Lot
617 
1852 (Feb. 17) San Francisco, Cal. to Stockholm, Sweden via London, folded letter with red "San Francisco Cal. 18 Feb" cds and matching "Paid" and "29" rating h.s., carried by Cunard Line America from Boston Mar. 17 to Liverpool arriving Mar. 29, London (3.30) arrival, forwarded by Hoare Buxton & Co. of London (manuscript notation on reverse) to to German forwarder Ullberg & Cramer (blue oval handstamp on reverse) in Hamburg where posted for Sweden, manuscript "41" rating, Stockholm manuscript "36" skilling due, Very Fine, very few examples of the 29¢ rate marking have been recorded and none previously to Sweden. Estimate $500 - 750.
Letter carried by Pacific Mail Steamship Co. steamer Panama from San Francisco to Panama City and by U.S. Mail Steamship Co. steamer El Dorado from Chagres to New York. Letter sent to forwarding agent in London, Hoare Buxton & Co., who sent it privately to forwarding agent Ullberg & Cramer in Hamburg, where letter posted for Sweden.
Realized: $850
Lot
618
1852 (Feb. 18) San Francisco Cal. to Manchester, England, folded cover with red "San Francisco Cal. 18 Feb" cds with matching "Paid" and "29" rate handstamps, red "19" credit h.s. to G.B., carried by Cunard Line America from Boston Mar. 17 to Liverpool arriving Mar. 29, red Liverpool (3.29) cds, Manchester (3.30) arrival backstamp, Very Fine, very few examples of the "29" rate marking have been recorded. Estimate $300 - 400.
Letter carried by Pacific Mail Steamship Co. steamer Panama from San Francisco to Panama City and by U.S. Mail Steamship Co. steamer El Dorado from Chagres to New York. Under U.S.-G.B. Convention, U.S. internal portion of total rate from West Coast was 10¢ from 1 July 1851, or 5¢ more than other locations in the U.S.
Realized: $575
Lot
619
1852 (Mar. 20) San Francisco, Cal. to Paris, France, exceptionally fresh cover endorsed "Via Panama & England", bearing red "San Francisco Cal. Mar. 20" cds and matching "Paid" and "26" rating handstamps for the British open mail rate by American Packet from the West Coast, carried by Ocean Line Hermann from New York Apr. 24 to Brest arriving May 9, red Paris (5.9.52) entry cds and "8" décimes due in Paris, Extremely Fine and choice. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $220
Lot
620
1852 (Apr. 18) San Francisco, Cal. to La Rochelle, France, blue folded letter with red "San Francisco Cal. 18 Apr" cds and matching "Paid" and large "26" rating h.s. for prepaid British open mail rate by American packet, carried by Ocean Line Washington from New York May 22 to Southampton arriving Jun. 5, red Le Havre (6.5) entry cds used only for mails carried by Ocean Line steamers into Southampton, manuscript. "16" decimes due rating (two-times 8 decimes rate), clean and Extremely Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $475
Lot
621
1852 (May 31) Sacramento, Cal. to Biberach, Württemberg, blue folded cover with "Sacramento City Cal. 31 May" cds with "20" rating h.s. used by N.Y. as debit to Bremen, "New York Jun 28" backstamp, carried by Havre Line Franklin from New York July 3 to Southampton July 14, various ratings and transits, edge repairs, F.-V.F. appearance, one of only two recorded 20¢ rate covers from California by Bremen mail. Estimate $200 - 300.
Letter carried from San Francisco to Panama City by Pacific Mail Steamship Co. steamer "Tennessee" and from Aspinwall to New York by U.S. Mail Steamship Co. steamer "Crescent City". Letter carried in Bremen closed mail via England and Belgium and marked for 41 kreuzer postage due in Germany.
Realized: $425
Lot
622
1853 (Feb. 26) San Francisco, Cal. to London, England, blue folded cover with black "San Francisco Cal 1 Mar" cds with matching "Paid" and "29" rate handstamps, Boston red "19" credit h.s. to G.B., carried by Cunard Line Canada from Boston Mar. 30 to Liverpool arriving Apr. 10, red London (4.11) tombstone d.s., Very Fine, the only recorded example of this "29" rate handstamp in black. Estimate $200 - 300.
