1850 San Francisco, Cal. (Pre-Statehood - 2-Feb-1848 - 8-Sep-1850) To Bordeaux, France. Folded letter with red "San Francisco, Cal., Jun 1" cds and matching straight line "Paid" with manuscript "56" rate (40¢ transcontinental + 16¢ sea) with "15" decimes due handstamp in France (10 decimes owed G.B. plus 5 decimes internal for a 7.5 grams letter), on 1-Aug-1849, France initiated a standard 5 decimes per 7.5 grams inland rate, replacing the previous kilometer based system in effect from 1843, Very Fine, a very uncommon pre-statehood usage. Estimate  $200 - 300. Sent via Pacific Mail Steamship Co. - per the steamer Oregon, departing San Francisco on June 1st and arriving in Panama on June 21st. Then placed on the United States Mail Steamship Co. - per steamer Georgia, departing Chagres on June 26th arriving in New York on July 8th, then on the Ocean Line - per steamer Washington, departing New York July 21st and arriving in Southampton on August 4th. $0 (Image)