Lot
107 
California "Ocean" Penny Post Co., 1855, 5¢ Blue. Defects mostly at bottom center, affixed on cover to Bridgeport, Conn., additional franked with 1851, 10¢ green, type III (small flaws) tied by "New - York, Jul 20" cds (day inverted), endorsed "per Cortes" at top, Fine appearance, ex Caspary (with original auction page from sale). Scott No. 34L4+15; $55,000 Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
FOUR KNOWN GENUINE USAGES OF THIS RARE WESTERN LOCAL EXIST ON COVER, ONE OF WHICH IS MISSING THE U.S. 10¢ ADHESIVE, MAKE THIS ONE OF ONLY THREE COMPLETE FRANKINGS.
The California Penny Post was established by Henry L. Goodwin in San Francisco on June 25, 1855. For a fee of five cents, letters would be turned over to special messenger and carried, via Nicaragua, to New York City and placed in the US mails there.
This cover shows proper markings for a cover that was actually carried via Nicaragua on the sailing of the Cortes. After a crossing of Nicaragua, the cover was carried by The Star of the North from Nicaragua to New York City where it arrived and entered the mails on July 25, 1855.
Realized: $3,000