Lot
898 
1804, 1805 St. Croix, D.W.I. to London, England, two folded letters from the same correspondence, 1804 (Sep. 17) with "Ship Letter / Dover" crown handstamp and manuscript rating, red London (11.19) arrival backstamp, in interesting content referring to loss of a packet boat at Antigua and severe weather in the Windward Islands not affecting St. Croix; and other with "Tortola, 18 Jan 1805" two-line transit postmark with manuscript "3/8" three shilling eight pence rating for double the 1s10d single rate as letter originally enclosed a second one, endorsed "per Packet", red London (2.13) arrival backstamp; latter toned and some separations, F.-V.F. pair. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $675
Lot
899
[Hudson Bay Company] "En Route, August 7th, 1838" to London, England, datelined folded Autograph Letter Signed with integral address leaf of A.M. McLeod written while with the Hudson's Bay Co. canoe brigade express traveling from Fort Chipewyan on Lake Athabasca to York Factory on Hudson's Bay via Norway House to Chief Factor John Stewart in London, carried by H.B.C. ship to England arriving with stepped "Deal/Ship Letter" handstamp and manuscript "1/4" (1s4d) due rating for 8d ship letter fee plus 8d inland postage from Deal to London (74 miles), red London "18 Oc 1838" backstamp, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex-de Volpi, Floyd Risvold. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A RARE HUDSON BAY COMPANY USE BY CANOE BRIGADE EXPRESS.
The autographed signed letter from Alexander Roderick McLeod, a Chief Factor with the Hudson's Bay Co. in charge of the Athabasca district when this letter was written, comments on the year's poor results due to a bad season and, "…there is still a much greater evil lurking about, i.e. the small Pox, it has (caused) awful ravages among the Plains Tribes in the Saskatchewan…vaccination has been resorted to, as the most effectual means of avoiding the Contagion…it is considered expedient that I should see most of the Post fall & spring, which I admit is very proper, but it is attended with inconveniences, arising from my being so much out of the way, when the Expresses pass and repass…".
Lot
900
1842 (Mar. 2) Brandon Vt. To Havana, Cuba, folded letter with red "Brandon Vt. Mar 2" cds and matching "Free" rating handstamp, manuscript "D. W. C. Clarke P.M." postmaster free frank and "1 Real" notation at top, addressed to Mrs. Warner through Joseph Warner, care of U.S. Consul, blue manuscript "Missent + Forwd" notations at left, Cuban red "E./NA" handstamp, flap with "Consulate of the U.S. of America, Havana" double-circle with eagle consular handstamp, small tears at top and bottom, a Very Fine and attractive use to Cuba. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $375
Lot
901
1842 (Mar. 14) Naples, Sicily to Washington, D.C., folded cover carried privately to Paris and posted, red Paris (3.30) cds and "22" decimes prepaid rating on reverse, red manuscript "1/-" shilling credit to G.B., red London Paid (4.1) and Liverpool (4.2) transits, carried by Cunard Line Britannia from Liverpool Apr. 5 to Boston arriving Apr. 20, manuscript "Free" rating as letter was to Adj. General Jones, F.-V.F., a scarce incoming free transatlantic cover. Estimate $200 - 300.
Letter carried privately to Paris and posted. Prepayment consisted of 12 decimes to G.B. and 10 decimes retained by France for internal postage. Boston marked letter "free" as it was addressed to the Adjutant General of the Army, General Jones, who enjoyed a free franking privilege.
Lot
902
1843 (Oct. 26) Charleston S.C. to Rotterdam, Holland, light blue folded letter with "Forwarded by Herckenrath Lowndes & Co., Charleston" oval handstamp and red "Charleston S.C. Oct 26" cds with matching "Paid" handstamp and "25" cent rating to Boston, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Hibernia from Boston May 16th to Liverpool arriving May 28th, red London (11.15) transit backstamp and manuscript "2/4" British debit, red Rotterdam (11.17) backstamp with matching "England / over Rotterdam" script handstamp, manuscript "190" Dutch cents due rating, forwarded to Schiedam, Nov. 18th arrival backstamp, Very Fine, This was the maiden return voyage of the Cunard Line Hibernia. Estimate $200 - 300.
