(San Francisco) San Francisco, Cal./20 Feb./40. Red integral rate cds on 1850 folded cover to Maine with additional manuscript pencil "40" rate at top right, cover with datelined "North Fork Dry Diggins" with excellent contents including, "I have been here upwards of three months. I have dug out five hundred dollars. If I had been here one month sooner, I now should have $1000. There is a small town 1½ mile dist. called Auburnville. There are about 2000 people here in the mines of all professions…", "…some doing well some not. It depends upon a man's perseverance & Economy whether he makes money or not. It is here if a man digs for it. There will be a great rush this Spring for the rivers dry diggins is in between the mountains rising to a tremendous altitude and angle of 45° The gold locates itself in the ravines at the foot of these mountains. It's found in the crevices of rock from 2 to 5 feet from the surface. The dirt that I shove out is washed in a cradle, something similar to a house cradle. In these diggins is found on the river fine scale gold. It likewise is found embedded in quartz. it has been found in the top of these mountains. The earth pays from 12½ to even $100 per pan. Some have been very successful here. Having made $4000 apiece and gone home. I saw a piece of gold picked up near by weighed 16lbs - 12lbs of pure gold, valued at $3000. There is more or less to be found anywhere around these diggins. The largest piece I have found is $17. It is hard work to dig gold, but no more laborious than farming. If a man cannot make his ounce per day he leaves his placer.", etc., F.-V.F., an excellent Miner's letter & the earliest use of this type postmark which is scarcer than the straight line. Estimate  $200 - 300. $0 (Image)