Lot
3413 
(Via Tehuantepec) 1859 (Jan. 3) Oroville Cal. to Camden, Canada, light buff cover bearing 5¢ red brown, type I (28) and 10¢ green, type III (33), small faults, tied by "Oroville Cal. Jan 3 1859" cds for the 15¢ west coast rate to Canada, endorsed "Via Tehauntepec" as required for carriage, faint strike of red "U. States" exchange straightline; reduced slightly at right, some wear, Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
THE ONLY RECORDED "VIA TEHUANTEPEC" CROSS-BORDER COVER TO CANADA.
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 28 covers endorsed as going "Via Tehuantepec" are recorded in the census.
Realized: $2,400