Lot
693 
(Mail Routes) 1850 Gold Rush letter to St. Louis, Mo. via Acapulco and New Orleans, folded letter written between July 31st and August 3rd aboard the steamship Northerner by William T. Reynolds to his wife, the ship departed Panama on its way to San Francisco and the letter dropped off at Acapulco to be transported back via Panama City, Chagres and New Orleans, then up the Mississippi to St. Louis, entered the U.S. mails with red "New Orleans, La., Sep 6" cds with matching "Steam" straight line handstamp and "30" in circle ratemaker, with lengthy enclosure illuminating the trip, Very Fine and rare, ex-Skinner. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
Lot
694
(Mail Routes) 1851 (Apr. 26) New York N.Y. to San Francisco Cal., datelined blue Gibbs correspondence folded letter endorsed "pr Steamer Prometheus" ship endorsement, reverse with clear full strike of red "Forwarded Through Gilpin's Exchange, Reading Room and Foreign Letter Office, N-York" oval handstamp, Berford & Co.'s Express red "Paid" handstamp, carried by Vanderbilt Line Prometheus departing New York Apr. 28th to Charges arriving May 5th, then PMSS Isthmus from Panama May 20th to San Francisco arriving Jun. 7th, pencil "Rec'd per Isthmus June 7/51" pencil inside docketing, Extremely Fine, a wonderful express usage sent on Vanderbilt's Independent Line, ex-Walske. Estimate $250 - 350.
Reference: Illustrated in Coburn's Letters of Gold on p. 92.
Realized: $425
Lot
695
(Mail Routes) The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, St. Joseph, Mo. Dec 8, sharp strike of oval company handstamp on yellow cover bearing 3¢ dull red (26), corner fault, canceled by bold "Paid" handstamp, matching "Pacific City Ioa Dec" cds to C. Nuckolls at Mountain City, Kansas Territory, endorsed "Care C.O.C. & P.P. Express, St. Joseph" at lower left; no back flap, Very Fine and scarce use. Estimate $600 - 800.
Realized: $800
Lot
696
(Mail Routes) Overland Mail - From Sacramento, Via Los Angeles, illustrated Six-Horse Stagecoach design with Hutchings & Rosenfield imprint below and Sacramento designation crossed out, on cover to Neponset, Mass., franked with 1860, 10¢ green, type V tied by "Benicia, Cal., Sep 6" cds (SOL-100), manuscript "6/9/60" year docketing at lower left; stamp with right corners folded over cover, Very Fine, a very rare usage of the "From Sacramento" Overland Stagecoach design. Scott No. 35 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Realized: $950
Lot
697
(Mail Routes) "Overland via Los Angeles", routing imprint on 3¢ red (U10) buff entire cancelled by "San Francisco, Cal. Jul 9, 1859" cds to Downieville Cal.; reduced at left, imprint originally crossed out with label, F.-V.F. and scarce imprint use. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $190
Lot
698
(Mail Routes) "Overland Via Los Angeles", endorsement at top right of cover bearing 10¢ green, Curl on Forehead (35 var.), rich color, tied by "San Francisco, Cal. Jul 16, 1860" cds to New York City, light blind embossed "Rodgers, Meyer & Co., San Francisco" corner card at bottom left, Aug. 11th receipt docketing on reverse; reduced slightly at left, F.-V.F. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $130
Lot
699
(Mail Routes) "Steam Panama", clear strike of oval handstamp with matching "San Francisco Cal, 10, Apr 2" integral-due cds on inbound February 27, 1867 folded letter from Guatemala to San Francisco, partial "Correos, Feb 27" cds at bottom, red "Franco" framed handstamp and reverse with black "1" reales rating handstamp for postage to port; minor opening tear top right, Very Fine. Estimate $500 - 750.
A CHOICE "STEAM PANAMA" USE FROM CHILE TO SAN FRANCISCO CAL.
The San Francisco "Steam Panama" marking was applied to non-contract mail entering the port to indicate transit origin.
Realized: $400