Sale 45: The Winter Sale

Lot 101    

Adams & Co., Express., Sacramento. Red three-line handstamp on folded letter datelined "Sacto le 16 Nov 1851", addressed to San Francisco, Very Fine, an attractive strike of this unique Adam's Express handstamp which dates after Adam's rate reduction which was implemented on July 21, 1851, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

Realized: $1,450

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Lot 102    

Per Express Adams & Co. Sender's endorsement on stampless cover to Melbourne, Australia, with "Collect" manuscript notation, "He is probably in Ballerat, where he can be notified" additional sender's endorsement at left, with original 1854 letter from a woman attending the Normal School at Albany, New York, to her brother, Very Fine, a most unusual usage.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $650

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Lot 103    

Alta Express Company/Stockton. Black circle handstamp on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire with Alta printed company frank to San Francisco, Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

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Lot 104    

J. Bamber & Co.'s, Contra Costa Express, Paid. Full bold strike of oval handstamp on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire to San Francisco, Cal., with matching "Answer By…" boxed directive handstamp canceling indicia; trivial corner nick at top right, Extremely Fine.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $210

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Lot 105    

Berford & Co./Letter & Package Express/California. red shield handstamp on incoming stampless folded cover to San Francisco, additionally struck with "B & Co. Collect" red two line handstamp, light stain at top, Very Fine, a scarce eastern Berford marking, illustrated in Coburn's Letters of Gold (page 177).
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Realized: $200

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Lot 106    

Berford & Co's Californian Express. Blue double-lined oval handstamp neatly struck on incoming stampless folded cover to San Francisco, "per Berford's Express" sender's endorsement and "B & Co. Collect" red two line handstamp, closed edge tears at top, Very Fine, only a handful of this scarce marking are known.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $190

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Lot 107    

California "Ocean" Penny Post Co., 1855, 5¢ Blue. Defects mostly at bottom center, affixed on cover to Bridgeport, Conn., additional franked with 1851, 10¢ green, type III (small flaws) tied by "New - York, Jul 20" cds (day inverted), endorsed "per Cortes" at top, Fine appearance, ex Caspary (with original auction page from sale).
Scott No. 34L4+15; $55,000    Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.

FOUR KNOWN GENUINE USAGES OF THIS RARE WESTERN LOCAL EXIST ON COVER, ONE OF WHICH IS MISSING THE U.S. 10¢ ADHESIVE, MAKE THIS ONE OF ONLY THREE COMPLETE FRANKINGS.

The California Penny Post was established by Henry L. Goodwin in San Francisco on June 25, 1855. For a fee of five cents, letters would be turned over to special messenger and carried, via Nicaragua, to New York City and placed in the US mails there.

This cover shows proper markings for a cover that was actually carried via Nicaragua on the sailing of the Cortes. After a crossing of Nicaragua, the cover was carried by The Star of the North from Nicaragua to New York City where it arrived and entered the mails on July 25, 1855.

Realized: $3,000

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Lot 108    

(California) Penny Post Co., Stockton. Circular handstamp on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire addressed to San Francisco, manuscript "Paid" in pencil and indicia canceled by "Stockton, Cal., Aug 29" cds, cover readdressed to H.L. Goodwin who was the proprietor of the California Penny Post; minor corner nick at top left, Very Fine, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Scott No. U10    Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

Realized: $1,250

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Lot 109    

California Penny Post Co. (2¢) City Delivery. Penny Postage Paid. Printed frank on fresh printed San Francisco form address cover, clear strike of "Penny Post Co., San Francisco" circular handstamp, reverse with printed mailing instruction at bottom, Extremely Fine, an Outstanding Example of this Extremely Rare California Penny Post Local Entire, pictured in Coburn's Letters of Gold (pg. 66), ex Clifford, Golden.
Scott No. unlisted    Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

Realized: $1,900

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Lot 110    

California Penny Post Co., 1855-59, 5¢ black on buff. Impressed on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire with printed directive at left, addressed to San Francisco with socked-on-the-nose strike of bold blue "Penny Post Co., Sacramento" circular handstamp, Extremely Fine, a magnificent usage of the 5¢ black on buff printed frank and an Unique Example of the Sacramento Circular Handstamp in Blue, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Scott No. 34LU3a    Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.

Realized: $8,500

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