Lot
772 
Panama March 17th, 1849, dateline on folded cover to New York, endorsed by sender at top "United States of America" with different manuscript "30" rate, excellent letter which reads in part, "We have arrived safe in Panama about ten days since I wrote you by the "Crescent City" some 4 weeks ago. I'm happy to say that we have at last procured a passage to Sutters Fort California. Mr. Lippet of Providence has purchased a small schooner and Capt. Williams is master of her. Shall sail in a few days will take only 12 passengers and will coast all the way up to San Francisco. If you have any friends coming this way without steamer tickets, I should advise them not to come. There is now here about 1000 people without any tickets for California, and no possible chance for them any. Many will no doubt be obliged to return home. The expenses are more than double than we anticipated. Steamer Steerage tickets, have been sold here at auction $500.00 each", Very Fine.Estimate $500 - 750.
THIS IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED COVER TO NEW YORK WITH THE 30¢ STEAMSHIP RATE FROM PANAMA.
Current Opening Bid: $250
Lot
773
[To the U.S. via Panama], On Board Steamer Cherokee off Chagus [Chagres]. Feb 26th, 1850, dateline on folded letter with red two-line "STEAM SHIP" handstamp and matching "30" rate, addressed to Bucksport, Maine; transcribed contents included read, in part, "…these steamers could take 500 persons but you are mistaken all this boat can lodge is 200 little over they are so much take up with state rooms at the same time they crowded in 360 into this boat, it is so bad the passengers held a meeting and passed resolutions against Howland & Aspinwale which will be posted at home…the Tennessee has not arived at Panama yet and I am in no hurry as it is cheaper living on board than ashore. I always thought Chagus [Chagres] was a low dirty place but was much mistaken…there are four steamers here now…natives…offer to take us up to Gorgona for $8 but I shall pay $5 and no more…Sewall", couple tiny edge tears, Very Fine and an excellent letter.Estimate $400 - 600.
Current Opening Bid: $200
Lot
774
Panama 3 mo 14th 1850, manuscript dateline on folded cover from Panama to New York, blue folded letter with New York black handstamps "STEAM SHIP" and "30" rate marking addressed to Cedar Swamp, Queens Co., N.Y., letter reads in part, "…The mail leaves in about an hour and as there will be no opportunity of sending a letter for about a month I embrace the opportunity to inform thee of my arrival here &c. We arrived at Chagres on first day last and that afternoon started in our canoes for Gorgora. It took us about two days and a pleasanter time I never had…The first night we stopped about 12 miles from Chagres at an Indian Town wrapped ourselves in our cloaks and slept on our baggage in the canoe People may talk about the Chagres never being unhealthy but with common prudence (It is as healthy at least at present as any other place) we walked from Gorgona here yesterday (about 30 miles) with the thermometer at about 90 and over one of the hardest roads in the world. There are about 1500 Americans with tickets purchased before they came for steamers that have not yet arrived, and have been here from two weeks to two months…I think I shall take the Bark John B. Gardner…L. Frost,", Very Fine and choice.Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $100
Lot
775
Panama, 14th March, 1850, dateline on folded letter with black handstamp two-line "STEAM SHIP" and matching "30" rate marking (New York markings) to Boston; business contents signed Zachiricson Nelson & Co.; vertical file fold with toning along fold, Very Fine, A nice example of the scarce 30 cent Steamship rate into New York.Estimate $100 - 150.
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Current Opening Bid: $50
Lot
776
Forwarded By Corwine, Bro. & Co., Panama, N.G., bold, black three-line handstamp on brown cover to New York City with manuscript "60" rate, light pencil notation left "Panama Mch 20 50", slight cover wear, Very Fine and rare, Note on verso indicates three examples of this Corwine handstamp known.Estimate $500 - 750.
Current Opening Bid: $250
Lot
777
Panama, N.Y. Jul 21 [1850], handstamp used by U.S. Despatch Agent in Panama (New Grenada), excellent strike of black cds with black New York "Steamship 30 cts" handstamp on 1850 folded letter addressed to Philadelphia, datelined "Panama July 14th, 1850" and reads, in part, "…In great haste I sit down to give you a few lines previous to my embarcation tomorrow for San Francisco. I have now been here nearly a month & as the place bears every appearance of a down hill progress before long, I thought I would not risk my fortunes, with those of Panama…I shall take measures to have the letters which I wrote for in my last forwarded to me from Callao & shall probably make use of them at some future time. Please write immediately on reciept of this to Sacramento City as heretofore…I have shipped on the Columbus, for San Francisco & have to go aboard tonight…tell me what are the prospects of Realejo becoming the western terminus of the Nicaragua route to California & whether that route bids fair to be the route in future between the U. States & California…Isaac Wister", Extremely Fine and choice, Very rare handstamps; with 1978 P.F. certificate.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
ONLY ABOUT A DOZEN EXAMPLES OF THIS ERROR ARE KNOWN, WITH THIS BEING PERHAPS THE FINEST.
