Lot
145 
(San Francisco) San Francisco. Straight line postmark with "June 20" and "40" magenta manuscript date and rate marking on folded letter to Saint Louis, Missouri, where forwarded to Liberty, Missouri, with partial red Saint Louis postmark dated July 14 and "for 5 / 45" additional manuscript rate marking, letter from Peter H. Burnett is headed "San Francisco, June 19 / 49" and pertains to personal and business matters but includes the comments "All is perfect bustle and confusion, and I cannot yet tell who is good and who is bad." and "This place is a perfect whirlpool, and I have scarcely time to get through the business imposed upon me." plus "I am located at San Francisco with an Agency at Sutter's Fort and will practice law and give especial attention to the collection of debts.", some discoloration specks & stain at bottom right, Very Fine, ex-Haas and ex-Polland, illustrated in Coburn's Letters of Gold (page 292). Estimate $500 - 750.
The San Francisco straight line postmark was used only on mail dispatched on the third, fourth, and fifth contract sailings from San Francisco to Panama in 1849. It was used on some mail dispatched on the first departure of the S.S. Panama on June 20 (including this folded letter), all mail dispatched on the second departure of the S.S. Oregon on July 2, and some mail dispatched on the second departure of the S.S. California on August 1. The straight line postmark was preceded by manuscript postmarks and succeeded by cds postmarks.
Peter H. Burnett served as California's only elected pre-statehood Governor and then as first state Governor from December 20, 1849, until January 9, 1851. California was admitted as a state on September 9, 1850. San Franciscans first learned the news from a banner hung from the rigging of the S.S. Oregon upon her sixth return trip from Panama on October 18, 1850.
Realized: $1,350