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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 1012    

(Via Panama) 1850 (Sep. 25) Valparaiso, Chile to San Francisco Cal., datelined gray folded Gibbs correspondence letter, inside endorsed "Recd pr Str California Nov 22/50", reverse with "Forwarded by Smith & Lewis, Panama" forwarder's oval handstamp struck across flaps, place on board Steamship California to San Francisco where red "30" framed handstamp struck; some light age spotting, F.-V.F., ex-Wierenga.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Reference: United States Incoming Steamship Mail 1847-1875, Second Edition, Wierenga, illustrated and discussed on p. 121, fig. 165.

Realized: $220

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Lot 1013    

(Via Panama) 1851 (Dec. 2) Valparaiso, Chile to San Francisco Cal., datelined folded letter from Gibb correspondence endorsed "p Str. 'Santiago' to Panama", carried as endorsed by Pacific Steam Navigation Co. Santiago to Panama, faint "5" barred oval of Pacific Steam Navigation Co., faint strike of "Forwarded by, Smith & Lewis, Panama" on reverse, carried by PMSS Golden Gate from Panama to San Francisco arriving Jan. 9th, San Francisco "20" cent due handstamp for steamship rate over 2,500 miles, docketed inside as received "Golden Gate" Jan. 10th, some interesting content "Our market continues in the same paralyzed state as the Political matters are sti ll in the same position as when the mail left and until the Revolution is entirely suppressed no improvements can be expected.", Very Fine, ex-Wierenga.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Reference: United States Incoming Steamship Mail 1847-1875, Second Edition, Wierenga, illustrated and discussed on p. 122, fig. 166.

Realized: $575

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Lot 1014    

(Via Panama) 1851 (Mar. 25) Valparaiso, Chile to San Francisco Cal., datelined light blue folded letter from the Gibbs correspondence with black "E & J Serruys & Co. Valparaiso" forwarder's oval, "VAPOR NEW GRENADA/P" two-line handstamp, carried by Pacific Steam Navigation Co. New Grenada from Chile to Panama, then PMSS Co. Tennessee from Panama May 1st to San Francisco arriving May 20th, San Francisco red-orange "30" framed handstamp for steamship postage from Panama, docketed as received from the Tennessee on May 21st, Very Fine, ex-Milgram, Wierenga.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Reference: United States Incoming Steamship Mail 1847-1875, Second Edition, Wierenga, illustrated and discussed on p. 120-121, fig. 164.

Realized: $450

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Lot 1015    

(Via Panama) 1851 (Mar. 26) Valparaiso, Chile to San Francisco Cal., datelined blue folded letter with two strikes of "VAPOR N. GRANADA" of straightline handstamp with name of PSNC steamer New Granada from Valparaiso to Panama, then by PMSC Tennessee from Panama May 1st to San Francisco arriving May 20th, San Francisco red "30" framed due handstamp applied on arrival, Very Fine., Very Fine and scarce name-of-ship marking, ex-Walske.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $425

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Lot 1016    

(Via Panama) 1852 (Oct. 31) San Francisco Cal. to Valparaiso, Chile via Panama, datelined folded letter with San Francisco blue "Paid" handstamp and red crayon "50" cent rating, transferred to British mails with red crown "Paid At Panama" handstamp and red crayon "1/-" rating, "Panama 'A' NO 23 1852" double-arc backstamp; carried by PSNC ship Quito from Panama Nov. 24th to Valparaiso arriving Dec. 12th., Very Fine and attractive.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

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Lot 1017    

(Via Panama) 1852 (Sep. 15) Valparaiso, Chile to San Francisco Cal. via Panama, datelined gray folded letter with clear "VAPOR BOGOTA / P" two-line handstamp and red crayon "25" rating, carried by Pacific Steam Navigation Co. Bogota from Valparaiso Oct. 1st to Panama arriving Oct. 19th, then Tennessee to San Francisco arriving Nov. 6th, Very Fine, ex-Wierenga.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

According to the May 1, 1851 P.O. Department Notice by PMG N.K. Hall, section five: "All letters written in the South American States aforesaid, to any place in the United States, will be conveyed by steamship to Panama, and thence to the Pacific or Atlantic portions of the United States, according to destination; provided that the South Pacific steamship postage, 25 cents the letter at the single rate of half an ounce, and 4 cents per newspaper, be prepaid in said South American States. The United States postage will in that case remain to be collected on delivery.

Reference: United States Incoming Steamship Mail 1847-1875, Second Edition, Wierenga, illustrated and discussed on p. 111, fig. 148.

