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.