Lot 65
(Post Office) Appointment of William Van Voorhies as the Agent of the Postmaster General in California. Handwritten letter headed "Post Office Department, November 1st, 1848", delivered in person or by hand to "Wm. V. Voorhies Esqr, Present", and signed by Postmaster General "C. Johnson" with Post Office Department embossed seal (five pages on two sheets with original ribbon tie, with the sheets reversed to display the signature page first), among the key points are "Being authorized by an Act of Congress, approved 14th August, 1848, to employ an Agent in making arrangements for the establishment of Post Offices and for the transmission, receipt and conveyance of letters in California, I hereby appoint you such Agent… your first duty will be to proceed to the selection of suitable persons for Postmasters at San Diego, San Pedro, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Monterey, and at such other points on the Pacific at which the United States steam mail Packets shall touch as may need such appointments. For San Francisco a Postmaster has already been appointed, Samuel Yorke At Lee Esq, who will repair by the first opportunity to that place… as no [Post] route into the interior of California has yet been created by act of Congress, you will have to make the supply of each office situated in the interior conditioned upon the expense thereof being defrayed out of the net proceeds of such office. This restriction will necessarily keep the Post route arrangements, which you may create, upon an economical footing… William Nelson Esq. United States Consul at Panama will be the Mail Agent of the United States for the Pacific mails. You will promptly advise him by the earliest opportunity of every office put in operation upon the coast… so that he may properly bag the mails for those places…." (Capt. William G. Marcy was appointed postmaster in Monterey subsequent to this letter, and Samuel Yorke At Lee failed to serve as postmaster in San Francisco), minor edge wear and toning along one edge, Very Fine.Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
William Van Voorhies established the first official Post Offices in California at Monterey and San Francisco in February of 1849. He was then replaced as Special Postal Agent in California by R. T. P. Allen after Postmaster General Cave Johnson under President James K. Polk was succeeded by Postmaster General Jacob Collamer under President Zachary Taylor.
Realized: $6,500
Lot 66
(Post Office) Benicia Post Office Document. Certify document datelined "Post Office, Benicia, Jan 5, 1855" stating that contractors Ormsby & Trumbo running from Benecia and San Jose have carried the United States Mail in a safe and secure manner, Very Fine.Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $140
Lot 67
(Post Office) California Panama Route - 1848 Post Office Letter. From 1st Asst. P.M. J.M. Hobbie to Glen Falls, N.Y. replying to inquiry…I have to state that Government, through the agency of the Secretary of the Navy, has contracted for the building and sailing of Steamships, as often as twice a month, from New York to Charges, and once a month from Panama, by the California ports, to the Columbia, in Oregon. This service is to go into operation in January next. The P.M. General is authorized to send the mail by those steamers and to provide for its transcription across the isthmus, from Charges to Panama., couple internal holes and light toning on cover front, F.-V.F.Estimate $400 - 600.
Realized: $250
Lot 68
(Post Office) Mormon Island, Cal. Postmaster Recommendation. December 12, 1855 Post Office Department notice from 1st Assistant Postmaster General Horatio King to John Denver regarding the recommendations of individuals to be considered for appointment as postmaster at Mormon Island, accompanied by original cover with "Post Office Department, Official Business" handstamp and H. King signature, Extremely Fine.Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $475
Lot 69
(San Francisco) City of San Francisco Writ of Execution. With the statement of venue as "The United States of America, Territory of California, San Francisco District", printed form completed March 17, 1847, when California was still part of Mexico, by Chief Magistrate Edwin Bryant to Sheriff E. Ward Pell after a judgment by Alcalde Pro Tem George Hyde on January 9, 1847, with handwritten notes of service and payment on the verso, vertical fold reinforced with glassine tape, minor edge wear, Fine.Estimate $400 - 600.
Interesting placement of the "Territory of California" that never existed in the wrong country… on a legal document (although it may be noted that the "Territory of California" designation was also used by the Post Office Department in the California pre-statehood period 1848-1850).
Realized: $300
Lot 70
(San Francisco) c.1860 Magnus San Francisco View & Lettersheet. Two items with the same view, appears to be Panorama from the Twin Peaks area overlooking the city; first an unused lettersheet, very clean with only a bit of edge wear; the other 17x25.5mm print, some minor foxing.Estimate $150 - 250.
Realized: $200
Lot 71
(San Francisco) 1906 San Francisco Earthquake & Fire Photos & Maps. Fascinating group of picture books with dozens of photos, large size panoramic photos, books in fine condition, large photos separating at folds; still terrific archive (no photo).Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $120
Lot 72
(Stage Coach Related) Barlow & Sanderson's Overland Mail, Stage And Express Company. Advertising brochure printed in black and red (3½" x 7" folded and 14" x 21" opened out), undated but circa 1875, giving schedule and some fare information for the California & Oregon Stage Co. lines between Portland and San Francisco as well as the Barlow & Sanderson's Stage Lines network of "Mail and Express Routes" in Colorado and extending to Santa Fe, New Mexico, with two maps showing all the routes, also lists company principals and agents in various cities and towns, minor edge wear, Very Fine and rare.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Realized: $4,250
Lot 73
(Stage Coach Related) California & Nevada Stage Co. Pass. Terrific pink 1893 Pass issued to travel agent of Prescott & Ariz Centl Ry Co., excellent condition, rare.Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $270
Lot 74
(Stage Coach Related) Oregon Stage Co. 1866 voucher receipt with manuscript canceled 1863, 2¢ black, datelined from "Chico", Very Fine, a scarce use of a 2¢ Blackjack used as revenue.Scott No. 73 Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $90