Lot
1133 
1850 (Feb. 28) San Blas, Mexico to Indepence Mo. via New Orleans, datelined folded letter with red "Franquedo en S. Blas" (GD87) framed postmark and matching large red "4" rating handstamp on back flap, endorsed "By way of Vera Cruz", entered U.S. mails with red "New Orleans La. Apr 16" cds and matching "Ship" rating handstamp and "12" cent rating; flap torn and separation mostly at top edge, Fine and wonderful use. Estimate $300 - 400.
Letter from an argonaut who chose to take a British brig around the Hom rather than across Panama or overland. It is datelined "Feb 28th 1850, San Blas, Coast of Mexico," and complains of the intense suffering he and his companions have undergone in reaching that place. At Tobago they apparently over-indulged in local fruit and all came down with a form of Montezuma's Revenge, from which three of their number died "It devolved on me to read the solemn funeral services of the church of England…the manner of burial was to sew them up in a blanket, or blankets, putting several bags of sand at the feet to cause them to sink & at the same time stand upright…all have got pretty hearty now & I think permanently so as we have now gotten into a cooler climate, & will be every day getting getting into a higher latitude. When we were all so sick we were becalmed, within 5 or 6 degrees of the equator … We have stopped at this place to take in provisions and water. It will take 20 or 30 days yet to get to San Francisco…".
The letter was carried overland in the Mexican mails from San Blas to Vera Cruz. It was carried by ship from Vera Cruz to New Orleans; probably from there to St Louis by steamboat and on to Independence either overland or by a Missouri River steamboat.
Realized: $425