Lot
222 
Via Nicaragua, In Advance of the Mails. Oval handstamp applied in San Francisco, on cover to "Hon. J.W. Denver, Ho. of Rep's, Washington City, D.C., N. Y", entered the mails with "N. York, Steamship" circular handstamp and matching straight line "Free" handstamp, docketed "Wm. M. Gwin" (Senator of California), Very Fine. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
J.W. Denver, Wm. M. Gwin and Cornelius Vanderbilt were friends, instrumental in getting Sacramento as the permanent state capitol of California in March of 1854. It is a fair assumption that Gwin could have been in Sacramento for the opening of the new session of the state legislature. Vanderbilt was an owner of the transit company across Nicaragua. The cover could have gone privately to San Francisco and also on the Nicaragua route.
Realized: $2,200