Lot
249 
Steamer E. Corning (San Francisco Bay and Sacramento River), attractive, double oval handstamp on folded cover to San Francisco, letter written in French and datelined "Stockton 9 October 1851", letter mentions giving $20 to the clerk of the Corning, several vertical file folds.Milgram No. 386 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A VERY RARE CALIFORNIA STEAMER OF WHICH THIS IS THE ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE. WEST COAST PACKET HANDSTAMPS ARE THE RAREST OF ALL NAME-OF-BOAT MARKINGS.
Charles Minturn in 1849 organized the Contra Costa ferry company. This company owned the side wheel steamer "Erastus Corning". At first this boat ran across the Bay to Oakland from San Francisco. Mail as well as passengers and freight were handled on this 7 mile voyage. A dollar was charged for handling each letter. Later this side wheeler ran from San Francisco to Stockton.
Current Opening Bid: $1,000