Lot
903
1848 (Jun. 13) New York N.Y. to Carlisle, England, blue folded letter bearing 5¢ red brown (1), three margins, tied by red grid cancel, matching red "New-York Jun 13" cds, carried by Cunard Line Niagara from Boston Jun. 14th to Liverpool arriving Jun. 25th, Liverpool America (6.25) transit backstamp and matching "1/-" shilling due rating, Carlisle (6.25) arrival backstamp, forwarded to London with Carlisle (6.27) cds and red London (8.28) arrival backstamp, manuscript final due rating; 5¢ diagonal crease, edge wear and separation, Fine. Scott Nos. 1 Estimate $750 - 1,000.
This was the first return voyage of Cunard Line "Niagara".
Lot
904
1852 (Dec. 1) San Francisco Cal. to La Rochelle, France, folded sheet with blue "San Francisco Cal. 1 Dec" cds with matching "Paid" and "26" rating handstamps, red "New-York Am. Packet Jan 8" exchange cds, London (1.21) arrival backstamp, Paris (1.22) entry cds with matching "16" decimes due rating handstamp, La Rochelle (1.23) arrival backstamp, F.-V.F., The latest of less than six recorded blue San Francisco "26" rating usages. , ex-Noel, Walske. Estimate $300 - 400.
This was carried by PMSS "Panama" from San Francisco. Blue color was used at San Francisco only from October 1 - December 13, 1852. In the Witner sale, the blue "26" had not been seen after Nov. 16th until this cover surfaced.
Lot
905
1853 (Jun. 1) San Francisco, Cal. to Glasgow, Scotland via Adams Express, blue linen-lined Gibbs correspondence cover endorsed "per Str 'California' to Panama thence via N. York" and "p. Adams Cos. Express to be Mailed in N. York", black "New-York Am. Pkt. Jul 2" debit exchange cds and manuscript "84" rating for four-times the 21¢ rate, red London (7.14.1853) transit back stamp and "4" shilling rating for the quadruple rate, Glasgow (7.14) arrival backstamp, Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
This cover was carried out of the mails by Adams Express on PMSS "California" from San Francisco Jun. 1st 1853 to Panama arriving Jun. 16th. Then by USMSC "Georgia" from Aspinwall Jun. 19th to New York arriving Jun. 29th. Entered the mails at New York and then departed on Havre Line "Humboldt" from New York Jul. 2nd to Southampton arriving Jul. 13th.
Realized: $800
Lot
906
1853 New York to Cadiz, Spain, cover and letterhead with matching illustrated Empire Line San Francisco Packets cameos showing full rigged ship, red "New York, Am. Packet, Jul 9" cds and manuscript "73" rating sent British mail with red "20r" due upon arrival, letter with interesting content regarding missing express shipment, difficulty Consulships due to change in U.S. administration, etc., Very Fine, a wonderful Empire Line cameo. Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $950
Lot
907
1853 (Jul. 16) San Francisco Cal. to Dordogne, France, folded letter with "San Francisco Cal. Jul 16" cds and matching "Paid 26" crude rating handstamp for British open mail by American Packet, red "New-York Am. Packet Aug 13" exchange cds, red Le Havre (8.27) entry cds with "16" decimes postage due handstamp, Vergt (8.27) arrival backstamp; edge tear at left, Very Fine, ex-Noel, Walske. Estimate $400 - 600.
One of only four recorded examples of this crude "Paid 26" rate handstamp, used only from Jun. 30th to Jul. 16th 1853. Carried by PMSC "John L. Stephens" from San Francisco Jul. 16th to Panama arriving Jul. 29th, then by USMSC "Illinois" from Aspinwall Aug. 1st to New York arriving Aug. 1st. Then by Ocean Line "Washington "from New York Aug. 13th to Southampton arriving Aug. 26th.
Realized: $300