Lot
734 
Carson Valley, U.T. Mar 10 [1859], black cds with pen strokes canceling 1853-55 10¢ Nesbitt entire (U16) to Miss Lydia B. Brown, Middletown, in the care of Pardon Brown, R.I., with manuscript route directive at lower left "(via the way San Francisco)"; photocopy (not original) of enclosure included datelined "Steamboat Valley March 7/59"; carried by Snowshoe Thompson over the Sierras to California, thence by steamers and the isthmus of Panama to the east coast, flap torn, Very Fine.Scott No. U16 Estimate $750 - 1,000.
A RARE "SNOWSHOE THOMPSON" CARRIED COVER ON THE CHORPENNING ROUTE FROM CARSON VALLEY TO PLACERVILLE.
The Pardon Brown correspondence is noted for several covers carried by Snowshoe Thompson's express from Carson Valley to Placerville during the winters of 1857-58 and 1858-1859. This cover would have been carried by Thompson from the Carson Valley post office in his role as a Chorpenning's sub-contractor for the mails, from Carson Valley to Placerville. See the article "Across the Sierra Nevada Mountains by Snow-Shoe" by Risvold and Frajola in Chronicle 215 (Aug. 2007, p. 201-211).
Current Opening Bid: $375
Lot
735
Per Overland Mail via Placerville and Salt Lake, Hurrah! But we must have the [pointing hand to train], illustrated propaganda design (D'Alessandris Type B-3) on light yellow cover franked with 1861 3¢ rose (65, well centered, corner defect) tied by double circle "Camptonville, Cal. Feb 18, 1864" postmark to Skowhegan, Maine; slight reduction at left just into design, F.-V.F., ex-Knapp and Baker, last sold in the April, 1978 Siegel Sale #526 (Lot #45) where it realized $4250 hammer.Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
A NICE EXAMPLE OF THIS EXCEEDINGLY RARE WESTERN RAILROAD PROPAGANDA DESIGN WITH THE CHORPENNING ROUTE DESIGNATION.
Eight examples of this railroad propaganda design are known (per the D'Alessandris census data in the Sept, 2016 and June, 2020 issues of Western Express) with the "Via Placerville and Salt Lake" Chorpenning Route designation. The same design is more common with the "Via Los Angeles" Butterfield Route designation.
Current Opening Bid: $750
Lot
736
Overland Mail via Los Angeles, group of three covers, first with manuscript sender's endorsement at upper left of first cover in lot on 1853-55 10¢ Nesbitt cover with legible postmark "San Francisco, Cal Nov 1, 1858" written by Edwin Stanton (Secretary of War under Lincoln) to his wife in Washington DC; second nearly identical cover (same address, hand, etc.) postmarked "Sep 6, 1858" but without routing endorsement; third cover is very tattered illustrated "Overland Mail Stage Via Los Angeles" cover to Mass but with upper right corner torn away; first and second covers sound, Fine.Estimate $200 - 300.
Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (1.1MB).
Current Opening Bid: $100
Lot
737
Per Overland Mail Stage, Via Los Angeles. In Hope of the [train illustration], printed propaganda design (D'Alessandris Type A-4) on light yellow cover with black cds "San Francisco, Cal. Aug 26, 1859" tying 1857 10¢ green Type III (#33, tiny margin flaw), slight reduction at right, opened on two sides, Very Fine, a very rare design with only four reported in the D'Alessandris census data., realized $1500 in 1987 Siegel Rarities Sale #679 (lot #160).Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
ONE OF THE RAREST TYPES OF RAILROAD PROPAGANDA COVERS.
Two articles by David D'Alessandris in the Sept, 2015 and June, 2020 issues of Western Express catalogued and provided a comprehensive census of the Railroad Propaganda Covers.
Current Opening Bid: $500
Lot
738
Overland, San Francisco via Los Angeles - U.S. Mail, illustrated Four-Horse Stagecoach woodblock design (D'Alessandris Type J-1) on cover to Brooklyn, N.Y., franked with 1857 10¢ green, type II (32) tied by "San Francisco, Cal., May 6, 1859" cds; small filing pinholes at right including one through stamp, Very Fine, a lovely illustrated cover.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
The December, 2022 issue of Western Express contained a comprehensive article and census by David D'Alessandris on the "Overland Mail Illustrated Stagecoach Covers". In that census, 23 examples of the Type J-1 design are recorded.
Current Opening Bid: $500
Lot
739
Overland Mail, Via Los Angeles, illustrated Four-Horse Stagecoach design (D'Alessandris Type I-3) on cover to Tauton, Mass, franked with 1857 10¢ green Type V (35) tied by "San Francisco, Cal Dec 19, 1859" black cds; cover cleaned and sealed tear under adhesive at top right & top left, Very Fine appearance, one of only four examples of this Type I-3 design recorded in the D'Alessandris census.Estimate $400 - 600.
Current Opening Bid: $200
Lot
740
"Per Overland Mail Via Los Angeles", illustrated Four-Horse Stagecoach design with printer's identifier "Geo. H. Bell, Stationer, 153 Montgomery St., San Francisco" beneath design on yellow cover to Maine, postmarked 1857 10¢ green type V (35, small defect) tied by bold "Columbia, Cal Aug 2, 1860" black cds, reduced irregularly at left, F.-V.F., David D'Alessandris' provided a census of known illustrated stagecoach covers in the Dec, 2022 issue of Western Express, his census indicated that there are 11 examples of this Type F2 propaganda cover., ex-Kramer.Scott No. 35 Estimate $400 - 600.
The first U.S. overland mail contract connecting San Francisco to the Mississippi River cities was made with the Overland Mail Company as contractor. The "Southern" route name quickly became synonymous with the Company president, John Butterfield. This was a biweekly service (later more frequently between Los Angeles and San Francisco) in operation from September 16, 1858 through March 1861, when because of the impending Civil War, Congress determined to move the overland mail route north to the Central Overland Route.
Current Opening Bid: $200
Lot
741
"Per Overland Mail Via Los Angeles", illustrated Four-Horse Stagecoach design on circa 1860 yellow cover to Hanover, N.H., indistinct balloon-style cds ties 1857 10¢ green (35), minor toned spots in address area, Very Fine and attractive, David D'Alessandris' article in a recent issue of Western Express notes that there are only four examples of this Type F1 propaganda cover.Scott No. 35 Estimate $500 - 750.
The first U.S. overland mail contract connecting San Francisco to the Mississippi River cities was made with the Overland Mail Company as contractor. The "Southern" route name quickly became synonymous with the Company president, John Butterfield. This was a biweekly service (later more frequently between Los Angeles and San Francisco) in operation from September 16, 1858 through March 1861, when because of the impending Civil War, Congress determined to move the overland mail route north to the Central Overland Route.
Current Opening Bid: $250
Lot
742
"Per Overland Mail, Via Los Angeles", illustrated Four-Horse Stagecoach design with printer's inscription "J. E. Damon, Bookseller and Stationer, 102 Com'al St." (San Francisco) on yellow cover addressed to Rev. G. B. Knickerbacker, Minneapolis, Minnesota; no indication of postal use, Extremely Fine, D'Alessandris' census indicates that there are nine examples of this Type I-2 propaganda cover.Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $100