Lot
615 
(Naval) 1847 (Mar. 24) Monrovia, Liberia to Middletown, Conn. via New Orleans, manuscript endorsement "U.S. Frigate United States, Monrovia March 24th 1847" on cover, blue "New Orleans La. Jun 3" cds with matching "Ship" and "12" rating handstamps, Very Fine. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $900
Lot
616
(Naval) 1848 (Jul. 25) U.S.S. Plymouth, Straits of Sunda (Indonesia) To Bridgeton, N.J., blue folded letter datelined "U.S.S. Plymouth, July 25th 1848, Straits of Sundra", letter from William Ruschenberger to his mother mentions "We sailed from Rio de Janeiro on the 28th of May and after 54 days at sea, anchored near the west end of the island of Java on the 21st inst. … we should be on our way to Anyer, a port about 60 miles east from here, where this will be left to take its chance for the United States.", probably carried by a whaler home, entered mails with red "New Bedford Ms Nov 25" cds with matching "Ship" and "7" cent rating handstamps for the 5¢ inland plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine, a scarce origin. Estimate $500 - 750.
The Sunda Straits is the strait between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. It connects the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean.
Realized: $400
Lot
617
(Naval) 1852 (Aug. 3) Robbinston, Me. to U.S.S. Saratoga at Hong Kong, China, red "Robbinston Me. Aug 2/4" cds and matching "Paid" and "3" handstamps on blue folded letter addressed to John Sewall, U.S. Ship Saratoga, East India Squadron, via Naval Lyceum, New York, forwarded with Brooklyn "U.S. Naval Lyceum" handstamp depicting full-rigged ship, docketed "Rec'd pr. 'Anne Buckman; Hong Kong, China, Feby 13. 1853.", Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
The U.S. Sloop "Saratoga" was a 24-gun sloop of war, comparable to today's light cruiser. She was assigned to the East India Station in 1852, and added to the Japan Expedition of Commodore M.C. Perry in 1853 to make his squadron more impressive.
Lot
618
(Naval) 1853 (Oct. 29) Philadelphia Pa. to U.S. Store Ship Supply at Hong Kong, China, cover with bold strike of blue "Philadelphia Pa. Oct 29" cds and bold red "24 Paid" rating handstamps to Dr. J. Wilson, U.S. Store Ship Supply, East India Squadron, care of Samuel Goddard at London, New York red "19" credit handstamp, reverse with blue oval Goddard backstamp and manuscript "705 Paid to England, Recd 14/11/53" notation, red London (11.14) arrival cds, forwarded privately to Hong Kong, China care of Rawler Drinker & Co., Very Fine and attractive. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $650
Lot
619
(Naval) 1856 (Sep. 8) U.S.S. Portsmouth, Hong Kong, China to San Francisco Cal. via Mazatlan, Mexico, enclosed letter datelined "U.S. Ship Portsmouth / Hong Kong. Sept 8 / 56" written by Lt. Andrew H. Foote (later Admiral) to brothers in San Francisco Cal., carried privately and entered mails with "Mazatlan, Abril 16" framed postmark and matching "Franco" handstamp, black "San Francisco Cal '10' Apr 23" integral due cds; pencil "2", F.-V.F., ex-Blake. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
A REMARKABLE USE FROM HONG KONG VIA MEXICO TO THE UNITED STATES.
Realized: $3,250
Lot
620
(Naval) [Paraguay Expedition] 1857 c. (Apr. 25) Plattsburgh N.Y. to Brazil via Naval Lyceum, cover addressed to George A. Sawyer, U.S. Frigate St. Laurence, Brazil, to be forwarded by U.S. Naval Lyceum, Brooklyn, New York, Care of Comd. Forrest", bearing 1851, 3¢ dull red (11), margins to in at bottom, forwarded with Brooklyn "U.S. Naval Lyceum" handstamp depicting full-rigged ship, Very Fine. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Recommissioned on 22 September 1856, St. Lawrence of 50 guns sailed for the Atlantic coast of South America to become flagship of the Brazil Squadron early the next year. Her service on the Brazil Station was enlivened late in 1858 by the expedition to Paraguay to obtain redress for the unprovoked firing upon the Water Witch during surveying operations in the Paraná River. She returned to Philadelphia on May 25th 1859.
