Lot
243 
(San Diego) Weed, Cal., Apr 20, 1884, cds (SAN-6890, R4) on cover to Orange, franked with 2¢ Banknote tied by target handstamps; cover with rounded corner at top right, Very Fine, a rare townmark (photo on web site). Estimate $100 - 150.
Lot
244
(San Diego) Witch Creek, Cal., Aug 10, 1898, strong bold cds (SAN-6950, R4) on cover to San Diego, franked with 2¢ Trans-Miss tied by target handstamp; cover reduced at left, a Very Fine and choice strike, rare with one other example recorded (photo on web site). Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $80
Lot
245
(San Francisco) San Francisco '40' 17 June, red integral-rate due cds and matching red "Per Str. Columbus" straightline handstamp (Milgram 272) on 1850 buff cover to Middletown Conn., carried by George Law Columbus from San Francisco Jun. 19th to Panama arriving Jul. 6th with a transfer at Chagres to George Law Falcon departing Jul. 12th to New York arriving Jul. 23rd, Very Fine and rare; with 1995 P.F. certificate. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
A RARE USAGE CARRIED BY GEORGE LAW'S "COLUMBUS" FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO PANAMA ON HER MAIDEN VOYAGE. THE FINEST RECORDED USE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO "PER STR. COLUMBUS" STRAIGHTLINE.
On June 6th 1850, George Laws steamship "Columbus" arrived at San Francisco and on June 19th she started the first of only two voyages to Panama (Columbus carried mail on her maiden round voyage and a second voyage 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: $525
Lot
246
(San Francisco) San Francisco '40' 31 Aug, integral-due cds on folded cover to New York N.Y., datelined "Sonoma Aug. 28, 1850", carried by the Northerner to Panama arriving Sep. 22nd, transferred at Chagres to the Empire City on Sept. 26th to New York arriving Oct. 5th, Very Fine, This is the first sailing of the Empire City Line Northerner from San Francisco to Panama., ex-Feldman. Estimate $300 - 400.
The "Northerner" served on several routes over the years. She began service on the New York to Charleston route for Spfford, Tileston before being sold to Charles Morgan who moved her to California waters where she was operated with the "Crescent City". When operating together, they came to be known as the Empire City Line. The pairing was very brief and she was purchased by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company in December 1850.
Realized: $525
Lot
247
(San Francisco) San Francisco, 31st October 1852, datelined folded letter with San Francisco blue "Paid" handstamp and red crayon "50" cent rating to Valparaiso, Chile via Panama, transferred to British mails with red crowned circle "Paid At Panama" (S.G. CC5, £1,900) handstamp and red crayon "1/-" rating, "Panama 'A' NO 23 1852" double-arc backstamp; carried by PSNC ship Quito from Panama Nov. 24th to Valparaiso arriving Dec. 12th., Very Fine and attractive, ex-Walske. Estimate $500 - 750.
Lot
248
(San Francisco) San Francisco., Feb 14 1899, purple straight line Valentines Day postmark (SAF-2320) tying 2¢ Bureau on gold bordered cover to Black Bear, Cal., stamp additionally canceled by target handstamp, Extremely Fine, an exceedingly rare St. Valentine's Day postmark believed to be used for this one day only. Scott No. 267 Estimate $250 - 350.