Lot
4430 
Via. Nicaragua., clear strike of red box handstamp on buff cover with manuscript "Free C.P.N." free frank at upper right and addressed to General George Sylvester Nichols (1820-1900) at Athens N.Y., carried by Northern Light to New York, entered mails with "New York '5 cts' Oct 27" integral rate postmark for 5¢ due; few light file folds and edge wear, Very Fine, ex-Crozier, Kramer, Tatham; with 2001 P.F. certificate. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
AN EXTREMELY RARE "VIA NICARAGUA" MARKING THAT IS LISTED BY WIERENGA WITHOUT AN IMAGE.
In 1851, Cornelius Vanderbilt started The Accessory Transit Company to provide a shorter route to San Francisco through Nicaragua rather than via Panama. A number of cachets are known used on the route. The route was by steamboat from New York or New Orleans to San Juan del Norte, transferred to a river steamboat to San Carlos on Lake Nicaragua. Across the lake by steamboat and then 10 miles by coach to San Juan del Sur on the Pacific coast. This route, under favorable conditions reduced the San Francisco to New York journey by five days.
Realized: $725
Lot
4431
Forwarded Via Nicaragua, From Noisy Carriers Publishing Hall, San Francisco, green framed handstamp on cover to Oyster Bay, Long Island N.Y., arrived with 3¢ dull red (11A) horizontal pair tied by "New-York 'Ship' Jan 2" cds, manuscript "Mis-Sent & Forwed" and partial red "Oyster Bay N.Y." circular handstamp with matching manuscript "Jan. 6th" dating to New York City address; light water staining; cover with stains beginning to appear from non-archival tape that should be removed, F.-V.F. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Noisy acted as a forwarding agent in San Francisco in the period 1852 to 1856 and took in mails for Cornelius Vanderbilt's Line via Nicaragua.
Lot
4432
Via Nicaragua Line in Advance of the Mail, black oval handstamp on blue folded letter datelined "New York December 19th 1853" from Davis Brooks & Co. addressed to Captain Thomas B. Cropper, the Master of the Cortes and shareholder in Davis Brooks & Co., endorsed "Via Nicaragua", letter carried by Vanderbilt Line Northern Light leaving New York Dec. 27th and arriving at San Juan del Nord about Jan. 6th; small slit at bottom, Very Fine and scarce. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
AN INTERESTING HISTORICAL LETTER DIRECTLY RELATING TO THE VIA NICARAGUA MAILS.
The "Cortes" with Cropper as Master left San Francisco on Dec. 16th and arrived at Jaun del Sud about Jan. 3rd. The letter informs Cropper that a final settlement was expected with the PMSSC, which would release funds enabling debenture holders to be paid out, including Cropper.
When Cornelius Vanderbilt commenced his New York to San Francisco via Nicaragua route in July 1851, he had three steamships in the Pacific. This fleet was gradually expanded and in May 1853 he purchased the "Cortes" of 1,800 tons from the Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company. The "Cortes" was owned by Davis Brooks & Co. but they entered into a settlement with the PMSSC that resulted in the sale of both the "Cortes" and the "Winfield Scott" to PMSSC. The "Cortes" was immediately sold to Vanderbilt.
Realized: $1,600
Lot
4433
Via Nicaragua, Ahead of the Mails, red framed handstamp ties 3¢ dull red (11A) horizontal pair, margins to touched, on buff cover addressed to Fall River Mass., endorsed "Nicauguary", arrived with "New-York Sep 9" cds tying pair for the prepaid 6¢ over 3,000 miles rate; some wrinkling, F.-V.F., ex-Ken Kutz. Estimate $400 - 600.
Lot
4434
Stmr. Sierra Nevada, Via Nicaragua in Advance of the Mails, bold strike of blue oval handstamp on circa 1853 cover addressed to Natchez Miss., carried by Accessory Transit Co. "Sierra Nevada" to San Juan del Sur, arrived at New York from San Juan del Norte with sharply struck "New-York Aug 7" cds tying 3¢ dull red (11A) horizontal pair, margins to slightly in, for the prepaid 6¢ over 3,000 miles rate, Very Fine; with 2000 P.F. certificate. Milgram No. 1275 Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE STEAMER SIERRA NEVADA BLUE OVAL HANDSTAMP.