This datestamp was intended to read "N.G." for New Granada, but was mistakenly inscribed as "N.Y." The marking was used exclusively on mail originating in Panama or delivered to the Consul there. Both the New York "Steamship 30" rate marking and the "Panama, N.Y." U.S. despatch agent's markings are only known used for a few months in mid-1850.
Current Opening Bid: $500
Lot
778
PANAMA, perfect strike of red straight line on 1850 folded cover to Boston, with matching red "Forwarded by Corwine Brothers. Panama N.G." oval forwarder handstamp & black rate handstamp "Steamship 30 Cts"; letter datelined "Lima Sept 9 1850" and reads, in part, "…quite ready to return to China sometime next month…since I have left China I have lost the run of the Amn [American] Ships trading to the East Indies…" additional business contents including mention of the California trade, Extremely Fine.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
THIS THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THE RARE STRAIGHT LINE PANAMA HANDSTAMP.
Current Opening Bid: $375
Lot
779
PANAMA, bold red straight line handstamp on bluish folded letter with "Steam Ship 30 Cts" rate stamp in black addressed to Georgia; contents datelined "Panama Sept 27 1850" reads, in part, "…we had a very Rough time crossing the gulf but had good Health except sea sick we came from New Orleans to Chagris for 40 stearage then up Chagris River in a small Boat for 8 Dollars we will leave here this evening on the steam ship General Warren at 140 Cabin…we will get in to the Minds [mines] about 20 Oct…direct your letter to Cullomia Cal…"; cover with some discoloration, otherwise Very Fine, ex-Jessup, cover was written up by Ashbrook in the Stamp Specialist Vol 1, Part 2, page 277.Estimate $400 - 600.
Current Opening Bid: $200
Lot
780
Pan. & San. Fran. S.S. Jan. 15., light strike of red cds on 1851 folded letter from San Francisco to Boston with circular "Steam Ship Cts" with black "40" concentrically struck at right; business letter datelined "San Francisco Jan 15, 1851"; light vertical file fold, F.-V.F.Estimate $400 - 600.
The "Pan. & San Fran. S.S." circular datestamp was used between November 1850 and June 1852 on mail handled by route agents aboard ships of the Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company, contract mail carried by PMSS Co. was received in locked bags, but letters picked up en route were postmarked by official route agents, as evidenced by 25 recorded examples of these rare markings on covers.
Current Opening Bid: $200
Lot
781
Pannamare [Panama City] June 29, 1851, dateline on bluish folded letter addressed to Voluntown, Conn, with bold two-line "STEAM SHIP" in black and matching "40" in circle rate marking; letter reads, in part, "…the steamer went to Havannah wher we lad to stop 1-1/2 days we had good fare on the Gorga but the Falcon is a hard oald ship…the burths was covered with lice so wee thought best to slepe on deck which was full as comfatable wee arived to shagres [Chagres] the twenty third it is the most sunkon places that I ever saw…we stoped about two hours till wee could git a bout to go up the river with 4 natives when wee had got ten miles night over tuck us…my helth has ben very good all except being sea sick on the Gorga som of the company is rather sick to day with the Diare but nothing dangers…about fifteen minets ago to blacks men brout out of the prison by the soldiers dresed in white a companed by a cathalic prest led up to the stakes the pres sat down on a stool the murders kneeled down to prests throde three cloak over Theresienstadt hedds and whispered to parden there sins then they was each one tied to the stake while forteen natives soldiers shot, one strugld but they shot him over such site I never saw before but it was two good for them they was two of the five that murderd the ten os shagres river men women and chrilden…I will write you as soon as I git to sanfrancisco I have seen a lot just returning from the mines with good nuse and I feel in couraged to go on…Henry F. Douglass", toned at edges and along folds, some staining at left and pressed out vertical file fold, Very Fine.Estimate $300 - 400.
Current Opening Bid: $150