Lot
210 
Sonora, Cal. (Tuolumne). Black cds (Williams TUO-1390) on small 1853 cover to Michigan franked with vert pair 1851 3¢ dull red (top stamp defective) tied by grid cancel with bold strike of the very rare "Steamer Winfield Scott" two line handstamp in red, cover with tiny stain at top & rounded corner at bottom right, Extremely Fine, one of the finest of the seven known covers recovered from the wreck of the "Steamer Winfield Scott" and thought to be the unique example franked with stamps, Illustrated in color in "Letters of Gold" and is accompanied by much research material. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
The "Winfield Scott" was a 1,291-ton steamer built in New York City in 1851, which was put into service along the Pacific Coast route in 1852. On December 2, 1853, she was stranded off Anacapa Island in the Santa Barbara Channel and lost, but the mails, passengers and cargo were saved. Nine examples of this two-line handstamp are recorded, of which two were carried before the "Winfield Scott" was commissioned into the Pacific service.
Realized: $5,500