Sale 57: The Hugh V. Feldman Collection

Lot 4425    

Gregory's Atlantic and Pacific, Express, Forwarded by Thompson & Hitchcock, N.Y., four-line handstamp on folded letter datelined "Glasgow 29 August 1851" and addressed to San Francisco Cal., endorsed "p. Gregorys California Express", carried by Cunard Line Niagara leaving Liverpool August 30th 1851 to New York arriving Sep. 11th, forwarded via Nicaragua on the Prometheus departing Sep. 12th to San Juan del Nord arriving Sep. 25th, the by the President from San Juan del Sur Oct. 12th to San Francisco arriving Oct. 16th; interior docket "Rec pr Gregorys Express pr Pacific Oct 17 /51", Very Fine.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Joseph W. Gregory used the forwarding agents Thompson & Hitchcock of 149 Pearl St., New York to operate the New York end of his Atlantic and Pacific express to California.

Realized: $450

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Lot 4426    

Gregory's Atlantic and Pacific, Express, Forwarded by Thompson & Hitchcock, N.Y., four-line handstamp on folded letter datelined "p. Empire City New York July 12. 1851" and addressed to San Francisco Cal., endorsed "Gregorys Express paid", forwarded via Panama on the United States S.S. Co. Empire City departing Jul. 12th to Chagres arriving Jul. 24th, then by PMSS Panama from Panama Aug. 1st to San Francisco arriving Aug. 19th; cover with stains beginning to appear from non-archival tape along folds that should be removed, Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $280

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Lot 4427    

Gregory's Atlantic & Pacific Express, Central Office, Cor. Montgomery & Merchant Str., San Francisco, Cal, five-line handstamp and matching "Paid" oval handstamp overstrikes pencil "150" ($1.50) express due rating on circa 1851 buff cover originating in the east and addressed to Benjamin Scholfield, Carsons Creek, Cal., routed by steamboat to Stockton, probably on an Aspinwall boat running Route 5062, then overland along the Calaveras Valley to Angel Camp and south to Carsons Creek, Very Fine.
Estimate    $600 - 800.

Sergeant James H. Carson found a rich deposit of gold in a small creek off the Stanislaus River in 1848.

Realized: $600

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Lot 4428    

Gregory's, Express Office., San Francisco, blue three-line handstamp with matching "Paid" oval handstamp on 1851 cover with original enclosure datelined "Brooklyn Sept 27. 1851" and addressed to San Francisco Cal., redirected back to New York City by Gregory's office, pencil docketed "Recd in N.Y. Decr. 19/51" at left, Very Fine and unusual redirected letter routed "Via Panama" on the first trip and "Via Nicaragua" on the return trip.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Letter was routed from New York Sep. 27th 1851 on the "Illinois" arriving at Chagres Oct. 5th and departed Panama Oct. 17th on the "Panama" arriving at San Francisco Nov. 4th. On the return passage letter was routed from San Francisco on the "Gold Hunter" to San Juan Del Sur, then by the "Daniel Webster" from San Juan del Norte Dec. 9th to New York arriving Dec. 19th.

In 1850 Joseph W. Gregory founded his Express Company with offices in San Francisco and New York as well as in a number of the principle mining towns of California like Sacramento City and Maysville. Heavy competition from both Adams' Express and the many small carriers resulted in Gregory gradually fragmenting the business by selling parts and closing down and leaving for New York on May 1st 1853.

Realized: $300

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Lot 4429    

Gregory's, Express Office., San Francisco, blue three-line handstamp with matching "Not Paid" oval handstamp on folded letter datelined "San Francisco Dec. 4 / 51" and addressed to Port Richmond on Staten Island, N.Y., carried by the Golden Gate departing Dec. 5th to Panama arriving Dec. 18th, and then on the Ohio departing Chagres Dec. 22nd to New York arriving Jan. 6th; some edge wear, Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $230

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