Lot
500 
(Monterey) Monterey, California, Apl 17. 1849, manuscript postmark (MOT-1610) and matching "40" cent rating on orange buff cover to New York N.Y., accompanied by blue enclosed letter datelined "Monterey, California April 13 1849" from a member of the U.S. Military to his sister describing the influence of the discovery of gold to the military way of life, being transferred to San Francisco, mail ships Oregon and California etc. including "…I leave tomorrow on the Brig Malik Adel, and the brig stops 4 or 5 days at Santa Cruz. General Riley has arrived & Colonel Mason has resigned to him the Command, both civil and military…Mrs. General Smith and Mrs. Major Ogden and another lady all of whom came up with me return home with the California because I suppose no servants can be obtained here…Col. Mason also returns with the California…", Very Fine, the only recorded postmark showing the full "California" spelling with the 40 cent rate.Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
THE EARLIEST RECORDED MONTEREY POSTMARKED COVER, SENT DURING THE PRE-STATEHOOD PERIOD.
This is a rare version of the Monterey manuscript postmark with California spelled out, we have not seen another.
Realized: $4,000