Lot
676 
(San Francisco) San Francisco, 1 July [1850] 40, light orange-red integral rate cds with matching straight line "PAID" on bluish folded letter to Rochdale, England, "via New York" manuscript endorsement, no New York transit marking evident, red tombstone "Paid In America Liverpool 26 Aug 50" handstamp upon arrival to England and backstamp partial green "Rochdale Au 27 1850 A"; letter datelined "July 1st 1850 Antelope California" reading, in part, "…Since that letter on the 14th inst, the town was again visited with awful flames which swept away thousands on thousands worth of property…men who went to bed at night worth their 60 or 70 thousand dollars…next noon, they would be beggars…The Antelope is doing no good just now, there are so many store ships…every day brings forth new discoveries in gold mines…I should take the Antelope hence to Sidney & from thence to England leaving this about 25h Decr…"; although not rated as such, the total rate for a letter to England would have been 59¢ (16¢ Atlantic sea postage, 40¢ US internal postage from California to NY, and 3¢ British internal postage); three vertical file folds with light wear, one through the Liverpool receipt marking, Fine, included is hand written letter by Mel Nathan with a rate breakdown, who surmises the full 59¢ rate was paid by the sender, this cover is the subject of an article written for Stamps Magazine (Nov. 11, 1972) by Dr. Milgram.Estimate $300 - 400.
The Pacific Mail Steamship Company's "California" departed San Francisco July 1, 1850, arriving into Panama Jul 20, six days crossing the isthmus, this cover then went aboard the US Mail Steamship Company's "Georgia" which departed Chagres July 26, 1850, arriving into New York August 7. The Cunard Line's "Canada" then carried it from New York (Aug 14 departure) to Liverpool (arrival Aug 26) where the "Paid in American Liverpool 26 Aug 50" red handstamp was applied.
Realized: $375