Lot
4403 
San Francisco, Cal. "June 20", straight line handstamp with magenta manuscript date and matching "40" rating at top right on 1849 orange buff cover to Clinton N.J.; some edge wear. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A RARE FIRST DAY OF USAGE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO STRAIGHT LINE HANDSTAMP, ONE OF ONLY EIGHT RECORDED FROM THE FIRST CONTRACT SAILING OF THE S.S. PANAMA.
On June 15, 1849 R.T. Allen arrived as the new Postmaster of San Francisco and introduced the first handstamp at the office. The San Francisco straight line postmark was used only on mail dispatched on the third, fourth, and fifth contract sailings from San Francisco to Panama in 1849 comprising the first departure of the S.S. "Panama" on June 20, the second departure of the S.S. "Oregon" on July 2, and the second departure of the S.S. "California" on August 1. The straight line postmark was preceded by manuscript postmarks and succeeded by cds postmarks.
The "Panama" arrived at Panama City on July 12th and the letter was put onto the U.S. Steamship Co. "Falcon" leaving Chagres July 28th and arriving at New Orleans Aug. 3rd. Then by great northern mails reaching Clinton as noted by "Recd Aug 14th 1849". The "Falcon" did not reach New York until Aug. 17th making New Orleans the landfall for this letter.
William Aspinwall's Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company purchased the $500,000 a year contract from the original bidders in 1847. He started his service to Panama in January 1849 with the "California", "Oregon" and "Panama" steamships.
Lot
4404
San Francisco, Cal. "June 20", straight line handstamp with magenta manuscript date and matching ms. "40" rate at top right on 1849 cover to Middletown, Conn.; some minor edge wear and tear at right, Very Fine, ex-Chambers, Myerson. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A RARE FIRST DAY OF USAGE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO STRAIGHT LINE HANDSTAMP, ONE OF ONLY EIGHT FROM THE FIRST CONTRACT SAILING OF THE USSC PANAMA.
The San Francisco straight line postmark was used only on mail dispatched on the third, fourth, and fifth contract sailings from San Francisco to Panama in 1849. It was used on some mail dispatched on the first departure of the S.S. "Panama" on June 20 (including this folded letter), all mail dispatched on the second departure of the S.S. "Oregon" on July 2, and some mail dispatched on the second departure of the S.S. "California" on August 1. The straight line postmark was preceded by manuscript postmarks and succeeded by cds postmarks.
Realized: $1,250
Lot
4405
San Francisco, Cal. "July 2", straight line handstamp with magenta manuscript date and matching "40" rating at top right on folded letter datelined "Stockton California June 28 /49" from Charles S. Peck and addressed to Waterbury Conn., sent by boat to San Francisco for the sailing, additional manuscript "1849" docketing at center; some edge wear and light aging, ex-Ken Kutz. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
ONE OF ONLY SIX RECORDED EXAMPLES FROM THE SECOND CONTRACT SAILING OF THE S.S. OREGON.
The PMSS "Oregon" arrived at Panama on July 21st and its mails joined those of June 20th, leaving Chagres on July 28th on the "Falcon" to New Orleans arriving Aug. 3rd.
Realized: $1,300
Lot
4406
San Francisco, Cal. "Aug 1", straight line handstamp with magenta manuscript date and matching "40" rating at top right on blue folded letter datelined "At sea Lat 30° 42' Lon 134° 4' Tuesday June 26th" written by a 49er leaving Valparaiso on May 1st 1849 and addressed to Troy N.Y. that logs the journey of his ship until arriving at Monterey Bay on July 4th, additional manuscript "1849" docketing at left, Very Fine. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
THE LATEST RECORDED USE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO STRAIGHTLINE, ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED EXAMPLES FROM THIS SAILING.
Cover carried on the August 1st sailing of the PMSS "California" arriving at Panama on August 24th. The first San Francisco cds is also recorded being first used on the August 1st 1849 sailing and remained in use through the mid 1850s.
