Lot
743 
Nicaragua Line in Advance of the Mail, almost perfect strike of black handstamp on orange cover addressed to "Col Geo. W. White, Virgen Bay, To Nicaragua, Central America", about half of backflap missing, minor wear, Extremely Fine and an outstanding strike of this rare marking; with 1967 P.F. Certificate, which notes "that the Nicaragua Line marking is genuine, but decline to express an opinion as to the use of the cover"; likely simply carried from the west coast to Nicaragua.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Current Opening Bid: $375
Lot
744
Nicaragua Line In Advance Of The Mail., bold strike of oval handstamp on small ladies cover to Stockton carried entirely outside the mails, handed over to Adams Express company for transmission to Stockton with their blue rope oval handstamp of San Francisco next to the Nicaragua marking, Extremely Fine, ex-Lichtenstien.Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A GREAT RARITY. A SIMILAR EXAMPLE SOLD IN OUR SALE #26, LOT #174 (APRIL, 2007) WHERE IT REALIZED $3500.
This cover is one of only a very few incoming covers from the East, which was handed directly to Adams & Co's Express and was never handled by the Post Office; Ashbrook Vol. II, states, "Covers showing via Nicaragua marking that traveled from east to west are extremely rare.", he goes to state that he has seen only four covers with this Via Nicaragua marking going in either direction.
Current Opening Bid: $1,000
Lot
745
Via Nicaragua, Ahead of the Mails., full bold strike of red two-line handstamp on buff cover to Brunswick, Maine, franked with 1851 3¢ dull red, two singles (left stamp with minor edge wear being at edge of cover), tied by "New - York, Sep 9" cds, some light ink staining on verso only, Very Fine and attractive.Scott No. 11 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Current Opening Bid: $500
Lot
746
Via Nicaragua, Ahead of the Mails., partial strike of red two-line boxed handstamp on buff cover to Connecticut, franked with 1851 3¢ dull red pair tied by "New - York, Nov 29" cds; pencil notation indicates "Oct 31 '53" to year-date this cover, manuscript "Due 6" for apparent double rate; minor corner wear, F.-V.F.Scott No. 11 Estimate $300 - 400.
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
747
Via Nicaragua, Ahead of the Mails., partial strike of red two-line boxed handstamp on buff cover to Solon, Maine, franked with 1851 3¢ dull red pair (left stamp missing lower left corner, both cut in at top), tied by "New - York, Ship, Dec 24" cds; manuscript postmark "Plymouth, Me. Dec 30 Missent & Forwarded" at top, very minor cover wrinkling, Fine.Scott No. 11 Estimate $300 - 400.
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
748
Via Nicaragua, From Noisy Carriers Publishing Hall, San Francisco., greenish blue arc boxed forwarder handstamp on circa 1854 cover to Lynchburg, Va., franked with 1851 3¢ dull red, horizontal pair tied by "New - York, Feb 15" cds, manuscript endorsement lower left "Pr Steamer Sierra Nevada Via Nicaragua"; reverse with colorless embossed advertising of "Goodwin & Co., Dealers in Grocers & Provisions, San Francisco, Cala" on flap, slight corner wear, Very Fine, a wonderful and rare letter bag operator forwarding handstamp.Scott No. 11A Estimate $400 - 600.
Current Opening Bid: $200
Lot
749
Via Nicaragua, In Advance of the Mails, Sullivan, blue oval forwarder handstamp on 1854 folded letter to Boston, Ma., franked with 1851, 3¢ dull red pair with pen cancels (which have been added to the cover, replacing the original damaged pair of stamps when sold in our Sale #28, Lot #388), interesting business and personal letter regarding 2 men going home, one of whom has made $800-1,000, F.-V.F. appearance.Scott No. 11 Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $100
Lot
750
Via Nicaragua, Stmr Sierra Nevada, Advance of the Mails., nearly perfect strike of blue oval handstamp on folded letter datelined "San Francisco Sep 4, 1853", franked with horiz. pair 3¢ 1851 issue imperforate (left stamp defective) tied by "New York SHIP Oct 10" cds to Stamford, Connecticut, manuscript notation at top "P Nicaragua line though ahead Mails"; minor ink spots at upper right, Extremely Fine.Scott No. 11A Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
AN OUTSTANDING COVER AND LIKELY ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THIS HANDSTAMP.
Current Opening Bid: $750
Lot
751
Via Nicaragua, Stmr Sierra Nevada, Advance of the Mails, neat strike of blue oval handstamp on orange buff cover to Peters Creek P.O., Pa. franked with horizontal pair 1851 3¢ dull red (11A, margins to in at right), tied by "New-York Nov" cds; cover with slight corner wear, Very Fine and scarce.Scott No. 11A Estimate $500 - 750.
Current Opening Bid: $250
Lot
752
Office of New York and California Steamship Line, wonderful four-page illustrated lettersheet with three pages of printed advertising, and one for message; first page illustrates steamship and lists the names of the ships in the Nicaragua (Vanderbilt) line: Northern Light, Star of the West, Prometheus, Daniel Webster, Sierra, Nevada, Cortes, Uncle Sam, Pacific, and Brother Jonathan; second page contains more details on rates of passage, etc. with printed Cha's Morgan, Agent, No 2 Bowling Green, New York; third page has the letter datelined New York Dec 1, 1855 signed by Chas Morgan which reads in part "Grenada is not on our line, but if you will enclose a letter or letters to me for Col Walker, I have no doubt they will reach him." Colonel Walker being the filibusterer in Nicaragua; fourth page shows large illustration of the steamship line's office in New York with G. H. Wines & Co.'s California Express in lower level, along with map showing location in NY., no envelope accompanying, Very Fine and rare.Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
A WONDERFUL COLLATERAL ITEM FOR THE NICARAGUA LINE COLLECTOR. EXHIBIT WORTHY.
Cornelius Vanderbilt opened a route across Nicaragua in 1851 to compete with the U.S. Mail Steamship Company and Pacific Mail Steamship Company which held the U.S. Mail Contract via Panama. His handstamps typically boasted "Ahead of the Mails." He subsequently became a competitor to the PMSS on the Panama route. Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (4.6MB).
Current Opening Bid: $600