Lot
41 
(San Francisco, Pre-Statehood) 1849, San Francisco, Ca. Folded Letter to London. Postmarked black "San Francisco Cal Nov 15" cds with matching "Paid" & boxed "40" cents rate handstamp, manuscript "via New York" routing upper left corner, handstamped scarce Great Britain hand-stamped "9 ½" pence due marking at center, backstamped red "New-York Jan 13" transit cds and black oval "America Fe 4 1850" hand-stamp on the reverse, couple of vert. file folds, Very Fine, one of the rarest West Coast Trans-Atlantic usages. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
The "America" handstamp according to Colin Tabeart (Robertson Revisited) this hand-stamp was used on letters that did not enter the U.S. mails, or on letters from California via US packet to New York prepaid by the 40 cents US inland rate, and is known on letters from May-1849 to Apr-1850, and should be regarded as a postage due hand-stamp rather than an accountancy marking. The Pacific Mail Steamship Line steamer "Panama", departed San Francisco 15-Nov, arriving Panama City 4-Dec. Many possibilities exist for sailings between Panama and New York. Carried per the Cunard Line steamer Canada, departing New York 23-Jan, arriving Liverpool 4-Feb.
Realized: $2,400