Lot
236 
(Routes & Forwarders) "Forwarded by Thomas O. Larkin, Monterey, California", clear strike of oval forwarder handstamp on flap of blue folded letter datelined "Boston January 15th 1845" to Ship Vandalia, on the Coast of Upper California, letter states it is being sent care of Midshipman Charles Henry Caldwell who sails from Portsmouth in a few days for the Pacific; some paper loss on flap affects oval, Very Fine, ex-Hackett. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
AN EARLY LETTER FROM BOSTON TO SHIP "VANDALIA" ON COAST OF UPPER CALIFORNIA WITH THE RARE THOMAS O. LARKIN OF MONTEREY, ALTA CALIFORNIA FORWARDING HANDSTAMP, THE FIRST AND ONLY UNITED STATES CONSUL TO ALTA CALIFORNIA.
Letters to the West Coast of North America prior to January 1849 were carried privately and forwarded by a network of agents and U.S. consuls making use of whatever vessels were available.
Thomas O. Larkin arrived in California in 1832 and was appointed the first and only U.S. Consul to Alta California (then part of Mexico) at Monterey on May 1, 1843 by President James K. Polk. This was to become a turbulent time leading up to Mexican War and Larkin played an important part in diplomatic relations. He also served as a mail forwarder in addition to other diplomatic duties until 1846, when war broke out with Mexico and he was captured by the Mexican Army.
Realized: $2,100
Lot
237
(Routes & Forwarders) From Noisy Carriers. Mail., 77 Long Wharf S.F. Cal., sharp strike of fancy box handstamp on cover to Holly Springs Miss. bearing 3¢ orange brown (10A) horizontal pair, deep rich color, large margins except just in at top right, right stamp tear, tied by "San Francisco Cal. 1 Jan" cds; small cover tear and stain spot, a Very Fine and scarce use with the 3¢ orange brown. Estimate $500 - 750.
Noisy Carriers acted as a forwarder in San Francisco and sent mails to the east by both the Panama and Nicaragua routes. The proprietor, Charles P. Kimball (1821-1894) was active during the period of the rate change for over 3,000 miles from 6¢ to 10¢ on April 1st 1855.
Realized: $500
Lot
238
(Routes & Forwarders) Noisy Carriers Mail. 77 Long Wharf, S.F. Cal., bold strike of fancy boxed handstamp on reverse of 1854 folded letter to Washington D.C., front with "San Francisco, Cal., 10, Oct 16 "integral rate cds (SAF-380) for unpaid letter rate, Very Fine, a choice strike of the Noisy Carrier's fancy box handstamp. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $270
Lot
239
(Routes & Forwarders) Putt's Overland Envelope, red all-over propaganda design with "The Pacific Railroad" satirical verses on reverse, on cover bearing 10¢ green (35), straddle line single, tied by "Sacramento City, Cal., Jul 10, 1860" cds to Washington Mich., cover reduced slightly at left with small flaws, Fine and rare. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A RARE PUTT'S OVERLAND ENVELOPE USE BEARING THE 10¢ 1857 ISSUE TO WASHINGTON MICH.
Lot
240
(Routes & Forwarders) (Via Tehauntepec) 1858 (Dec. 18) Sacramento City Cal. to Howell Mich., buff cover bearing 10¢ green, type III (33), left s.e., tied by "Sacramento City Cal Dec 18 1858" cds on buff cover to A. S. Adams at Howell Me., endorsed "Via Tehauntepec" at bottom left; some edge wear and back faults, Fine and rare, ex-Skinner. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
In October 1858, a route was contracted as 8162 from San Francisco to New Orleans using a mixed steamboat and overland route via the Tehuantepec Isthmus in Mexico. Contracted at $250,000 for 12 months with twice a month service. The course of the route was by steamboat to either Acapulco or Salina Cruz, then overland by mule to Suchile, then by river boat to Minatitlan on the Caotzacoalcos River and then by steamboat to New Orleans, La. The route was little used as the section over the mountain range by mule created a long transit time. The total revenue collected for the route was just $5,276.66 and the route was not renewed in 1859. From October 1858 to March 1859, the "Quaker City" was used on the New Orleans to Minatitlan portion of the route. A total of 25 covers endorsed as going "Via Tehuantepec" are recorded in the census.
Realized: $950
Lot
241
(Routes & Forwarders) Vanderbilt Line, For San Francisco, C. Vanderbilt, Agent, New York, illustrated steam liner company agent corner card on orange 1853 cover to Monticello, N.Y., entered N.Y. on the steamship Star of the West from Nicaragua and entering the mails with "New York, Ship, 7cts, Mar 2" integral ship rate cds; some edge wear at sides, Very Fine, a very rare corner card cover sent shortly before the named changed to the Nicaragua Steamship Company a month later. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
Realized: $1,700