The Larry Lyons Collection: All Roads Lead to San Francisco

**Merchants Exchange, Noisy Carriers, Nicaragua Line, Cal. Telegraph**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
1501		Merchants Exchange, San Francisco. Remarkably bold red oval handstamp on blue Oct. 19, 1850 folded letter to New York City, sender's ship designation "Columbus", which departed Oct. 19, black "40" in circle due handstamp applied at New York FRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE RARE MERCHANTS EXCHANGE SAN FRANCISCO FORWARDING AGENT'S HANDSTAMP. The Merchants Exchange at San Francisco, Sweeney and Baugh proprietors, provided local residents and transients with mail-forwarding service. In a few cases we have clear evidence that the private "Paid" markings and 40-cent rate indicated on covers were satisfactory proof of prepayment when the letter arrived at the New York City post office (despite the fact that no government postal markings were applied in San Francisco, see following lot for an example). In this case the letter was sent unpaid and handstamped due 40c in New York. This is a superb example of this rare marking and use from the early period of San Francisco's postal history. With 1992 P.F. certificate (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 3,000-4,000 SOLD for $4,750.00 Will close during Public Auction
1502		Merchants Exchange, San Francisco. Perfectly clear three-line handstamp with "PAID" on third line in small italic caps, magenta manuscript "40" transcontinental rate on folded cover to New York City VERY FINE AND RARE EXAMPLE OF MAIL FORWARDED BY THE MERCHANTS EXCHANGE AT SAN FRANCISCO. This is an outstanding cover demonstrating the link between an independent mail operation in early San Francisco and the official government post office. In this case, the absence of San Francisco postal markings and postage due in New York City indicates that the private "Paid" marking and 40-cent rate, although entirely private in origin, were satisfactory evidence of prepayment. Illustrated in Letters of Gold. With 1992 P.F. certificate (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 3,000-4,000 SOLD for $4,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
1503		1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Two horizontal pairs, Positions 71-72R1L and 91-92R1L, 71R and 91R are Triple Transfer, One Inverted positions, large margins to cut in, tied by two strikes of "San Francisco Cal. 1 Jun." (1855) circular datestamp on 6c Green on Buff Nesbitt entire (U14) to Boston Mass., bold strike of green "From Noisy Carriers. Mail. 77 Long Wharf S.F. Cal." ornamental framed handstamp ties left pair, stamps have small stains, entire has minor wear and has been lightly cleaned in places FINE APPEARANCE. A COLORFUL AND RARE COMBINATION OF ONE-CENT 1851 ISSUE STAMPS AND THE GREEN "FROM NOISY CARRIERS MAIL" ON A 6-CENT GREEN ENTIRE. The Noisy Carriers handstamp was applied by Noisy Carriers Publishing Hall to indicate or advertise their handling of mail put on steamers departing for Nicaragua or Panama. It is scarce in green and very rare on 6c entires uprated with the 1c 1851 Issue. This is an outstanding exhibit-worthy example. The Triple Transfer, One Inverted positions add another element of rarity (although the traces of previous transfers are barely evident on these stamps) (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 2,000-3,000 SOLD for $2,500.00 Will close during Public Auction
1504		3c Dull Red, Ty. I (11). Horizontal strip of three, large margins to just in, used with 1c Blue, Ty. II (20), tied by "San Francisco Cal. Feb. 5, 1858" circular datestamp on cover to Auburn N.Y., 1c also tied by clear strike of "Noisy Carrier's Mail, San Francisco" oval handstamp, trivial edgewear VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL COMBINATION OF 1851-57 IMPERFORATE AND PERFORATED ISSUES, USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SCARCE NOISY CARRIER'S OVAL. Ex Goldberg. With 1992 P.F. certificate (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 3,000-4,000 SOLD for $3,500.00 Will close during Public Auction
1505		VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS. Red octagonal handstamp on buff cover addressed to "Samuel Hubbard Esq. Steamer Winfield Scott, San Juan del Sur, or Care of Wm. T. Babcock San Francisco", pencil manuscript "due 25c" at top, and "pr. Northern Light", Very Fine and a rare use of the "Via Nicaragua" San Francisco mailbag operator marking on a westbound letter to San Francisco (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 500-750 SOLD for $650.00 Will close during Public Auction
1506		3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Horizontal pair, full margins, tied by "New-York Ship Feb. 9" circular datestamp on cover to New York, handstamped with blue "Via Nicaragua/Ahead of the Mails" in octagonal frame and "Stmr. Sierra Nevada, Via Nicaragua, In Advance of the Mails" in oval, some wrinkling and corner wear, otherwise Very Fine, scarce use of both markings on one cover (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 750-1,000 SOLD for $1,300.00 Will close during Public Auction
1507		Via Nicaragua Line, In Advance of the Mail. Perfectly struck oval handstamp applied in New York City on brown cover to San Francisco, sender's directive "Nicaragua route" and tiny manuscript "Paid March 4" in another hand, small sealed tear at top, still Extremely Fine, a choice strike of this rare Via Nicaragua handstamp, examples of westbound mail carried by the Accessory Transit Co. are much scarcer than eastbound (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 1,500-2,000 SOLD for $1,500.00 Will close during Public Auction
1508		By Telegraph. Office (California State Telegraph Company). Bold blue four-line notched corner rectangular handstamp continuing "No. 159 Clay St. San Francisco. Cal." on ca. 1854 cover to local addressee, Very Fine and scarce, with 2012 P.F. certificate, 1993 ASCC No. 266, Rarity 7 (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 300-400 SOLD for $300.00 Will close during Public Auction