Belmont, Cala. Aug 12, 1859 (San Mateo). Manuscript forwarding postmark (SAM-50) on "missent" cover to Belmont, Mass., franked with 1857, 3¢ dull red tied by "San Francisco, Cal., Aug 11, 1859" origin postmark, crayon and handstamp "Due 7" markings; some cover tone spots, F.-V.F.
Scott No. 26; Estimate $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Big Trees, Aug 12th (Calaveras). Manuscript postmark (CAL-280) tying 1870, 6¢ Banknote on 1872 cover to Perhore, England, reverse with Chicago exchange and receiving cds's, Very Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Gibsonville, Cal., Mar 4 (Sierra). Cds (SIE-730) on registered cover to Foxcroft, Me., franked with manuscript canceled 1859, 10¢ green, type V, manuscript "No. 13, Registered 5", with "Paid" handstamp below indicating the 5¢ registry fee being paid in cash, cover forwarded to Sebec with forwarding cds and "Due 3" in circle handstamp; cover slightly reduced at left, Very Fine, this is one of only four recorded examples of this rare California 5¢ registered "Paid" handstamp.
Scott No. 35; Estimate $750 - 1,000. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

Hamlet, Cal., 5,13 (Marin). Manuscript postmark (MRN-800, R5) on 1¢ postal card to San Francisco, message with 1878 dateline; light soiling, otherwise Very Fine, a very rare and quite possibly unique postmark, the listing example in Williams.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Jackson, Cal., Apr 23 (Amador). Bold cds (CAL-1280, unlisted for Amador) on small folded letter sheet to Geneva, Switzerland, manuscript "Paid 26" rating, red "New York, Am. Packet, May 30" and Paris transit cds's with manuscript "10" decimes due rate, partial receiving backstamp, Very Fine, a rare usage of the type Jackson postmark used in Amador county in 1855.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

This first postmark is known used between June of 1851 and July of 1852 when Jackson was in Calaveras county. This later usage in Amador, after Jackson saw two other postmark devices, is unlisted for this county. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

(Los Angeles) Elk's Parade R.P.O., Los Angeles, Cal. Jul 16 1909 Tr. 99. Purple cds duplexed with scarab cancel ties 1¢ Franklin on multicolor "Making Hogs of Themselves" post card to Moody Texas; some wear and creases, Very Fine, The discovery example of this parade RPO..
Estimate; $300 - 400.

On July 16, 1909, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks held a parade in Los Angeles Cal. As a part of the parade, an R.P.O. car was loaned by the U.S. Post Office and staffed by members of the local Railway Post Office Clerk's Association. See Joseph Horn's article "A Special Event - A Very Special R.P.O. Postmark" in The Transit Postmark Collector (Jul.-Aug. 1999) pp. 84-85. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Olema, Cal., Mar 7th (1860) (Marin). Manuscript postmark (MRN-1700, R5) with manuscript canceled 1857-59, 1¢ blue, type V + 3¢ dull red, type I, strip of 3 to Missouri; small piece on backflap missing, otherwise Very Fine, only cover known for early period (1859-60), one of the most important Marin covers, ex-Tatham.
Scott No. 24+25; Estimate $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Oroville Cal., Apr 17 1858. Bold sharp strike of cds ties 10¢ green, type II (32), bright color, on yellow cover to North Bucksport Me., Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Point Reyes., Jun 20 1888 (Marin). Purple straight line postmark (MRN-1870) on cover to Switzerland, franked with 5¢ Banknote tied by quartered cork handstamps, Very Fine and choice, very rare, the only example recorded in Williams, ex-Tatham.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

"Sacramento Oct 12 1848" (actually 1849). Dateline on folded letter from Abner Mead to his wife at Harrison N.Y., entered mails with "San Francisco Cal. Nov 1" cds and matching "Paid" and framed "40" rating handstamp, interesting letter reads in part "I take this opportunity to inform you that I am well George is the same I have sent 62½ ounces of gold dust and it worth one thousand Dollars hear at sixteen Dollars per ounce and I want one of the boys to take t to Philadelphia to the mint and get all it is worth $20 per oz it will make $2.50 difference and that is worth the trouble…I have not got any letter from you since I left home… but I shall not be able to get your letter until next spring as I am going four hundred miles back in the country and shall not be able to get them out of the office if they do come…"; edge wear, Fine and interesting gold rush letter.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

The writer has obviously docketed the wrong year, as the San Francisco cds was not introduced until August 1, 1849. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

San Francisco, Cal., 1 July (First Day of Rate). Sharp strike of black cds and matching "10" due rating handstamp on 1851 buff cover to West Tisbury, Martha's Vineyard, Mass., pencil docketed "From my very dear husband." and "1851." appear to be in same hand, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

San Francisco, Cal., 2, Jun 29 (San Francisco). Red integral drop rate cds (SAF-400) on locally addressed cover in care of Genl. (Outlaw) Anderson of the East Tennessee Gold Mining Co.; minor corner wear, Very Fine and rare, the only listed example in Williams.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

