Lot
3011 
San Francisco "Jan 20", straightline postmark with magenta dating and matching "40" cent rating on 1849 buff cover to Philadelphia Pa., carried by PMSS Panama from San Francisco Jun. 20th to Panama City arriving Jul. 12th, then overland to Chagres where placed on U.S. Steamship Co. Falcon departing July 28th to New York arriving Aug. 17th; couple trivial light stains, Very Fine. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
A RARE FIRST DAY OF USAGE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO STRAIGHT LINE HANDSTAMP, ONE OF ONLY EIGHT RECORDED FROM THE FIRST CONTRACT SAILING OF THE S.S. PANAMA.
The San Francisco straight line postmark was used only on mail dispatched on the third, fourth, and fifth contract sailings from San Francisco to Panama in 1849. It was used on some mail dispatched on the first departure of the S.S. "Panama" on June 20 (including this folded letter), all mail dispatched on the second departure of the S.S. "Oregon" on July 2, and some mail dispatched on the second departure of the S.S. "California" on August 1. The straight line postmark was preceded by manuscript postmarks and succeeded by cds postmarks.