Lot
833 
(Monterey) "Harbor of Monterey, California, January 27, 1847", dateline on folded letter signed by Capt. Christopher Quarles Tompkins, 3rd Artillery to Genl. Roger Jones Adj. Genl. U.S. Army, Washington D.C., entered mails with red "New-York 'Ship 7cts' Apr 22" cds with due rating crossed out as this was endorsed official mail, the report states "…shall report to Brig. Genl. Kearney who is reported to be at the Pueblo de Los Angeles" and remarks "Left New-York July 14th 1846 - arrvd Monterey 27 Jany. - voyage of 6 mos 13 days - extraordinary length" which refers to his voyage on the USS Lexington that included some famous passengers Lt. Henry Hallack, Lt. Edward Ord and William Tecumseh Sherman, prior to arriving in Monterey, January 12th 1847, she landed a party at San Blas, Nayarit, and captured several enemy guns, and during the war operated along the West Coast transporting troops and assisting in the blockade, F.-V.F., ex-J. David Baker. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
AN EARLY MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR MILITARY LETTER FROM THE HARBOR OF MONTEREY.
The letter left Monterey on January 28 aboard the sloop-of-war USS Dale, which was taking its captain, Commander McKean, to Panama so that he could return to the United States because of ill health. It arrived at Panama City on March 15, where McKean joined forces with Lt. Gray and Major Emory, who were carrying dispatches to the United States from Commodore Stockton and General Kearny, respectively. The three crossed the Isthmus to Chagres on the east coast, carrying this letter. The HMS Clyde then carried them from Chagres (departed March 28) to Jamaica on April 1, where they transferred to the HMS Dee (departed Jamaica on April 3 and arrived in Havana on April 10). The ship Globe then took the letter to New York, where it arrived on April 21, 1847 and was rated for seven cents postage due including a two cents ship fee. Upon arrival at Washington it was recognized that the recipient was entitled to receive mail free of postage and the seven cents postage due was crossed out.
Illustrated: "Mails of the Westward Expansion, 1803 to 1861" by Walske and Frajola as fig. 4-22 on page 70.
Realized: $2,800