Letter carried by Pacific Mail Steamship Co. steamer "Oregon" from San Francisco to Panama City and by U.S. Mail Steamship Co. steamer "Georgia" from Chagres to New York. Under U.S.-G.B. Convention, U.S. internal portion of total rate from West Coast was 10¢ from July 1851 until July 1863, or 5¢ more than other locations in the U.S.
Realized: $400
Lot
623
1853 (Jun. 30) San Francisco Cal. to Bordeaux, France, folded printed prices current with "San Francisco Cal. Jul 1" cds and matching "Paid 26" crude rating h.s. for British open mail by American Packet, red "New-York Am. Packet Jul 30" exchange cds, carried by Havre Line Franklin from New York Jul. 30 to Liverpool arriving Aug. 11, Le Havre (8.11) entry cds with "12" decimes postage due, Very Fine, one of only four recorded examples of this crude "Paid 26" rate handstamp. Estimate $400 - 600.
Letter carried from San Francisco by Pacific Mail Steamship Co. steamer Oregon to Panama City and U.S. Mail Steamship Co. steamer Georgia from Aspinwall to New York. Paris marked the postage due of 12 decimes (2 x 6 decimes for 7½-15 gram letter going beyond the arrival port). Scarce San Francisco rate marking, a crude-style "Paid 26," used only from 30 June-16 July 1853.
Realized: $700
Lot
624
1853 (Sep. 30) San Francisco, Cal. to Bordeaux, France, part printed circular endorsed "Per 'Panama' via New York", with black "San Francisco Cal. Oct 1" cds and matching "Paid" and "52" rating handstamps for double the British open mail rate by American packet, "New-York Am. Pkt. Oct 29" exchange cds, red crayon "52", reverse with red London (11.10) transit and Bordeaux (11.12), manuscript "24" décimes due rating, Very Fine, one of only two recorded examples of the San Francisco "52" rate marking. Estimate $500 - 750.
Letter carried by steamer "Panama" to Panama and steamer "Ohio" from Aspinwall to New York. Carried by Collins "Atlantic" from New York Oct. 29th to Liverpool arriving Nov. 9th.
Realized: $900
Lot
625
1853 (Oct. 16) San Francisco Cal. to London, England, blue folded cover with "San Francisco Cal. 16 Oct" cds with matching "Paid 29" rating h.s., New York red "3" credit h.s. to G.B., carried by Collins Line Arctic from New York Nov. 12 to Liverpool arriving Nov. 23, London (11.24) arrival cds; F.-V.F., the earliest of only three examples of this "PAID 29" straightline. Estimate $200 - 300.
Letter carried by Pacific Mail Steamship Co. steamer Golden Gate from San Francisco to Panama City and U.S. Mail Steamship Co. steamer George Law from Aspinwall to New York. Blue pencil "29" written when letter taken to San Francisco post office, later to be marked with rate handstamp when mail prepared for departure. Although the PAID29 handstamp was used form October 1853-February 1855, it is surprising scarce.
Realized: $160
Lot
626
1856 (Feb. 20) San Francisco, Cal. to Amsterdam, Netherlands, folded cover with red "San Francisco Cal. 'Paid 26' 20 Feb" integral rate cds, red "New-York Mar 22" exchange cds, carried by Ocean Line Hermann from New York Mar. 22 to Southampton arriving Apr. 7, London (4.7) transit backstamp and "U.S. PK. T." straightline h.s. with manuscript "4" pence debit to Netherlands, Amsterdam arrival backstamp and manuscript "40" Dutch cents due rating, minor bleach spot in address, F.-V.F. and scarce San Francisco use to Amsterdam. Estimate $200 - 300.
Letter, prepaid West Coast British Open Mail rate by American packet, carried by Pacific Mail Steamship Co. steamer "Sonora" to Panama and U.S. Mail Steamship Co. steamer "George Law" to New York. London marked the U.S.PK.T. to show basis for G.B. debit to Netherlands (letter paid to England, leaving only transit to Netherlands unpaid). Dutch postage due consisted of 4d or 20 cents to G.B. and 20 Cents internal fee in the Netherlands.
Realized: $500