Lot
966 
(Via Panama) 1849 (Dec. 2) Callao, Peru to East Thomaston Me., gray datelined folded letter carried by Pacific Steam Navigation Co. to Panama and overland to Chagres, carried by Cherokee from Chagres Jan. 2nd to New York arriving Jan. 13th, rare strike of red "New-York '30' Jan 13" integral-due cds; slight edge toning, F.-V.F. Estimate $400 - 600.
CARRIED ON THE MAIDEN RETURN VOYAGE OF HOWLAND AND ASPINWALL'S CHEROKEE.
There are fewer than 5 recorded examples of the rare "New-York '30' Jan 13" integral-due cds, which is known used for this voyage of the "Cherokee" only. The New York Herald listed Cherokee as a mail steamship, but this was incorrect. The confusion about the Cherokee being a mail steamship on this voyage may have come from the actions of mail agent A. Clinton McLean. He was in charge of the mails from California that reached Panama on Dec. 5th and Dec. 29th. He accompanied these mails to New York on the Cherokee. It appears that he had missed the sailing of the contract mail steamer, "Falcon", that cleared Chagres on January 1, 1850. Howland and Aspinwall's Pacific Mail Steamship Company had the mail contract for the Pacific route, but not for the route on the Atlantic side. They did operate steamships on the Atlantic route until April 1851, the "Cherokee" being their first.
Reference: United States Incoming Steamship Mail 1847-1875, Second Edition, Wierenga, illustrated and discussed on p. 50-51, fig. 66.