Realized: $425

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Lot 1018    

(Via Panama) 1853 (Nov. 3) Mattapoisett Mass. to Talcahuano, Chile, orange buff cover with "Mattapoisett Mass. Nov 3" cds and matching small "Paid" handstamp with ms. "50" rating rating, New York red "24" credit handstamp to G.B., carried by Illinois from New York Nov. 5th to Panama arriving Nov. 21st, "Panama / 21 NO 1853 / Transit" three-line transit handstamp, then by Pacific Steam Navigation Co. Bogota from Panama Nov. 22nd to Valparaiso arriving Dec. 12th, red "Valparaiso" and "Ultramar" straightlines with manuscript "25" local inland postage due, Very Fine and rare use, ex-DeVoss, Wierenga.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

The cover offered here was prepaid for the 50¢ treaty rate to Chile, but the rate to Chile had been reduced a month earlier on October 1, 1853 to 48¢. Mattapoisett was probably not aware of the recent 2¢ reduction.

Reference: United States Incoming Steamship Mail 1847-1875, Second Edition, Wierenga, illustrated and discussed on pp. 111-12, fig. 149.

Realized: $425

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Lot 1019    

(Via Panama) 1854 (Feb. 28) Valparaiso, Chile to San Francisco Cal., gray folded letter from Gibb correspondence addressed "to be retained till his arrival in Panama, or if he has passed to be forwarded to…San Francisco", carried by Bogata from Valparaiso Feb. 28th to Panama arriving Mar. 19th, then J.L. Stephens departing Mar. 19th to San Francisco arriving Apr. 2nd, Gibb notation inside "Recd p Str J.L. Stephens 3rd April 1854.", entered mails with black "Way." double-oval handstamp with pencil "11" rating for 10¢ steamship rate plus 1¢ way fee, Very Fine, ex-Wierenga.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Reference: United States Incoming Steamship Mail 1847-1875, Second Edition, Wierenga, illustrated and discussed on p. 123-24, fig. 170.

Realized: $290

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Lot 1020    

(Via Panama) 1854 (May 4) Melbourne, Victoria to Edinburgh, Scotland, blue folded letter endorsed "pr Golden Age via Panama" carried outside the mails and delivered to forwarding agent in Panama, oval "Forwarded by Campbell, Jones & Co., Panama" handstamp on flap and British P.O. "Panama, JU 22, 1854" double-arc backstamp with manuscript "1/-" due rating, reverse with red London (7.18) transit and red Edinburgh (7.19) arrival cds, minor soiling, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

"1st trip for Pacific Mail Steamship Company. Golden Age cleared New York on September 28, 1853 (left quarantine September30) and arrived at Liverpool October 12, departed Liverpool on November 29, arrived at Capetown on January 6 from Liverpool in 30 1/2 days having been detained 4 days at St. Vincent, and arrived at King George's Sound in 61 days without mails as the British government had refused to send a mail by her to Australia. She arrived in Melbourne on February 13, cleared Melbourne on February 21, arrived at Sydney on March 16, arrived back at Melbourne on March 26, cleared Melbourne on May 5, cleared Sydney on May 11, arrived at Tahiti on May 24, cleared Tahiti on May 31, and arrived at Panama on June 19 with a mail from Australia."

Reference: United States Incoming Steamship Mail 1847-1875, Second Edition, Wierenga, p 324

The "Golden Age" made only one round voyage and no other mail is recorded handled by a Panama forwarding agent.


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Realized: $650

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Lot 1021    

(Via Panama) 1856 (Feb. 20) New York N.Y. to San Francisco Cal., blue cover addressed to Lieut. McPherson bearing 10¢ green, type II (14), large margins to touched, tied by "New York, Feb 20" ocean mail cds, endorsed "per Steamer 'Star of the West' ", Very Fine, ex-Wiltsee.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

This is a cover about which there are more questions than answers. Star of the West ran for Vanderbilt on his Nicaragua line until it was taken over by Charles Morgan and C.K. Garrison. The ship is reported to have been enroute between San Juan del Norte (having departed the 19th) and Key West, arriving there on the 23rd. It is further reported to have reached New York on February 28th. Its next voyage - and its last on the SNJ route, it departed March 8, arriving back in New York on April 2nd. (Wierenga sailing tables). She was then sold to US Mail, commencing work on their route in June of 1857. It seems more likely that in spite of the writer's directive, the cover was probably transported by US Mail's George Law, departing for Aspinwall on February 20th; and that it was carried out of Panama on Sonora of Pacific Mail on March 14, arriving in San Francisco on March 28th.

James Birdseye McPherson (1828-1864) was a career United States Army officer who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. McPherson was on the General's staff of Henry Halleck and later, of Ulysses S. Grant and was with Grant at the Battle of Shiloh. He was killed at the Battle of Atlanta, facing the army of his old West Point classmate John Bell Hood, who paid a warm tribute to his character. He was the second-highest-ranking Union officer killed in action during the war.

Reference: Letters of Gold, Jesse L. Coburn, p. 100.

Realized: $290

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

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