Lot
669 
(San Francisco) San Francisco April 9, bold black manuscript postmark with matching "40" rate on bluish folded letter to New York; letter datelined "U.S.S. St. Marys' Monday April 9 1849" and reads, in part, "…I dare say you have already heard flaming accounts of this wonderful gold region…it is not to think of emigrating to California as it is already very thickly peopled and I am confident that in the course of two or three months it will be completely overcrowded…the county is really in a dreadful state. There being no kind of government at the mines murders are daily committed for the sake of very trifling articles…I have been once flogged and it so discouraged me that I should have run away but that I was afraid of the second…Edward Meeks, Direct your letter as follows Edwd Meeks U.S. Ship St. Marys Pacific Squadron"; very light oxidation of the bluish paper in a few places, still Extremely Fine and choice, Pictured in Letters of Gold as the frontispiece of this important work of Western Postal History.Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN SAN FRANCISCO MANUSCRIPT COVERS.
The March, 2015 issue of Western Express contained an article by Rick Mingee regarding the San Francisco provisional postal markings of 1849 (manuscripts and straight line handstamps). The Mingee census records a total of nine manuscripts (one from March 15, four from April 9, one from April 17, one from May 1, and two from June 20). The example presented here (SF MS5 per the Mingee census) has not been on the market in decades and is likely the finest known example.
Current Opening Bid: $1,000
Lot
670
(San Francisco) San Francisco, straight line postmark (SAF-220) with magenta manuscript "June 20" date and matching "40" on buff cover to Quakertown N.J., Extremely Fine, Exhibition Quality in all respects., ex-Jarrett.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A RARE FIRST DAY OF USAGE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO STRAIGHT LINE HANDSTAMP, ONE OF ONLY EIGHT FROM THE FIRST CONTRACT SAILING OF THE PMSS PANAMA.
The San Francisco straight line postmark was used only on mail dispatched on the third, fourth, and fifth contract sailings from San Francisco to Panama in 1849. It was used on some mail dispatched on the first departure of the S.S. "Panama" on June 20 (including this folded letter), all mail dispatched on the second departure of the S.S. "Oregon" on July 2, and some mail dispatched on the second departure of the S.S. "California" on August 1. The straight line postmark was preceded by manuscript postmarks and succeeded by cds postmarks.
Current Opening Bid: $500
Lot
671
(San Francisco) San Francisco, June 20, clear straightline postmark with magenta "June 20" date and matching manuscript "40" rating at top right on cover to Philadelphia, carried by PMSS Panama from San Francisco to Panama, arriving Oct. 20th, then US Mail S.S. Co. to NY and then on to Philadelphia; minor toned spots, Very Fine, ex-Nathan & Kramer.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A RARE FIRST DAY OF USAGE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO STRAIGHT LINE HANDSTAMP, ONE OF ONLY EIGHT FROM THE FIRST CONTRACT SAILING OF THE PMSS PANAMA.
The San Francisco straight line postmark was used only on mail dispatched on the third, fourth, and fifth contract sailings from San Francisco to Panama in 1849. It was used on some mail dispatched on the first departure of the S.S. "Panama" on June 20 (including this cover), all mail dispatched on the second departure of the S.S. "Oregon" on July 2, and some mail dispatched on the second departure of the S.S. "California" on August 1. The straight line postmark was preceded by manuscript postmarks and succeeded by cds postmarks.
Current Opening Bid: $500
Lot
672
(San Francisco) San Francisco, Cal. Sep 1, clear black cds (Williams SAF-260) and manuscript magenta "40" rate, with manuscript directive "Pr Steamer Panama 1st Sept" on 1849 folded letter (no contents) to Boston; a couple of file folds, small tear at top, Very Fine, ex-Nathan.Estimate $100 - 150.
Current Opening Bid: $50
Lot
673
(San Francisco) San Francisco, Cal., Dec 1 (1849), cds with boxed "80" rate handstamp on cover to Augusta, Georgia with enclosed eight-page letter datelined "Post Near Benicia Cala Nov 27th, 1849" which reads in part…I left this Post on the 2nd of August and proceeded to Sacramento City the rendeyvous, where the whole escort consisting of four officers including an assistant surgeon and 80 rank and file were to assemble. I do not include in this enumeration the engineer officers and their party. From this point we proceeded up the valley of the Sacramento River. In less than a week after the commencement of the march our command was reduced nearly one half by sickness, the sick being sent back to Major Kingsbury's camp about three miles below Sacramento City. We reached Lasseu's Ranche about 200 miles above the mouth of the river in about ten or twelve days, then it was determined that I should mount fourteen men and accompany the engineer officers as an escort, the whole escort having been found to be too unwieldy for the long and rapid marches which would be unavoidable in order to accomplish the object of the expedition…I will not follow the expedition party farther than to state that Capt. Warner and three of his men were shot by a party of Indians in ambush, the rest of the party running away without fireing a shot or bring off the dead…The expedition totally failed in fulfulling the object for which it was sent out…I will now give you some idea of the appearance of this glorious part of the world or as much of it as I have seen. Monterey is decidedly the most pleasant town that I have seen both on account of its climate the relative cheapness of the necessaries of life and nature of the country around there is more timber an article very scarce in the settled parts of California, in the vicinity of Monterrey than in the vicinity of any other town in the country…(I) have recently herd of the death of Lieut. Thorn. He was drowned in Colorado near eastern boundry of California. His death promotes me to a 1st Lieutenancy. A part of a printed price quotation was affixed over this last portion of the letter with 6 red wax seals., Very Fine.Estimate $500 - 750.
