Lot
1105 
(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 and minor stain at bottom right, Very Fine, illustrated in Coburn's Letters of Gold (page 292), ex Haas, Polland. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
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 circular date stamp 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: $1,600
Lot
1106
(San Francisco) San Francisco, Jun 20, straight line postmark with manuscript date (SAF-230) on 1849 turned cover to Augusta, Ga., matching manuscript "40" rate, inside addressed to same with red Augusta, Ga. cds and "10" in circle rate handstamp to Janeville, Pa.; partial backflaps opened for display and small tear at bottom, still Very Fine, a lovely turned cover usage and the earliest known date of the first San Francisco handstamp. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Realized: $1,000
Lot
1107
(San Francisco) San Francisco, bold black straight line postmark (Williams SAF-230) with manuscript "July 2" date in magenta and matching "40" on 1849 folded letter to Boston, Mass., Extremely Fine, one of the finest strikes of the San Francisco straight line postmark, used on only 3 sailing dates of June 20, July 2 and August 1, 1849. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Realized: $1,100
Lot
1108
(San Francisco) San Francisco, Cal., Aug 1, cds (Williams SAF-260) on 1849 folded cover to Massachusetts with straight line "Paid" handstamp and magenta manuscript "Paid 40" rate, cover with excellent gold miner's content…people are coming every day by the hundreds… and we shall sail up the river Monday, they say it is hard work, but a man can average about two ounces per day…, letter goes on to tell of inflated prices in San Francisco in great detail, Very Fine and attractive, a wonderful First Day of Usage of the First Circular Date Stamp Used in San Francisco. Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $425
Lot
1109
(San Francisco) San Francisco, Cal., Sep 1, cds (SAF- on 1849 folded letter to Stockbridge, Mass., two different manuscript "40" ratings and straight line Paid handstamp, interesting letter regarding arriving in San Francisco, high building speculation, miners returning from the gold fields, etc.; small corner repair at bottom right, F.-V.F., an attractive usage of the first circular postmark used in San Francisco. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $135
Lot
1110
(San Francisco) San Francisco, Cal., Oct 1, sharp full strike of cds (SAF-260) on 1849 folded letter to Philadelphia, Pa., matching boxed "40" rate handstamp; horizontal file fold, Very Fine and choice. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $190
Lot
1111
(San Francisco) San Francisco, Cal., boxed "2" rate handstamp on buff cover to San Francisco, carried privately from New York; a bit worn as typical for miner's letters, F.-V.F., very scarce being recorded used in late 1849. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $220
Lot
1112
(San Francisco) San Francisco, Cal., 40, Feb 20, red integral rate cds (SAF-250) on 1850 folded cover to Maine with additional manuscript pencil "40" rate at top right, cover with datelined "North Fork Dry Diggins" with excellent contents including…I have been here upwards of three months. I have dug out five hundred dollars. If I had been here one month sooner, I now should have $1000. There is a small town 1½ mile dist. called Auburnville. There are about 2000 people here in the mines of all professions…some doing well some not. It depends upon a man's perseverance & Economy whether he makes money or not. It is here if a man digs for it. There will be a great rush this Spring for the rivers dry diggins is in between the mountains rising to a tremendous altitude and angle of 45° The gold locates itself in the ravines at the foot of these mountains. It's found in the crevices of rock from 2 to 5 feet from the surface. The dirt that I shove out is washed in a cradle, something similar to a house cradle. In these diggins is found on the river fine scale gold. It likewise is found embedded in quartz. it has been found in the top of these mountains. The earth pays from 12½ to even $100 per pan. Some have been very successful here. Having made $4000 apiece and gone home. I saw a piece of gold picked up near by weighed 16lbs - 12lbs of pure gold, valued at $3000. There is more or less to be found anywhere around these diggins. The largest piece I have found is $17. It is hard work to dig gold, but no more laborious than farming. If a man cannot make his ounce per day he leaves his placer., etc., F.-V.F., an excellent Miner's letter & the earliest use of this type postmark which is scarcer than the straight line. Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $650
Lot
1113
(San Francisco) San Francisco, Cal., Feb 1, red cds (SAF-260) with matching "Paid" and "40" rate handstamps on folded letter datelined "U.S. Store Ship Supply, Saucelito, Jany 27, 1851", to Portland, Me., Extremely Fine, a rare early usage from Sausalito prior to the establishment of a post office. Estimate $300 - 400.
Lot
1114
(San Francisco) Guayaquil, Ecuador To San Francisco, Cal., 1851 folded letter with "20" due handstamp applied in San Francisco and reverse with bold oval "Forwarded By, Zachrisson, Nelson & Co., Panama" forwarder handstamp, Very Fine. Estimate $150 - 200.
Sent via P.M.S.C. - Columbus departing Panama on August 2nd and arriving in San Francisco on August 20th.
Realized: $70