Lot
550 
(Australia) Aborigines of Victoria, used illustrated 10-1/2x16" bluish lettersheet carried by "City of Sydney" with Victoria 1857 6d Orange rouletted (#17) tied to folded letter with integral address leaf to London endorsed "City of Sydney & Overland" backstamped "Melbourne, Victoria/No 16, 1857," answer was written and returned as a paste over with Great Britain 1d Red (#33) tied by "London/Ja 13, 1858" stamp and cover faults, partly accounted for by its over 30,000 mile round trip!! some minor splits repaired internally with archival tape & a filled punch hole on chest of left Aborigine, Fine and a lettersheet and usage, an exceptionally rare and interesting item for which the consignor paid $1300 with buyer's premium in 2022! ex-Risvold.Estimate $500 - 750.
Current Opening Bid: $950
Lot
551
(Australia) Map of Melbourne & Collingwood, used illustrated 8.5x17" bluish paper lettersheet, with "MAP OF MELBOURNE & COLLINGWOOD" and imprint "PUBLISHED BY JAMES J BLUNDELL & CO 44 COLLINS ST WEST" on either side of the title and "Engraved & Printed for the Publishers by Campbell & Fergusson" at lower left, contents datelined "Colingwood Jany 20th 56" with lengthy three-page letter reading in part, "…it was indeed a sad disappointment…the wreck of the Schomberg…the passengers were brought to Melbourne by the steamer Queen…no lives lost…there is not much to be done at the diggings now and the travelling to them is dreadful…" The vaunted "Schomberg" was wrecked on its maiden voyage from England, running aground off Cape Otway on Dec 27, 1855; very minor edge wear at right, Very Fine, a rare illustrated Australian lettersheet with interesting contents regarding the wreck of the Schomberg.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
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Current Opening Bid: $375
Lot
552
Capt. Sutter's Account of the First Discovery of the Gold, lettersheet (Baird 22) lithographs of James W. Marshall and Sutter's Mill, published by Britton & Rey in 1854, folded sheet 10.5x17" on light gray paper, without letter but addressed on verso to Foxboro, Mass, Very Fine.Estimate $500 - 750.
Joseph Britton & Jacques Joseph Rey were the most prolific California Gold Rush lithographers.
Current Opening Bid: $250
Lot
553
Clipper Ship "Race Hound", large illustrated broadside of "New Line for California Direct for San Francisco…Clipper Ship Race Hound" with details of prices and schedule, from Adam Smith, 28 Front St. (New York), printed by George F. Nesbitt of postal stationery fame, original cover postmarked "New York Feb 16 PAID 5 cts." to Pennsylvania; vertical and horizontal tape reinforcement to the broadside with repair in lower center, cover has minor tear at right, still Very Fine and rare.Estimate $500 - 750.
Current Opening Bid: $250
Lot
554
Commandments To California Wives, used lettersheet (Baird 42) illustrated lettersheet showing dual home scene vignettes subtitled "Commandments Are Given To Make A Happy Home", with "Mercantile Job Print, 130 Sansome St., S.F." imprint, table of commandments below framed by a outdoor family scene, used with three-page letter datelined "Downieville Cal Sunday Nov 20/55" sent by Thomas B. Parke to his wife back East, asking her to be patient with him staying in California longer, etc. etc., some hinge reinforcement, small piece out at bottom right, still Very Fine, a rare lettersheet, especially in used condition.Estimate $500 - 750.
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Current Opening Bid: $950
Lot
555
Crossing the Plains, used lettersheet (Baird 47) comprised of 13 wood engravings scenes by Barber and Baker, Sacramento, folded double sheet on pale blue paper, 11x17.5", letter datelined "Placerville, Cal. Nov 28th, 1854" from miner writing to his brother telling in part "I am in the land of gold…I saw two men hung the third of this month…I believe that it would [be] good policy to pay the postage in advance…"; some wear and erosion at the folds on the letterside of the 11x17.5" lettersheet, illustration portion sharp and crisp, Very Fine, a rare used California lettersheet with only a few known.Estimate $500 - 750.
