(Santa Cruz - Branciforte) "Santa Cruz. Cal., Apl. 3". Manuscript postmark on circa 1850 blue folded letter docketed from "A.A. Heecox, Inspector of Elections at Santa Cruz" to Peter H. Burnett, Governor of California; small edge tear, filing fold toning, Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

THE FINEST OF ONLY TWO RECORDED SANTA CRUZ USAGES DURING BRANCIFORTE COUNTY PERIOD.

First named Villa de Branciforte after the Marques de Branciforte, the 53rd Viceroy of Mexico. The pueblo was established July 24, 1797. The Mission Santa Cruz, 12th in the chain of California missions was founded Sept. 24th 1791. Branciforte County was established Feb. 18th 1850 and its name changed to Santa Cruz County when created April 5, 1850.

Peter H. Burnett was elected first Governor of California, November 13, 1849. The state capitol was at San Jose. John McDougal succeed Peter Burnett as Governor on Jan. 9th 1851, dating this cover to 1850. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

(Santa Cruz) "Santa Cruz Cal, May 22". Manuscript postmark (SCR-1400) and matching "40" cent rating on circa 1850 cover to Pine Bluff Ark.; some staining and repaired faults, Fine appearance.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

THE EARLIEST RECORDED SANTA CRUZ POSTMARK AS SANTA CRUZ COUNTY. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

(Santa Cruz) "Santa Cruz, Cal Jun 27". Manuscript postmark and "Paid 12½" cent rating on blue 1851 folded cover to the Secretary of State at Benecia Cal., forwarded to Vallejo; receipt docketing on reverse, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

(Santa Cruz) "Santa Cruz, Cal 22 Octo". Manuscript postmark (SCR-1400) on two covers, first with manuscript "Paid 3cts" rating on blue 1852 folded cover to Hon. Winslow S. Pierce, Comp. of State, Vallejo Cal., endorsed "official"; other with manuscript "5" unpaid rating on cover front with top flap to Vallejo Cal., F.-V.F. and scarce pair of covers sent the same day at the prepaid 3¢ and unpaid 5¢ rates.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

(Santa Cruz) Santa Cruz Cal. May 24. (SCR-1410) cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with manuscript "20c" rating on illustrated Four-Horse Stagecoach cover with "San Francisco via Los Angeles, U.S. Mail" banner, "St. Louis" and "New York" in flags, to Elgin Mich.; faint water stain, expert top right corner mend, Very Fine.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

A RARE SAN FRANCISCO VIA LOS ANGELES U.S. MAIL ILLUSTRATED COVER. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

(Santa Cruz) Santa Cruz Cal . (SCR-1420) cds ties 10¢ green (68) on cover to Canandaigua N.Y. on Eagle and Shield patriotic design with "The Union-The Constitution, and the Enforcement of the Laws." slogan, reduced slightly at left, F.-V.F., A rare patriotic design from California.
Estimate; $400 - 600. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

(Santa Cruz) Santa Cruz Cal, Apr 7. Sharp strike of cds on orange cover bearing 10¢ green, grill (96) pair with right s.e., each cancelled by grid cancels to Locarno, Switzerland, red "New York Paid All Br. Transit, Apr 25" exchange cds, reverse with Basel (5.13.68), Locarno (5.15) and Cevio (5.15) backstamps, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

(Santa Cruz) Santa Cruz, Cal. Dec 22. Cds on 1879 registered cover bearing 2¢ vermilion (183) and 6¢ pink (186) strip of three tied by picnic fence fancy cancels addressed in attractive red manuscript to Switzerland; many backstamps including San Francisco, New York and Swiss (1.15) arrival, Fine and unusual fancy cancel use.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

(Santa Cruz) 1912 Santa Cruz Water Pageant. Multicolor all-over design on reverse of cover bearing 1¢ green pair tied by "Santa Cruz, Jun 25, 1912" wavy flag machine cancel to Oakland Cal., blue printed "Santa Cruz Beach Company" corner card, Very Fine and rare festival ad.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

(Santa Cruz) Freeman & Co's Express, Santa Cruz. Blue oval handstamp cancels 3¢ red (U10) buff entire to San Jose Cal., some edge wear, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

(Santa Cruz) Pacific Express Co., Santa Cruz. Oval company handstamp with "Paid" at center, on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire to San Francisco Cal.; some aging and repaired edge nick from top, Very Fine appearance and scarce.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

(Santa Cruz) Truman & Co.'s Express. Four covers with printed express frank to San Francisco Cal., each with different printed return address of Santa Cruz merchants comprising "Pacific Ocean House", "L. Schwartz", "Alfred J. Hinds" and "I. Brownstone & Bros."; small faults, F.-V.F. and scarce group.
Estimate; $400 - 600. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

(Santa Cruz) Wells Fargo & Co. Express, Santa Cruz. Cal. Mar 18 1892. Oval postmark on 5¢ grant entire with printed Wells Fargo frank to Bruxelles, Belgium, black on red "To be dropped in the New York Post Office By Wells Fargo & Co." label affixed at bottom left, reverse with light "Wells Fargo & Co's Express, 68 Broadway, Received Mar 25 1892, New York" four-line handstamp, entered mails with "New York 'P' Mar 28" duplex, Bruxelles (4.8) arrival backstamp; top edge nick, front and back separated, Fine and rare Wells Fargo label use.
Estimate; $400 - 600. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

(Santa Cruz) Santa Cruz - Wells Fargo, 1850s-1890s. Group of 11 covers including one Pacific Union Express use, includes unique green oval strike on a repaired/rebacked front, three different shaded ads for Pacific Ocean House, I. Landsberger & Co. and I. Blum & Co., one express label use and one with purple "Thompson W." two-line handstamp, also includes a large black on orange illustrated "From S.P.R.R. (Santa Cruz) Rte." express label (ex-Hackett), etc.; some faults.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

(Santa Cruz) Santa Cruz Collection, 1849-1900s. Collection of over 100 covers and additional letters, letterheads and other ephemera, variety of stampless with rate handstamps and markings, frankings and advertising, noted includes 1856 #15 used to Little Rock Ark., #35 used to Philadelphia, #24 & #26 (3) on patriotic to Bristol Ct. (trimmed into one 3¢), #9 vertical strip of three used to San Jose; #158 strip of three and single to Switzerland, #189 at triple-rate to Germany, #209, 189 registered to Switzerland, etc., a bunch of advertising including illustrated designs, two Spanish-American war patriotics, F.-V.F., interesting collection with a wide variety of usages.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000