Stmr Sierra Nevada/Via Nicaragua/Advance Of The Mails. Black oval handstamp on cover to Napa Valley, California, "Sierra Nevada" sender's endorsement so evidently sent from Nicaragua without postage and brought to San Francisco by the Nicaragua Steamship Company, with pencil "collect 25" that may be an express company marking for delivery to Napa, cover skillfully repaired at top with top backflap replaced, also closed tear at top just touching the handstamp, Very Fine appearance, a rare via Nicaragua incoming usage. Estimate  $300 - 400. The "S.S. Sierra Nevada" was built in New York in 1851, operated by the Howard & Son's Empire Line for three trips between New York and Panama in 1852, and then sold to Cornelius Vanderbilt's Independent Line and brought to San Francisco 1852-1853 while Vanderbilt was on vacation in Europe, which was also when Vanderbilt lost stock control of his Nicaragua shipping business to Cornelius Garrison. The "Sierra Nevada" was operated by Garrison's Nicaragua Steamship Company between Nicaragua and San Francisco 1853-1857. Vanderbilt regained partial control of his Nicaragua shipping business in 1856. $0 (Image)