A RARE AND EARLY CALIFORNIA LETTER WITH MILITARY CONTENT WRITTEN BY WILLIAM M. GARDNER WHO WAS STATIONED AT BENICIA BARRACKS.
Lieutenant Gardner was stationed at Benicia, and in 1849 was in command of a small detachment to escort Captain Warner, United States Engineer, to explore the country for a practicable railroad route through the mountains. On entering the mountains, they were attacked by the Indians, who killed Warner and several others, also wounded several. The engineer being killed, the expedition was abandoned and the survivors returned to Benicia, where Lieutenant Gardner served as a company officer.nnBenicia Barracks (1849-1898) - Established as the Post near Benicia in 1849 during the California Gold Rush by Captain (Bvt. Lt. Colonel) Silas Casey, 2nd U.S. Infantry and named after the nearby town of Benicia. Renamed Benicia Barracks in 1852 by General Order #6, Division of the Pacific. Complete images:
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Current Opening Bid: $250
Lot
674
(San Francisco) Lot of three Covers with 80¢ Rates, three 1850 covers: two (SAF-270) in red with "80" integral rate, one in black with matching "80" rate handstamp, one with expertly mended tear, F.-V.F.Estimate $150 - 200.
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Current Opening Bid: $80
Lot
675 ()
(San Francisco) San Francisco, Cal. June 1, 40/80, large red cds with integral "80" overstamped with large red "40" and matching "Paid" handstamp on cover front to Boston, accompanied by original enclosure datelined "May 10, 1850" from J.B. Moore, postmaster, to "Madam" telling of her brother, Edward, losing his life in Mexico, etc., Very Fine, a very unusual and rare rerated integral "80" rate postmark.Estimate $100 - 150.
Complete images:
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Current Opening Bid: $50
Lot
676
(San Francisco) San Francisco, 1 July [1850] 40, light orange-red integral rate cds with matching straight line "PAID" on bluish folded letter to Rochdale, England, "via New York" manuscript endorsement, no New York transit marking evident, red tombstone "Paid In America Liverpool 26 Aug 50" handstamp upon arrival to England and backstamp partial green "Rochdale Au 27 1850 A"; letter datelined "July 1st 1850 Antelope California" reading, in part, "…Since that letter on the 14th inst, the town was again visited with awful flames which swept away thousands on thousands worth of property…men who went to bed at night worth their 60 or 70 thousand dollars…next noon, they would be beggars…The Antelope is doing no good just now, there are so many store ships…every day brings forth new discoveries in gold mines…I should take the Antelope hence to Sidney & from thence to England leaving this about 25h Decr…"; although not rated as such, the total rate for a letter to England would have been 59¢ (16¢ Atlantic sea postage, 40¢ US internal postage from California to NY, and 3¢ British internal postage); three vertical file folds with light wear, one through the Liverpool receipt marking, Fine, included is hand written letter by Mel Nathan with a rate breakdown, who surmises the full 59¢ rate was paid by the sender, this cover is the subject of an article written for Stamps Magazine (Nov. 11, 1972) by Dr. Milgram.Estimate $300 - 400.
The Pacific Mail Steamship Company's "California" departed San Francisco July 1, 1850, arriving into Panama Jul 20, six days crossing the isthmus, this cover then went aboard the US Mail Steamship Company's "Georgia" which departed Chagres July 26, 1850, arriving into New York August 7. The Cunard Line's "Canada" then carried it from New York (Aug 14 departure) to Liverpool (arrival Aug 26) where the "Paid in American Liverpool 26 Aug 50" red handstamp was applied.
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
677
(San Francisco) San Francisco, Cal. Oct 11, large red cds with "12½" matching rate handstamp on folded outer lettersheet to Comptroller in San Jose, docketing on flap "Oct 11th AD 1850", F.-V.F.Estimate $100 - 150.
Current Opening Bid: $50
Lot
678
(San Francisco) San Francisco, Cal. Oct 15, red-orange cds with matching "PAID" and italic font "59" rate marking (40¢ to NY from California, 16¢ trans-Atlantic postage to England, and 3¢ internal British postage) on bluish folded letter to England with additional markings "59" pencil, numerous marking including red New York "19" credit handstamp, red "America Liverpool PAID Dec 11 1850" handstamp and "PAID YD 12 De 12 1850" arrival marking to Surry, England; letter datelined "San Francisco Oct 15 1850" with mostly personal contents from a brother writing to his sister back in England; edge wear with some internal repairs including replacement/backing of a large portion of one of the flaps, attractive Very Fine appearance.Estimate $400 - 600.
A VERY RARE COVER SHOWING THE NUMERAL 59 RATE HANDSTAMP.
The Pacific Mail Steamship Company's "Carolina" left San Francisco Oct 15, 1850 and arrived into Panama Nov 3, 1850. After seven days transit of the isthmus, this cover was placed on the Empire City's "Crescent City" at Chagres on Nov 10, 1850 and arrived into New York Nov 21. There was no departure from New York to Liverpool for the foreseeable future, to the cover left Boston Nov 27 on the Cunard Line's "Cambria", arriving into Liverpool Dec 11, 1850.
Current Opening Bid: $200