Lot
4075 
Australian States: New South Wales, 1854 (May 9) Sydney, New South Wales to Clarkstown N.Y. via Panama, datelined blue folded gold rush letter bearing New South Wales, 3d green, tied by barred oval, carried as endorsed by Steamer Golden Age from Sydney to Panama arriving Jun. 19th, across Isthmus by mule and canoe to Aspinwall, then U.S. Mail S.S. Co. vessel to New York where "Steamship 20" in circle due handstamp struck, Very Fine. Estimate $500 - 750.
A coaling stop was made at Tahiti, but this route involved unfavorable winds and ocean currents which led to high coal costs for this inefficient paddle steamer.
Apparently only two covers to the United States have survived from this "Golden Age" sailing, the this lot and the following lot. See "Golden Age", Forster, Dale, The Informer, Oct, 2011.
Realized: $475