Lot
1241 
Forwarded by Thomas O. Larkin, Monterey, California, clear strike of oval forwarder handstamp on flap of blue folded letter datelined "Boston January 15th 1845" to Ship Vandalia, on the Coast of Upper California, letter states it is being sent care of Midshipman Charles Henry Caldwell who sails from Portsmouth in a few days for the Pacific; some paper loss on flap affects oval, Very Fine, ex-Hackett. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
AN EARLY LETTER FROM BOSTON TO SHIP "VANDALIA" ON COAST OF UPPER CALIFORNIA WITH THE RARE THOMAS O. LARKIN OF MONTEREY, ALTA CALIFORNIA FORWARDING HANDSTAMP, THE FIRST AND ONLY UNITED STATES CONSUL TO ALTA CALIFORNIA.
Letters to the West Coast of North America prior to January 1849 were carried privately and forwarded by a network of agents and U.S. consuls making use of whatever vessels were available. Thomas O. Larkin arrived in California in 1832 and was appointed the first and only U.S. Consul to Alta California (then part of Mexico) at Monterey on May 1, 1843 by President James K. Polk. This was to become a turbulent time leading up to Mexican War and Larkin played an important part in diplomatic relations. He also served as a mail forwarder in addition to other diplomatic duties until 1846, when war broke out with Mexico and he was captured by the Mexican Army.
Realized: $2,300