George H. Baker (1827-1906) was a '49er, merchant, expressman, artist, and lithographer. In July 1850, he formed Baker's Express and made one financially-disastrous, 290-mile mule-mounted trip from San Francisco into the Feather River Diggins. In June 1854, now in Sacramento, artist Baker joined with wood engraver Edmond L. Barber (1808-1870) to form, he advertised, "the largest Engraving Establishment on the Pacific Coast." The pair published Sacramento Illustrated (1855) with 31 engravings. This "Crossing the Plains" letter sheet exclaims "Views Drawn from Nature, in 1853, by George H. Baker." He made these sketches on a return trip to California from Boston with supplies for his Sacramento store. James Mason Hutchings published letter sheets using friend Baker's images in late 1854 and 1857. Complete images:
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Current Opening Bid: $950
Lot
556
Departure for El Dorado, used lettersheet (Baird 51) comprised of ten satirical views lithographed by C. Quirot, between 1851 and 1853 (after Emanuel Justh left the firm), seller was the Noisy Carrier's Publishing Hall with small blue handstamp at foot of illustration, folded light gray double sheet 10.75x16.5", with letter datelined "Rancherea, Cala, June 9th, 1854", Amos addressed his dear "Miss Smith", He is…one who thinks there is no other so kind & so Beautiful & Lovely as you and your miniature I have with me where ever I go, the love-sick suitor is most serious…These words, he tells Mollessa, come from a tru hart and one ho loves you, and that hart is mine, he pleads for her to write to me and tell me if I can have any such clames on you, however - same old story…It was my intention to come this spring, But Being unsuccessful in Business last Winter, I am and have determined to stay one more year Now, It is my Intention to return home in the spring without fale promising next May you will then see me.; couple minor fold splits and a couple small tone spots, Very Fine, a wonderful and rare used caricature lettersheet.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Current Opening Bid: $375
Lot
557
Destruction of Blossom Rock, used illustrated lettersheet 7.5x9.5" with caption "Destruction of Blossom Rock" providing details of the government paying $75,000 to remove the rock in San Francisco harbor on Apr 23, 1870 "successfully blasted by 23 tons of powder"; four-page letter written in German datelined "San Francisco 14 Mai 1870"; minimal wear at folds, Very Fine and rare, unlisted in Baird.Estimate $300 - 400.
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Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
558
Eight Scenes of Mining Life and a View of the Elephant, used lettersheet (Baird 293) published and sold by [William B.] Cooke & [Josiah J.] LeCount, San Francisco book sellers and stationers, four-page lettersheet with front page having nine views in gold on cream paper (8.25x10.5") with two page letter enclosed datelined "San Francisco July 30th 1850" which reads, in part, "…the news from the mines continues about the same some doing well and others not making their living in the southern mines the Yankees have ordered all foreigners to 'vamoos' except they give heavy bonds for their good behaviour…acts of Robbery and Murder which has become every day occurences. no less than 14 Americans were killed in one day. parties have been sent to scour the mountains and if any suspicious characters should happen to be in the fray they will be obliged to make love to the first tree as the Lynch law has become the order of the day…George W. Cox.", some minor reinforcements of edges with hinges, Very Fine and choice.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE GOLD COLORED PRINT LETTERSHEET - WHICH IS THE EARLIEST KNOWN PRINTED LETTERSHEET.
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Current Opening Bid: $500
Lot
559
Eight Scenes of Mining Life and a View of the Elephant, used lettersheet (Baird 293) published and sold by [William B.] Cooke & [Josiah J.] LeCount, San Francisco book sellers and stationers, four-page lettersheet with front page having nine views in black ink on bluish paper (8.25x10.5") with three-page letter enclosed datelined "Fort John, Calaveras Co California March 4 1851" from a miner lamenting the conditions, lack of success, and he notes "…I have just returned from a trip of five weeks prospecting in the mountains amongst the indians and Girsily bears …in haste I must close this letter and be off to the mountains as the mule is all ready packed if I have success I shall be back to this place in some two weeks and then I hope to write you again, write often and direct your letters to Sacramento City as usual…E.G. Bovee[?]", light toning on file folds, front lettersheet page is sharp with only minor wear, Very Fine.Estimate $500 - 750.
DURHAM'S "CALIFORNIA GEOGRAPHIC NAMES" HAS SOME INFO ON FORT JOHN, LISTING IT UNDER VOLCANO (AMADOR CO.) NOTING THAT FORT JOHN WAS FOUR MILES NORTHWEST OF VOLCANO.
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Current Opening Bid: $950