The "Sierra Nevada" was built in New York in 1851, operated by the Howard & Son's Empire Line for three trips between New York and Panama in 1852, and then sold to Cornelius Vanderbilt's Independent Line and brought to San Francisco 1852-1853 while Vanderbilt was on vacation in Europe, which was also when Vanderbilt lost stock control of his Nicaragua shipping business to Cornelius Garrison. The "Sierra Nevada" was operated by Garrison's Nicaragua Steamship Company between Nicaragua and San Francisco 1853-1857. Vanderbilt regained partial control of his Nicaragua shipping business in 1856.
Realized: $2,800
Lot
4435
Stmr. Sierra Nevada, Via Nicaragua in Advance of the Mails, clear strike of bluish black oval handstamp on buff cover addressed to Peter Creek Pa.; carried to San Juan Del Sur on the Sierra Nevada, entered mails with 3¢ dull red (11A) horizontal pair, margins to cutting, tied by "New York Nov. 13" cds for the prepaid 6¢ over 3,000 miles rate; bottom edge corner flaws, Very Fine. Milgram No. 1275 var. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE AND CHOICE STRIKE OF THE STEAMER SIERRA NEVADA HANDSTAMP.
Lot
4436 ()
Steamship Pampero, bold strike of large oval handstamp on buff cover front addressed to Consul John S. Cripps at Mexico City, Mexico, partial blue "Stmr. Sierra Nevada, Via Nicaragua, Advance of the Mails" oval handstamp (Milgram 1275), carried on the Jun. 1st sailing arriving at San Juan del Sure on Jun. 14th, carried across Nicaragua and placed onto the Pampero leaving San Juan del Norte on Jun. 17th and arriving at New Orleans on Jun. 24th, entered mails with red "New Orleans La. Jun 24" cds and bearing 3¢ dull red (11A) horizontal pair, margins to touched, tied by "Steamship" circular handstamp for the 6¢ rate over 3,000 miles, New Orleans Post Office placed letter on steamship bound for Mexico, entered with "Santa-Anna, Septiembre 2" framed datestamp and large "4" reales due rating handstamp for inland postage to Mexico City; corner mend at lower left, Very Fine and rare use, ex-Emerson, Knapp, H. Bohren; with 1980 P.F. certificate. Milgram No. 1051 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE STEAMSHIP PAMPERO MARKING, BOTH IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE STEAMER SIERRA NEVADA HANDSTAMP.
Cornelius Vanderbilt's Accessory Transit Company used the steamship "Pampero" to run between San Juan el Norte and New Orleans between July 1852 and July 1854. On the Pacific leg of the trip from San Francisco to San Juan del Sur, the company's steamship "Sierra Nevada" was utilized.
Realized: $900
Lot
4437
Steamship Pampero, large oval handstamp on mourning envelope with original black edged enclosure datelined "San Francisco April 15th 1854", addressed to New Orleans La., blue "Stmr. Sierra Nevada, Via Nicaragua, Advance of the Mails" oval handstamp (Milgram 1275), letter apparently delayed on route missing the Apr. 15th sailing and placed on the Jun. 1st sailing arriving at San Juan del Sure on Jun. 14th, carried across Nicaragua and placed onto the Pampero leaving San Juan del Norte on Jun. 17th and arriving at New Orleans on Jun. 24th, entered mails with partial red "New Orleans La. Jun 24" cds and black "Steamship 10" cent due rating circular handstamp, docketed "Rec'd June 26th"; edge wear and tears, cover with stains beginning to appear from non-archival tape that should be removed, Fine, Illustrated in Milgram on page 545. Milgram No. 1051 Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE STEAMSHIP PAMPERO MARKING, BOTH IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE STEAMER SIERRA NEVADA HANDSTAMP.
Realized: $2,200