ rate on canvas cover to Wellesley, Canada West, endorsed "Daguerreotype" at upper left, red "United States / Paid 6" exchange office handstamp, Canada red manuscript "6/9" 6s 9d rating for the nine-times the 9 pence rate, Very Fine and rare use. Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $850
Lot
3019
"Spanish Flat, Cal Jan 13", manuscript postmark and matching "Paid 6¢" rating on buff cover to Milan Oh. with illustrated "Mining Scene" design depicting Miner Panning for Gold with Long Tom in Background with imprint "J.M. Hutchings' California Envelope" at left and "Anthony & Baker SC" engraver's imprint at bottom right of design, original letter with matching "How the California Mines are Worked" (Baird 104) finely executed wood engraved letterhead on a folded 10.75x17" white double sheet, shows placer miners using the pan, rocker, long tom, and sluice, Anthony & Baker engravers and The San Francisco Wide West newspaper publisher, with lengthy three-page letter datelined "American Flat, Jany 4th 1855" from miner reading in part, "…Willie is mining away now, although he has been to school four months through the Summer and is as tough as a "grissly"…and thinks California is ahead of the World…there has not been one single death here since I came out. With the exception of an old Spaniard and 2 differ Indians who were killed in a fight with a hostile tribe that came through here…the American Indians burnt the bodies of their dead on the top of the hill opposite our house. the whites never interfere in any of their quarrels, and all the inconvenience we were put to was by the squaws running into our yards, to keep out of the way till the battle was over…Willie is nearly half Indian himself now, and talks with them and trades for bows and arrows until all the tribe knows him…when they come to the Bakery to trade the must always see the "Wheelans" before they will sell their gold dust or buy anything. Upon teh whole they are a harmful race of mortals…"; small cover edge flaws and wear at top, slight stain, Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A REMARKABLE MATCHED PAIR OF MINING SCENE COVER AND LETTERSHEET FROM CALIFORNIA TO BACK EAST.
Realized: $1,450
Lot
3020
Sta. Barbara, Cal., "Feb 9, 1859", bold rimless cds with manuscript date (SBA-1370), tying 3¢ dull red (26), perfs trimmed at top and bottom on embossed ladies cover to San Francisco Cal.; some faint cover toning, a Very Fine strike, ex-Polland. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $290
Lot
3021
"Staples Ranch, Cal., Mar 18", manuscript postmark (SAJ-2210) cancelling 1851 1¢ blue, type IV (9) and 1857 3¢ dull red (26) strip of three combination franking on small ladies cover to North Haverhill N.H., forwarded to Bristol with greenish blue "North Haverhill N.H., Apr 17" cds also tying 1¢ and manuscript "Fwd due 3" rating at left; accompanied by original 1851 newspaper clipping advertising Staples Ranch as a way stop for travelers, Extremely Fine and choice, a wonderful mixed issue 10¢ rate cover. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
There was a Post Office at Staples Ranch between 1851 and 1863.
Realized: $575