Lot 3400
1850 (Oct. 17) "Ship Cincinnati, Lahaina Maui, Sandwich Islands" to Mansfield Center, Conn., datelined blue folded letter addressed to Orwell S. Chuffee, Mansfield Center Conn., in care of the Ship Betsey Williams, Stonington, carried as endorsed by the American Whale Ship Betsy Williams from Lahaina Oct. 28th to Stonington arriving Apr. 6th, entered mails with "Stonington Con., Apr 7" cds and matching "Ship" straightline and manuscript "7" rating for 5¢ inland plus 2¢ ship fee, letter started earlier datelined "At Sea Oct the 9 1850" with some interesting whaling content "…we have been to the Arctic Ocean to get whales and got 17…" and "…They are called Bowheads or Polar Whales…As quick as they are struck they will go down and run about a mile and then come up and lay still, but when thou do run you have to ty your heads on. I have struck 8 and saved 7. The first one I struck run under the ice and then we had to cut the line…", left flap with drawing of whale spraying water captioned "Polar Whale"; some wear and stains, Fine.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Before there was an official American Route, all mail, and then certain mail, between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans was given to the Captain of a ship which was bound around Cape Horn for one coast or the other.
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Realized: $2,300