Lot
490 
Adams & Co. Express, Southern Coast., large red circular handstamp (ADA-107) on folded letter dated "May 11, 1854" and addressed to San Francisco dealing with timber on unfinished wharf at San Diego, manuscript "due 25 cts" pencil express and "per Str Southerner" ship endorsement; file folds and some light toning, otherwise Very Fine. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS EXTREMELY RARE SOUTHERN COAST HANDSTAMP IN RED - TWO OTHER EXAMPLES ARE IN BLUE WITH ONE RESIDING IN THE WILTSEE COLLECTION.
The Steamer Southerner was first outfitted for the Law's Line as the Steamer Isthmus (500 tones) and first arrived in San Francisco on May 9, 1850. The Isthmus was acquired by The Pacific Mail Line, renamed Southerner and in 1854 was operating between San Diego and San Francisco. She was lost on January 17, 1855 after striking a sand bar at the mouth of the Columbia River.
Realized: $525