Realized: $675
Lot
621
(Naval) 1857 (Feb. 8) Tallahassee, Flor. to the"U.S.S. Frigate Constellation" at Spezzia, Italy, light blue cover bearing 1851, 3¢ dull red (11A) horizontal pair, four margins except barely in at top right, hor. crease, tied by "Tallahassee, Flor. Feb 8" cds, apparently missed the Boston sailing and carried by Cunard Line Africa from New York Feb. 18th to Liverpool arriving Mar. 2nd, red London (3.3) transit backstamp with "GB/1F60c" accountancy h.s., Calais (3.3.57), Spezzia (3.8) backstamp with manuscript "10" crazie postage due, Very Fine. Estimate $400 - 600.
This letter was sent during the Three Months period when the new treaty between Great Britain and France was in effect, but before the treaty between the United States and France became effective. Under this convention, mails that passed through Great Britain bound for France, or points beyond, received a British debit to France. When the Franco-British Convention went into effect on January 1, 1857, the sea postage and postage from England to Sardinia collected on delivery was lowered to 10 décimes for a single rate letter.
Realized: $400
Lot
622
(Naval) [Second Opium War] 1858 (May 20) U.S.S. Powhatan, Hong Kong, China to Baltimore Md., cover with original enclosure datelined "U.S. Steamer Powhatan, Hong Kong, May 19th 1858", reverse with Hong Kong (5.20), London (7.15) and Boston Br. Pkt. (7.28) backstamps, manuscript "34" debit and bold "39" cent due rating handstamp for ¼ oz. letter; repaired, staining, Fine and interesting letter. Estimate $400 - 600.
Some very interesting content concerning events prior to the Second Opium War, "We arrived here on the 12th…We go from here to the Gulf of Pecheli at the mouth of the Pi-Ho River to join Mr. Read who is there with the Minnesota and Mississippi and in company with the English, French and Russian Commissioners who are pushing towards Pekin…with the hopes of soon bringing the Chinese to negotiations upon terms of treaties with them all. The French and English still hold quiet possession of Canton, although the greater part of their forces are north the the comissioners and if they do not soon succeed in bring the poor Chinese to terms, they expect to have some fighting to do. Our stay at the Gulf of Pacheli will depend upon Mr. Read. If he does not need us, we will coal at Shanghai and make a summer cruise to Japan…".
Realized: $1,900
Lot
623
(Naval) 1859 (Apr. 24) U.S.S. St. Louis, San Juan, Nicaragua to West Port Point, Mass., cover with enclosed letter datelined "United States Ship St. Louis, San-Juan de Nicaragua, April 24th 1859", endorsed "Pr Am. Schooner 'Flying Dragon' " and addressed to West Port Point, Mass., entered mails with 1857, 3¢ dull red, corner flaw, tied by sharp "Fall River Ms. May 24 1859" cds, matching "Steam" straightline handstamp adjacent; reduced slightly at right, Very Fine. Scott No. 26 Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $290
Lot
624
(Naval) [Paraguay Expedition] 1859 (Mar. 19) U.S.S. Memphis, Pernambuco, Brazil To Brooklyn N.Y., forwarded to Columbus Ky, yellow cover endorsed "Per Brig 'Brandywine' ", entered U.S. mails with "Philadelphia Pa. Jun 5 1863" datestamp, matching "Ship" and "5" rating handstamps, forwarded to Columbus Ky. with 1857, 3¢ dull red affixed over "5" rating handstamp and tied by "Brooklyn N.Y. Jun 6" cds, original datelined enclosure; reduced slightly at left, Very Fine. Scott No. 26 Estimate $200 - 300.
This cover was written aboard the U.S.S. Memphis return from the Paraguay Expedition of 1859, which was the largest U.S. fleet ever assembled at that time. The fleet ascended the La Plata River and obtained redress for the firing upon a U.S. Survey steamer by the Paraguayan Government. The Memphis was a small charted screw steamer that was purchased by the Navy upon her return from the expedition and renamed Mystic.
Realized: $325