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Sale 92: The Summer Sale

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The Panama Route

Lots 1002-1011 Lots 1012-1021 Lots 1022-1026

Lot 1002    

(Via Panama) 1848 (Oct. 2) New York N.Y. to Rio Janeiro, Brazil, gray cover with pencil "U.S. Mail Steamer 'California' " endorsement at lower left, perfect bold strike of red "New-York, Oct 2" cds and matching red "Paid" arc handstamp with magenta "24" prepaid rating, carried by PMSS California from New York Oct. 2nd to Rio Janeiro, Brazilian manuscript "120" (reis) due rating for inland postage; some edge wear, Very Fine.
Estimate    $5,000 - 7,500.

THE ONLY RECORDED COVER CARRIED ON THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP COMPANY CALIFORNIA TO THE PACIFIC COAST, INAUGURATING CONTRACT MAIL SERVICE VIA PANAMA TO CALIFORNIA.

The "24" rate was published as being available to South American ports to be visited on her voyage around the Horn to California.

Realized: $5,000

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Lot 1003    

(Via Panama) 1849 (Dec. 1) New York N.Y. to Coquimbo, Chile, folded letter with red "New-York, Dec 1" cds and prepaid pencil "24" rating, endorsed "Per Steamer Tennessee, Paid" at top left, carried by PSNC Tennessee from New York to Chile, red "ULTRAMAR" with manuscript "1½" and "3" ratings totalled to "4½" with matching red "VALPARAISO" straightline adjacent, docketed "Rd. Mch. 21. / 50" at right, Very Fine.
Estimate    $5,000 - 7,500.

THE ONLY RECORDED USE CARRIED ON THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE PACIFIC STEAM NAVIGATION CO. TENNESSEE TO THE PACIFIC COAST TO START WEST COAST OPERATIONS.

Realized: $3,750

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Lot 1004    

(Via Panama) 1854 (Dec. 26) U.S. Mail Steamship Co., and Pacific Mail Steamship Co., letter and broadside datelined "Boston, Dec. 26th, 1854" with printed overview of both lines including each steamship connecting "Via Panama Railroad through to California and Oregon" and a map on reverse showing the routes, written letter reads "…The annexed page will give you all information respecting the Mail Line of steamers to California…The time in crossing the Isthmus is very much reduced & makes the trip an easy & pleasant one…"; splitting along fold reinforced, Very Fine and remarkable broadside letter.
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

Realized: $1,600

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Lot 1005    

(Via Panama) 1849 (Jun. 20) San Francisco Cal. to Middletown Conn., cover with clear strike of "San Francisco, Cal." straightline and with magenta "June 20" date, manuscript "40" rating at top right, carried by PMSS Panama from San Francisco to Panama arriving Oct. 20th, then US Mail S.S. Co.; minor edge restoration, ex-Chambers, Myerson, Feldman.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

A RARE FIRST DAY OF USAGE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO STRAIGHT LINE HANDSTAMP, ONE OF ONLY EIGHT FROM THE FIRST CONTRACT SAILING OF THE PMSS PANAMA.

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.

Realized: $675

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Lot 1006    

(Via Panama) 1851 (Dec. 4) San Francisco Cal. to Washington D.C., datelined gray folded letter addressed to Hon. Rodman M. Price M.C. with "San Francisco, Cal. 5 Dec" cds and matching "Free" handstamp, carried as endorsed by PMSS Golden Gate from San Francisco to Panama, Very Fine.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

CARRIED ON THE MAIDEN MAIL CARRYING VOYAGE OF THE PMSS GOLDEN GATE.

