Lot
694 
(San Joaquin) Knight's Ferry, California, red straight line postmark (SAJ-1150) with "Sept 29th" manuscript date on cover to Vermont with manuscript "10" rate marking; cover with edge wear and toning, F.-V.F., one of California's rarest straight line postmarks.Estimate $300 - 400.
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
695
(San Joaquin) Knight's Ferry, California, black straight line postmark (SAJ-1150) with "28 Mch" manuscript date on cover to Vermont, franked with two 3¢ 1851 issue pen canceled adhesives, forwarded with blue "Irasburgh, Vt Apr 27" cds & "Paid 3" in circle to Northfield, internal silking & cover flaws, lovely Very Fine appearance, a very rare California straight line postmark.Scott No. 11 Estimate $300 - 400.
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
696
(San Joaquin) Stockton, Cal. Nov 29, bold blue cds (SAJ-2310) with matching handstamps "PAID" and "40" on neat buff cover to Fulton, Missouri, excellent condition for this cover; second cover from the same correspondence going the other way with indistinct postmark of "Fulton, Mo. Feb 2" and handstamped "5" rate crossed with manuscript "40" rate added, addressed to N. K. Grove, Stockton, Upper California, with latter cover stained on verso only, Very Fine.Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $100
Lot
697
(San Joaquin) Stockton, Cal. Apr 8 40, black integral datestamp with manuscript "40" integral rate on folded letter datelined "Maryposa, California gold mines April the 4 / 50" with details of trip to California, cost of provisions, mining activity, the letter reads in part, "…I will now give you the history of our journey…We came to Council Bluffs on the Missouri River a distance of 260 miles, there we organized a company of 40 wagons, we travel together to Fort Laramie 500 miles, there the company split in a in small companies on the account of fead (food), we had the best of feed to Fort Laramie, it was a very short distance to Salt Lake, a distance of 530 but we got there very well and had a good journey. We left home May the 8 and arrived on at the Salt Lake August the 17, the Mormon settlement. The Mormons used us very kindly, they told us we were too late in the season to go north route, the fead was very scarce and we would be caught in the snow.We thought of wintering there, but a company of 100 wagons made-up to go South on what is called the Spanish Trail and come out at Williams ranch and then travel north again on the coast of San Francisco, but about 30 wagons of us left the Spanish trail and traveled west to save 400 miles travel and come to Walkers pass, through the Sierra Nevada mountains but we had nothing but a desert to travel through and mountains. We lost all of our oxen wagons and everything we had except what we took on our backs…we left about 50 men women and children there was four families. We traveled about 400 miles and came to these mines and the miners made-up provisions and sent back after them, they got all through except four men died. We was 30 days from the time we left our oxen until we came here. We lived on acorns and what we could get from the Indians. The Indians were very friendly, about 15 days the most of us got so weak we could scarcely travel but after a journey of 2000 miles travel we arrived in good health. We got here the 1st of February…I will now give you a description of the mines, there is no stealing or robbing but a good deal of gambling and drinking, the most of the miners have not made more than their board this winter, there's been a good deal of rain but not much snow. Provisions is very dear…a rocker to wash gold $30 to $50…some miners made from $8 to $30 a day, while others do not more than make their board…The largest piece of gold that I've seen was 17 ounces. I have heard of 25 pound lumps and have seen rock with gold through it weighing from one to one hundred pounds but they are scarce. Small pieces from one to five pounds will sell for their weight but I'm not lucky enough to find them…", the letter goes on to tell of farming & ranching in California, Very Fine and an outstanding letter, this correspondence was the subject of an article by Dr. Milgram in the April, 1988 issue of Western Express.Estimate $300 - 400.
From the Worden correspondence to New York (see the Oregon Territorial covers from this historic correspondence).
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
698
(San Joaquin) Stockton, Cal Jun 13 [1851], fine blue cds with matching "80" in oval double-rate buff cover to Vermont, with original enclosure datelined "Coyote Flat April 24, 1851" reading, in part, "…after having removed from Stockton and settled in the mining districts in the mountains, I hasten to inform you of my whereabouts. I am at, or very near, the diggings called Coyote Flat, distant from Stockton about 75 miles…We have also started a four mule team hauling goods to the mines, therefore it costs us nothing for freight except the expenses of the team…I am within ten miles of Woods Diggings…", missing part of backflap, Very Fine, a scarce 80¢ double rate use., ex-Haas.Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $100
Lot
699
(San Joaquin) Stockton, Cal. correspondence (1853-54), lot of eight covers/folded letters all addressed to William Wallace in Richmond, Va., all but one postmarked with Stockton, Cal cds's, one postmarked San Francisco, with "10", "20" or "30" cent rate handstamps, most with arrival docketing, F.-V.F., an interesting group.Estimate $200 - 300.
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Current Opening Bid: $100
Lot
700
(San Joaquin) Stockton, Cal. Sep 15, black cds with matching "Paid 12" in circle handstamp on cover to Groton, Vermont, Very Fine, a nice cover illustrating prepayment of double 6¢ transcontinental rate, ex-Polland.Estimate $100 - 150.
Current Opening Bid: $50
Lot
701
(San Joaquin) Stockton Cal. Aug 30, partial cds ties 1857 1¢ Blue, type V (24, small defects) on circular rate folded letter to North Danville, Vermont; enclosed circular has two pages touting the "Stockton Female Seminary" noting that its sixth session will begin September 10th, 1860, with large illustration of the Seminary building; second page has details of the courses, etc.; light cover wrinkles, Very Fine.Estimate $500 - 750.
AN ATTRACTIVE AND RARE TRANS-CONTINENTAL PRINTED MATTER USE.
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Current Opening Bid: $250
Lot
702
(Sierra) Downieville, Cal. Feb. 15, 1859, cds's on buff cover to Boston franked with 1857 10¢ green, type III (33) tied by fancy star in circle with hollow center, Very Fine, this is featured in an article written by Dr. Milgram in Western Express (Dec. 2000).Estimate $300 - 400.
A LOVELY CALIFORNIA FANCY CANCEL WITH ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE HOLLOW STAR.
The are six different type Star cancels used from Downieville. This is the first type and the rarest of all, thought to be only two known examples.
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
703
(Sierra) Downieville, Cal., May 1, 1862, cds (SIE-290) on cover to Kenosha, Wis.; double the 10¢ rate cover franked with six examples of 1861 3¢ rose adhesive and two 1861 1¢ adhesives, all socked-on-the-nose with fancy Star handstamp; two 3¢ adhesives with small defect, cover with minor corner wear at left, Very Fine and attractive, A striking combination of stamps and star killers on a double-rate cover.Scott No. 63 + 65 Estimate $400 - 600.
Current Opening Bid: $200