Lot
30 
(Via Tehauntepec) 1858 (Nov. 22) West Coast to Baltimore Md. via New Orleans La., 10¢ green (U58) entire cancelled by partial "New Orleans, La., Nov 22, 1858" cds to Baltimore, Md., endorsed "Via Tehuantepec" at lower left; entire restored, Fine and rare. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED "VIA TEHAUNTEPEC" COVERS MAILED EN ROUTE.
In October 1858, a route was contracted as 8162 from San Francisco to New Orleans using a mixed steamboat and overland route via the Tehuantepec Isthmus in Mexico. Contracted at $250,000 for 12 months with twice a month service. The course of the route was by steamboat to either Acapulco or Salina Cruz, then overland by mule to Suchile, then by river boat to Minatitlan on the Caotzacoalcos River and then by steamboat to New Orleans, La. The route was little used as the section over the mountain range by mule created a long transit time. The total revenue collected for the route was just $5,276.66 and the route was not renewed in 1859. From October 1858 to March 1859, the "Quaker City" was used on the New Orleans to Minatitlan portion of the route. A total of 25 covers endorsed as going "Via Tehuantepec" are recorded in the census. This entire was apparently posted on board the ship while en route to New Orleans.
Realized: $1,800