San Francisco, Cal. Incoming Covers. Group of five covers from England and France; England includes 1860 Glasgow bearing QV 1d +2d +1sh franking and receiver on face (SAF-520), 1869 Liverpool bearing QV 6d lilac pair +1d red with red receiver (SAF-680 very early usage), similar 1869 usage bearing a 6d strip of three and SAF-700 cds, France with 1871 folded letter franked with 80c Napoleon + 40c Ceres franking from Paris and 1873 Ceres 80c + 40c franking from Bordeaux; few flaws, F.-V.F. or better.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

San Francisco, Cal. (San Francisco). Group of five different patriotic covers from S.F.; earliest with 1861 SAF-530 cds tying #26 on Flag and Cannon patriotic, Flying Eagle and Flag design to N.Y. franked with #35 pair tied by SAF-590 cds, embossed General McClellan and Verse design to N.Y. franked with #68, Waving Flag design to Placerville and a 1865 Lincoln Mourning Border design (Milgram AL-373); cover and minor stamp flaws, generally F.-V.F.
Estimate; $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

San Francisco, Cal., Jun 27, 1863 (San Francisco). Cds (SAF-590) with matching grid handstamp tying 1861, 3¢ rose (small corner flaw) on red and black pen illustrated patriotic design cover to Sonora, showing boxed "Care American Office" endorsement with Flag and Dove in flight at top, Very Fine, a handsome hand-illustrated patriotic design.
Estimate; $100 - 150. Est. $100-150 (Image)

Est. $100-150

San Francisco, Cal., Apr 2, 1864 (San Francisco). Cds and matching straight line "Registered" handstamp on cover to Dresden, Germany, franked with 1861, 10¢ yellow green, vertical pair and single tied by target handstamp, New York transit cds with additional "Registered" straight line at top, appropriate German transit handstamps; 10¢ single with small flaws, otherwise Very Fine, a rare early registry marking from San Francisco, ex-White and Polland.
Scott No. 68; Estimate $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

San Francisco, Cal., Jan 21, 1865 (San Francisco). Cds with matching grid handstamp tying 1861-63, 1¢ blue + 2¢ black on cover to Ione Valley, Cal., with Arroyo Seco Copper Mining Company corner card at right; cover opening tear at top affecting 1¢, F.-V.F.
Scott No. 63+73; Estimate $75 - 100. Est. $75-100 (Image)

Est. $75-100

San Francisco Sacramento Street Car R.P.O.s. Two different, "Sacto St. San Fran R.P.O., Oct 6 1898" SF-3-b cds on U231 Grant lettersheet to Belvedere Cal., and 1905 "Sacramento St., San Fran. R.P.O., 11 Jan 1905" cds on 2¢ entire to St. Paul Minn.; some wear, F.-V.F. and scarce pair.
Estimate; $100 - 150. Est. $100-150 (Image)

Est. $100-150

San Francisco., Feb 14 1899 (San Francisco). Purple straight line Valentines Day postmark (SAF-2320) tying 2¢ Bureau on gold bordered cover to Black Bear, Cal., stamp additionally canceled by target handstamp, Very Fine and choice, an exceedingly rare postmark believed to be used for this one day only.
Scott No. 267; Estimate $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

(San Francisco) 1849 (Sep. 20) New York N.Y. to San Francisco Cal. Blue datelined folded letter with "New-York Sep 20" cds and matching "40" circled rating handstamp, carried by USMSC Ohio from New York Sep. 20th to New Orleans arriving Sep. 30th, then by USMSC Falcon from New Orleans Oct. 6th to Chagres arriving Oct. 13th, and then PMSC Oregon from Panama Nov. 10th to San Francisco arriving Dec. 1st, Very Fine, ex-Jessup, Pearce, Walske.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

This was the maiden voyage of the USMSC Ohio from New York to New Orleans. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

San Geronimo, 3/26/95 (Marin). Manuscript postmark (MRN-2380) on cover to San Francisco, franked with 2¢ Bureau tied by manuscript, Very Fine, a rare early postmark as this post office opened on February 18, 1895, the only example recorded in Willliams.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

San Quentin, Mch 9th 1863 (Marin). Manuscript postmark (MRN-2430) on cover to the sheriff in Quincy, Cal., franked 1861, 3¢ rose gutter single canceled by pen in form of prison bars, with original enclosures from warden…I send you today descriptive list of six recent escapees and with list of the six men; cover slightly reduced at right, Very Fine and choice, the earliest recorded manuscript postmark in Williams.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

San Rafael, Marin Co., Cal., Mch 19, 1859 (Marin). Manuscript postmark (MRN-2600, R5) on cover to Maine, franked with manuscript canceled 1857, 3¢ dull red, pair and single; small cover opening tear at bottom right, Very Fine.
Scott No. 26; Estimate $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Santa Barbara, Ca. Group of 5 covers from the Hobbs correspondence to North Berwick Me., each with "Santa Barbara Cal." cds and different ratings including "Paid" oval handstamps with ms. "10cts", "20cts" and handstamped "10", one with "Paid" oval and "10" handstamp and additional "DUE 10" handstamp, and last with "Paid" oval and ms. "20¢" crossed out and "DUE" handstamp with blue crayon "20"; mixed condition, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Steinbergers, April 18 (San Francisco). Manuscript postmark (SAF-7030, R5) on 1854 folded letter to San Jose, franked with manuscript canceled 1851, 3¢ dull red, letter datelined from "Redwoods", Very Fine, one of the finest examples of this rare postmark.
Scott No. 11A; Estimate $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400