Lot
4411 
Pan. & San. Fran. S.S. 12 Sep (1850), bold strike of cds and manuscript "40" rating on blue folded letter datelined "St. Diego Cal. Sept. 3. 1850" and addressed to Brunswick Me., letter was written by Capt. George W. McManus to his brother stating that he was unloading coal, timber and casks before ballasting and sailing for Calcutta; light stain and edge wear at bottom, otherwise Very Fine, Illustrated in Wierenga's "The Gold Rush Mail Agents to California and their Postal Markings 1849-1852". Towle No. T-1-c Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
THE EARLIEST RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS STEAMSHIP ROUTE AGENT CDS.
During the initial two years of the Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company's contract, the steamships called at San Diego for the mails and Acapulco for coaling. Letters put on at San Diego received one of two recorded route agent cds on board, earliest recorded is that of Bannister Midgett, and the other agent was Governor A. Ferris.
The routing of this letter was by the "Oregon" leaving San Francisco Sept. 1st 1850 to Panama arriving Sep. 19th. Then by the USSC "Georgia" leaving Chagres Sep. 25th and arriving in New York on Oct. 6th.