Lot
3410 
(Via Panama) 1854 (Sep. 1) San Francisco Cal. to Rochester N.Y., blue folded letter endorsed "per steamer Uncle Sam, Sep 1st 1854" at top left, clear strike of black "Independent Line, Via Panama, Ahead of the Mails, Uncle Sam and North Star" oval handstamp, bearing 3¢ dull red (11A) horizontal pair, large margins except touched at bottom, tied by "New-York, Sep 27" cds, Very Fine, ex-Haas. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A REMARKABLE STRIKE OF THIS RARE VANDERBILT AHEAD OF THE LINES PROPAGANDA HANDSTAMP. THIS WAS CARRIED ON THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE "UNCLE SAM" ON THE PANAMA ROUTE.
Cornelius Vanderbilt opened a route across Nicaragua in 1851 to compete with the U.S. Mail Steamship Company and Pacific Mail Steamship Company which held the U.S. Mail Contract via Panama.His handstamps typically boasted "Ahead of the Mails." He subsequently became a competitor to the PMSS on the Panama route.
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Realized: $5,500