Realized: $325

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Lot 1007    

(Via Panama) 1850 (Oct. 1) San Francisco Cal. to New York N.Y., cover addressed to the mother of U.S. Postal Agent Voorhees with red "San Francisco Cal. 1 Oct" cds and matching "80" cent rating handstamp, carried as endorsed by PMSS California from San Francisco Oct. 1st to Panama arriving Oct. 22nd, then by US Mail S.S. Co. Georgia from Aspinwall Oct. 26th to New York arriving Nov. 7th; top reverse panel partly torn away, Very Fine and scarce double-weight 80¢ use; signed Frajola.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Realized: $325

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Lot 1008    

(Via Panama) 1850 (Aug. 28) Sonoma Cal. to New York N.Y., datelined gray folded letter with "San Francisco '40' 31 Aug" integral-due cds, carried by the Northerner to Panama arriving Sep. 22nd, transferred at Chagres to the Empire City on Sept. 26th to New York arriving Oct. 5th, Very Fine, This is the first sailing of the Empire City Line Northerner from San Francisco to Panama., ex-Feldman.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

The "Northerner" served on several routes over the years. She began service on the New York to Charleston route for Spfford, Tileston before being sold to Charles Morgan who moved her to California waters where she was operated with the "Crescent City". When operating together, they came to be known as the Empire City Line. The pairing was very brief and she was purchased by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company in December 1850.

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Lot 1009    

(Via Panama) 1849 (Dec. 2) Callao, Peru to East Thomaston Me., gray datelined folded letter carried by Pacific Steam Navigation Co. to Panama and overland to Chagres, carried by Cherokee from Chagres Jan. 2nd to New York arriving Jan. 13th, rare strike of red "New-York '30' Jan 13" integral-due cds; slight edge toning, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

CARRIED ON THE MAIDEN RETURN VOYAGE OF HOWLAND AND ASPINWALL'S CHEROKEE.

There are fewer than 5 recorded examples of the rare "New-York '30' Jan 13" integral-due cds, which is known used for this voyage of the "Cherokee" only. The New York Herald listed Cherokee as a mail steamship, but this was incorrect. The confusion about the Cherokee being a mail steamship on this voyage may have come from the actions of mail agent A. Clinton McLean. He was in charge of the mails from California that reached Panama on Dec. 5th and Dec. 29th. He accompanied these mails to New York on the Cherokee. It appears that he had missed the sailing of the contract mail steamer, "Falcon", that cleared Chagres on January 1, 1850. Howland and Aspinwall's Pacific Mail Steamship Company had the mail contract for the Pacific route, but not for the route on the Atlantic side. They did operate steamships on the Atlantic route until April 1851, the "Cherokee" being their first.

Reference: United States Incoming Steamship Mail 1847-1875, Second Edition, Wierenga, illustrated and discussed on p. 50-51, fig. 66.

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Lot 1010    

(Via Panama) 1850 (Jun. 18) San Francisco Cal. to Middletown Conn., buff cover with red "San Francisco '40' 17 June" integral-rate due cds and matching red "Per Str. Columbus" straightline handstamp (Milgram 272), carried by George Law Columbus from San Francisco Jun. 19th to Panama arriving Jul. 6th with a transfer at Chagres to George Law Falcon departing Jul. 12th to New York arriving Jul. 23rd, Very Fine and rare; with 1995 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $2,000 - 3,000.

A RARE USAGE CARRIED BY GEORGE LAW'S "COLUMBUS" FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO PANAMA ON HER MAIDEN VOYAGE. THE FINEST RECORDED USE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO "PER STR. COLUMBUS" STRAIGHTLINE.

On June 6th 1850, George Laws steamship "Columbus" arrived at San Francisco and on June 19th she started the first of only two voyages to Panama (Columbus carried mail on her maiden round voyage and a second voyage to Panama). Allen had a "Per Str. Columbus" straightline directional handstamp made up to indicate that these letters were to be bagged for Law's Line and not the contracted carrier. It appears this arrangement was made without consulting Washington D.C., and probably after intervention by William Aspinwall, the arrangement ended after only three round trips.

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Lot 1011    

(Via Panama) 1850 (Sep. 25) Valparaiso, Chile to San Francisco Cal., blue datelined folded letter with blue "VAPOR BOLIVIA/P" two-line handstamp with name of PSNC steamer Bolivia that departed Sept. 26th to Panama arriving Oct. 19th, then by PMSS California Nov. 1st to San Francisco arriving Nov. 22nd, San Francisco red "30" framed due handstamp applied on arrival, reverse with sender's "E. & T. Serruys & Ca. Valparaiso" sender's double-line oval; small bleached spot, F.-V.F., a scarce name-of-ship marking.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $325

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Lots 1002-1011 Lots 1012-1021 Lots 1022-1026

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