Realized: $1,250
Lot
4407
San Francisco '40' 1 May, red integral rate cds and matching "Paid" handstamp adjacent on blue folded letter datelined "San Francisco April 30. 1850" and addressed to New York, pencil charge box number, put on the PMSS "Panama" arriving at Panama on May 21st and transferred to USMSS "Georgia" leaving Chagres May 26th and arriving at New York on June 9th., Very Fine. Estimate $400 - 600.
THE EARLIEST RECORDED DATE OF THE SECOND SAN FRANCISCO CDS WITH SANS SERIF LETTERS.
Lot
4408
(United States Consular Office, Panama) Panama N.Y. Jun 10 (1850), cds and matching partial strike of "30" rating handstamp for the 30¢ American packet rate from Panama on buff cover addressed to Senecaville Oh., probably carried on the Empire City Line Crescent City leaving Chagres June 14th and arriving at New York on June 24th; some edge flaws and separation, Fine, ex-Jessup. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
THE EARLIEST OF ONLY 12 RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE U.S. CONSULAR OFFICE AT PANAMA POSTMARK.
Between June 10th and July 21st 1850, the United States Consul at Panama, Amos B. Corwine is recorded as applying the "Panama N.Y." circular datestamp on letters handled by his office.
Realized: $675
Lot
4409
Per Str. Columbus, red straight-line handstamp and matching "San Francisco '40' 18 June" integral sans serif 40¢ due cds on blue folded letter datelined "Washington Flat Messais June 7th 1850" from a gold miner on the Merced River west of Yosemite and addressed to Troy N.Y., the Columbus arrived at Panama on July 6th with a transfer at Chagres to Laws Falcon leaving for New York on July 12th arriving there about July 23rd, Very Fine and rare. Milgram No. 272 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A RARE USAGE CARRIED BY GEORGE LAW'S "COLUMBUS" FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO PANAMA.
On June 6th 1850, George Laws steamship "Columbus" arrived at San Francisco and on June 19th she started the first of three mail trips 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.
Realized: $1,000
Lot
4410
San Francisco, Cal. '40' Aug 31, integral rate cds on blue folded letter datelined "Sonoma Aug 28. 1850" and addressed to New York N.Y., carried by the Northerner to Panama arriving Sept. 22nd, transferred at Chagres to the Empire City on Sept. 26th arriving into New York on Oct. 5th, Very Fine, This is the first sailing of the Empire City Line Northerner from San Francisco to Panama. Estimate $200 - 300.
The "Northerner" was purchased by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company in December 1850.
Realized: $190
Lot
4411
Pan. & San. Fran. S.S. 12 Sep (1850), bold strike of cds and manuscript "40" rating on blue folded letter datelined "St. Diego Cal. Sept. 3. 1850" and addressed to Brunswick Me., letter was written by Capt. George W. McManus to his brother stating that he was unloading coal, timber and casks before ballasting and sailing for Calcutta; light stain and edge wear at bottom, otherwise Very Fine, Illustrated in Wierenga's "The Gold Rush Mail Agents to California and their Postal Markings 1849-1852". Towle No. T-1-c Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
THE EARLIEST RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS STEAMSHIP ROUTE AGENT CDS.
During the initial two years of the Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company's contract, the steamships called at San Diego for the mails and Acapulco for coaling. Letters put on at San Diego received one of two recorded route agent cds on board, earliest recorded is that of Bannister Midgett, and the other agent was Governor A. Ferris.
The routing of this letter was by the "Oregon" leaving San Francisco Sept. 1st 1850 to Panama arriving Sep. 19th. Then by the USSC "Georgia" leaving Chagres Sep. 25th and arriving in New York on Oct. 6th.
Lot
4412
Pan. & San. Fran. S.S., Dec 23., perfect crisp strike on buff cover with circled "40" rate handstamp, addressed to Port Richmond on Staten Island, N.Y., light creasing, a Very Fine and choice strike of this rare marking, ex-Wiltsee, Pearce. Towle No. T-1-c Estimate $750 - 1,000.
This rare route agent marking was applied on board contract vessels between San Francisco and Panama. This was applied on board the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. steamer California when it stopped at Acapulco by U.S. Agent Bannister Midgett.
Realized: $1,600