Lot
764 
Acapulco, Old Mexico January 19-[18]52, dateline on letter contained within brown cover with "Steam Ship 20" black handstamp on entry into U.S. (New York) addressed to Springfield, Vermont, contents, read, in part, "…I left New York Dec 20-arrived at Kingston, Jamaica on the 30-left on the 31-arrived at Navy Bay January 8-52-arrived at Panama on the 6 & left on the 12-arrived at this place this morning-leave tonight. Calculate to arrive in California in 9 days. This place is 1500 miles from Panama, 3000 from the city of Mexico, 2000 from California. We have 500 passengers aboard, some sick and died this morning…Henry Whitcomb", cover missing most of backflap, Very Fine.Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $100
Lot
765
Acapulco, Consulate USA, blue circular eagle cachet handstamp on 1861 cover to New York with manuscript "40" rate and "per U.S.S. War Cyane Via Acapulco" with notation on verso "Received May 25th, Answered 1861"; heavy linen lined cover which must have held several lettersheets to warrant the 40 cent rate in 1861, opened top and left, Very Fine and attractive.Estimate $400 - 600.
The USS "Cyane" was a sloop-of-war in the United States Navy during the Mexican-American War. It was used on the coasts of North and South America until its retirement in 1871.
Current Opening Bid: $200
Lot
766
Acapulco Agency of P.M.S.S. Co April 6, 1866 (Pacific Mail Steamship Company), manuscript endorsement on 1864 3¢ pink entire (U58) addressed to New York City, postmarked on arrival by "New York City Apr 20" cds with fancy concentric boxes killer on indicium, included is original enclosure datelined Acapulco [Mexico] April 3rd, 1866 with contents which read, in part, "…I got no tidings of the book the newspaper mail does not reach Benicia until one day after letter mail. I had told them not to send any more to me as I was going up and but for your Envelope being in mourning it would have been kept. Some of the Engineers fetched it for me. I go up on the steamer of 26 this month…Andw J. Glover", Very Fine.Estimate $300 - 400.
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Current Opening Bid: $290
Lot
767
Brig Aleutian Aug 10th 1849, Letter No 3, At sea, Latitude 30°6' S, Longt 75°59' W, dateline on bluish folded letter postmarked red "New Orleans, La. Oct 6" cds with matching red "SHIP" and large red "12" (10¢ postage and 2¢ ship fee) to Boston with endorsement "Via New Orleans paid", with transcription of lengthy contents that reads, in part, "…We left Rio April 20…on the 22 of May 23 entered the Straits of Magellan…in company with the schooner 'S.A. Sutter' of Warren R.I….owned by a company of gold seekers…left the straits July 30…Callao Aug 19th…we find that letters can be sent via Panama from this port by prepaying the postage (62½ cts per half oz). On finding the rate of postage I had half-a-mind to destroy my letter but supposing that this long lapse of time if you did how hear from us, would cause you anxiety, I conclude to send this and having one written to Mother I enclose it, as its weight will not double the expense in this manner…Henry R. Taylor"; letter describes in wonderful detail all the trials and tribulations of the trip via the "straits", Very Fine and choice.Estimate $400 - 600.
AN OUTSTANDING LETTER FULL OF DETAILS OF THE VOYAGE TO CALIFORNIA.
Current Opening Bid: $500
Lot
768
New Orleans "Steam" covers, a very interesting group of four covers with "Steam" handstamps and all with 40¢ rate handstamps except one which is rated with 30¢ handstamp (the "Panama" rate), originated from Panama circa 1849, second is 1849 folded letter "40" handstamp (fancy hollowed out numerals) with manuscript directive "per Overland Mail Valparaiso" on blue folded letter to Massachusetts datelined "Brig Charlotte at Sea Latt 35^ S. Long 72^ West, May 3d 1849 200 miles from Valparaiso" from William Bartlett writing while en route to San Francisco (featured in Oct, 1980 Western Express article); third is cover to San Francisco, Alta California with red "Steam" and "40" marking; and last is folded letter to New York with matching "Steam" and hollowed out matching "40" rate handstamp on folded letter to New York datelined "Talenano Chilli May 14 1848" with four page letter detailing his trip thus far en route to California; accompanied by a "brass token" showing a miner holding a chunk of gold with the reverse showing the bust of Liberty and dated "1849", F.-V.F.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Current Opening Bid: $1,250
Lot
769
New Orleans, La. Jun 11, [likely 1850], black cds with "30" in circle rate handstamp on folded letter to Pittsburg, 30¢ was the rate from Panama to the east coast, letter missing first page, so no datelined, remainder of letter reads, in part, "…Mr. Bussey went forward to Panama to hire a room and be in readiness to receive the goods. On Tuesday morning I along with 3 natives started. Each of them carrying a heavy trunk weighing a hundred pounds or more except one, which weighed 64 and carried by a boy, only 16 years of age…The constructing of a railroad across would not be half so stupendous an affair as the Baltimore & Ohio R…Some persons had been waiting 6 weeks, the steamer tickets were all sold up to Sept. and passengers still crowding in from the states, when we landed it was supposed there were 2,000…It appears a written notice was posted at the door of the consul one day that Cala. Mail would be opened next at 12 O'clock and we knew nothing of it till too late…Joseph Parker" some small cover flaws, Fine.Estimate $150 - 200.
Current Opening Bid: $80
Lot
770
(Peru) Steam 30, straight line handstamp with circular "30" rate both in red, with red "New Orleans Mar 13" (1850) cds on folded letter datelined "Paite (Peru) March 11th 1850" to N. Fairhaven, Mass., F.-V.F., a nice letter from a whaling ship.Estimate $150 - 200.
Current Opening Bid: $80
Lot
771
South Pacific Ocean Sept 21, 1851, dateline on four-page bluish folded letter to Glens Falls, NY with "Steamship 20" due rating black circular handstamp of New York, contents read, in part, "…I have not drank any liquor for 13 months except one glas with medicen 6 monts ago and I am determined never to drink eny more as a beverage. I should not lost so mutch money if I had of had my head clear of that detested enemy of all mancind…I am now on the coast of Peru on a whaeling voyge after sperm oil whales ar very scarse hear and I have only taken 50 bbls sense I rote you before. My crew is well and a good set of men and all that I want is whales. I am in hopes that I shall bea at holm in 2½ years from this day at the longest…when you wright send 2 letters and direct them as folows: Capt. H. Simons, Barque Platina, South Pasific Ocean, Care of Mr. Bathews, Payta, Coast of Peru…I took a girl as my wife all thow we war not maried and she posed as my wife and no one knew to the contrary and while I was gone last voyge she spent 700 dollars for me and then tride to sell my house but no one would by it from her and she went with every body that she could…it cost me good 1200 dollars before I got threw with her…Hank Simons."; minor toning at folds, Very Fine and an excellent whaling letter.Estimate $300 - 400.
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Current Opening Bid: $150