Lot
141 
(San Francisco) San Francisco/May 15 (Cal.). Bold cds (no Cal. and postmark is Unlisted in Williams) with large "40" rate handstamp on buff envelope to Essex, Connecticut, sealed flap tears, Very Fine and choice. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $170
Lot
142
(San Francisco) San Francisco/1 Aug./40 (Cal). Bold orange red cds (Williams SAF-290) with integral "40" rate on light blue envelope to Providence Rhode Island, cover struck with straight line "Paid" and with manuscript endorsement "pr. Steamer Panama, Aug. 1st.", tiny stain and edge tear, Very Fine. Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $100
Lot
143
(San Francisco) San Francisco/15 Sep./40 (Cal). Bold strike of black cds (Williams SAF-290) with integral "40" on light blue folded letter to Kingstown, Mass., Very Fine. Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $105
Lot
144
(San Francisco) San Francisco (Cal.). Bold black straight line postmark (Williams SAF-230) with manuscript "July 2" (1849) date in magenta and matching "40" on folded letter to Boston, Mass., Extremely Fine, one of the finest strikes, used on only 3 sailing dates of June 20, July 2 and August 1, 1849. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Realized: $1,350
Lot
145
(San Francisco) San Francisco. Straight line postmark with "June 20" and "40" magenta manuscript date and rate marking on folded letter to Saint Louis, Missouri, where forwarded to Liberty, Missouri, with partial red Saint Louis postmark dated July 14 and "for 5 / 45" additional manuscript rate marking, letter from Peter H. Burnett is headed "San Francisco, June 19 / 49" and pertains to personal and business matters but includes the comments "All is perfect bustle and confusion, and I cannot yet tell who is good and who is bad." and "This place is a perfect whirlpool, and I have scarcely time to get through the business imposed upon me." plus "I am located at San Francisco with an Agency at Sutter's Fort and will practice law and give especial attention to the collection of debts.", some discoloration specks & stain at bottom right, Very Fine, ex-Haas and ex-Polland, illustrated in Coburn's Letters of Gold (page 292). Estimate $500 - 750.
The San Francisco straight line postmark was used only on mail dispatched on the third, fourth, and fifth contract sailings from San Francisco to Panama in 1849. It was used on some mail dispatched on the first departure of the S.S. Panama on June 20 (including this folded letter), all mail dispatched on the second departure of the S.S. Oregon on July 2, and some mail dispatched on the second departure of the S.S. California on August 1. The straight line postmark was preceded by manuscript postmarks and succeeded by cds postmarks.
Peter H. Burnett served as California's only elected pre-statehood Governor and then as first state Governor from December 20, 1849, until January 9, 1851. California was admitted as a state on September 9, 1850. San Franciscans first learned the news from a banner hung from the rigging of the S.S. Oregon upon her sixth return trip from Panama on October 18, 1850.
Realized: $1,350
Lot
146
(San Francisco) (San Francisco, Cal.). Bold strike of San Francisco boxed "2" on 1849 blue folded letter datelined Astoria, Oregon Territory, October 23rd, 1849, carried privately to San Francisco and put into the Post Office illegally as a local letter, file fold and 2 ink spots, Very Fine, Sent from Astoria, Oregon to San Francisco on the "Bark Dimon, Capt. Reynard". Any cover from Oregon in this period is very scarce. Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $1,050
Lot
147
(San Francisco) (San Francisco, Cal.). Fine strike of San Francisco boxed "2" rate handstamp on 1849 folded cover datelined "San Francisco Harbor, Onboard Ship York, October 3rd, 1849" used locally and addressed to "General Wilson of Missouri, Navy Agent for, San Francisco, California", file folds, Very Fine and rare, a rare pre-statehood use of the local 2¢ rate. Estimate $400 - 600.
Realized: $230
Lot
148
(San Francisco) (San Francisco, Cal.). 1849 folded letter from Ohio with manuscript postmark of "Bethany, O./June 4" with matching "40" manuscript rate addressed to San Francisco, forwarded by the postmaster to Culloma with manuscript "12 ½" forwarding at local rate for a total of "52 ½" cents, file fold and toning at edges, F.-V.F. Estimate $200 - 300.
Miners often left there real address with the postmaster and had mail simply addressed to San Francisco and then it was forwarded to destination. This was most often done by an expressman, this is a scarce forwarding by the Post Office.
Realized: $105
Lot
149
(San Francisco) San Francisco, Cal./Nov. 1. Cds (Williams SAF-260) on 1849 stampless folded letter with boxed "40" rate handstamp, datelined "Middle Fork of the American River", forwarded outside of the mails to San Francisco, then East via Panama to Wheeling, Virginia, a very nice miners letter home, letter talks of his appearance (I am black as an Indian and as fat as a grizzly bear.), grub, success of some, not of other, plus one page detailing his finding at the mines from Sept. 10 to 29, 1849, in which he averaged over one ounce a day at $16 an ounce, F.-V.F. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $325
Lot
150
(San Francisco) San Francisco, Cal./Nov.1. Cds (Williams SAF-260) on 1849 stampless folded letter to Hartford, Ct. with boxed "40" rate handstamp, small tear at top, F.-V.F. Estimate $200 - 300.
Great letter: "I reached this port today in the Steamer 'Unicorn'. The 'Hartford' could get no coal at Acapulco and it was decided to start her on to this place without it unless it can be obtained here to send down to meet her" and later in the letter "Expected to find letter from you here but am disappointed, no mail having been received form New York for four months.".
Realized: $135