(Via Nicaragua) From J.W. Sullivan, News Depot, San Francisco Cal., Feb 5. Sharp strike of fancy shield datestamp along with sharp "Via. Nicaragua, In Advance of the Mails, Sullivan" double-oval datestamp on front page of December 23rd 1854 The Illustrated London News showing weather in the Baltic on the bows of H.M. Corvette 'Cruiser', inside with red Illustrated News 1d Newspaper tax impression, probably sent by Cunard Line Asia from Liverpool Dec. 23rd 1854 to Boston arriving Jan. 4th, then S.S. Star of the West from New York Jan 12th to Nicaragua, then Independent Line Uncle Sam to San Francisco arriving Feb. 4th, minor edge wear and small tear, folds, Very Fine.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

(Via Panama) 1850 (Aug. 13) New York N.Y. to San Francisco, Cal. Blue folded letter bearing 10¢ black (2) horizontal strip of four, pos. 77-80R, large to huge margins including part sheet margin at right, except slightly in at bottom left, tied by red grid cancels, matching red "New-York, Aug 15" cds, carried endorsed by U.S. Mail S.S. Georgia from New York to Chagres arriving Aug. 22nd, then overland across Panama, then per P.M.S.S. Panama Sep. 1st to San Francisco, docketed "Rec Sept 23" on reverse; file fold lightly affects right stamp, third stamp tiny tear, Very Fine, ex-Seybold, Kapiloff, with 2012 & 2016 P.F. certificates.
Estimate; $50,000 - 75,000.

A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE COVER, PROBABLY NOT MORE THAN SIX 40¢ RATE COVERS KNOWN IN ANY CONDITION.

Effective July 1, 1847, Congress provided for a 40¢ rate from the "East, to or from Astoria, Oregon or California". As there was no Overland Mail Contract, all government mail went by ships "via Panama". Est. $50,000-75,000 (Image)

Est. $50,000-75,000

(Via Panama) 1854 (Sep. 1) San Francisco Cal. to Rochester N.Y. Blue folded letter endorsed "per steamer Uncle Sam, Sep 1st 1854" at top left, clear strike of black "Independent Line, Via Panama, Ahead of the Mails, Uncle Sam and North Star" oval handstamp, bearing 3¢ dull red (11A) horizontal pair, large margins except touched at bottom, tied by "New-York, Sep 27" cds, Very Fine, ex-Haas.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

A REMARKABLE STRIKE OF THIS RARE VANDERBILT AHEAD OF THE LINES PROPAGANDA HANDSTAMP. THIS WAS CARRIED ON THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE "UNCLE SAM" ON THE PANAMA ROUTE.

Cornelius Vanderbilt opened a route across Nicaragua in 1851 to compete with the U.S. Mail Steamship Company and Pacific Mail Steamship Company which held the U.S. Mail Contract via Panama.His handstamps typically boasted "Ahead of the Mails." He subsequently became a competitor to the PMSS on the Panama route. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

(Via Panama) Forwarded by Dodge & Co. California Express. Blue on white shield label affixed on circa 1851 buff cover with red "Conner & Son's Foundry, New York" shield cameo on flap to Panama, New Granada, endorsed "Per Dodge & Cos Express"at top; flap with some paper loss repaired, still Very Fine.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

Beginning in September 1850, Dodge & Co. vigorously established an express business between the northeast and San Francisco. They only appeared on "Forwarding lists" in 1851. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

(Via Tehuantepec) 1856 (Mar. 13) Minatitlan, Mexico to Middletown Point N.J. via Boston. Endorsed "Minatitlan Isthmus Tehuantepec" and with "Letter bag of the Brig Icarian" directive, entered the mails with red "Boston, Apr 11" cds and black "SHIP" and "5" due handstamps, with letter datelined "Minatitlan March 13, 1856" from Charles Webster, the U.S. Consul and agent for the Louisiana Tehuantepec Co. at Tehuantepec, he writes his sister Anna that the Mexican Government has made a contract with a man named Smith to construct a plank road across the Isthmus, and that work will probably commence in two or three months, and further, that the small steamers for the navigation of the river Coatzacoalcos are nearly complete, Very Fine, ex-Risvold.
Estimate; $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

(Via Tehuantepec) 1859 (Jan. 3) Oroville Cal. to Camden, Canada. Light buff cover bearing 5¢ red brown, type I (28) and 10¢ green, type III (33), small faults, tied by "Oroville Cal. Jan 3 1859" cds for the 15¢ west coast rate to Canada, endorsed "Via Tehauntepec" as required for carriage, faint strike of red "U. States" exchange straightline; reduced slightly at right, some wear, Very Fine.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

THE ONLY RECORDED "VIA TEHUANTEPEC" CROSS-BORDER COVER TO CANADA.

In October 1858, a route was contracted as 8162 from San Francisco to New Orleans using a mixed steamboat and overland route via the Tehuantepec Isthmus in Mexico. Contracted at $250,000 for 12 months with twice a month service. The course of the route was by steamboat to either Acapulco or Salina Cruz, then overland by mule to Suchile, then by river boat to Minatitlan on the Caotzacoalcos River and then by steamboat to New Orleans, La. The route was little used as the section over the mountain range by mule created a long transit time. The total revenue collected for the route was just $5,276.66 and the route was not renewed in 1859. From October 1858 to March 1859, the "Quaker City" was used on the New Orleans to Minatitlan portion of the route. A total of 28 covers endorsed as going "Via Tehuantepec" are recorded in the census. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

(Via Tehuantepec) 1860 (Sep. 29) Tehauantepec, Mexico to Middletown Point N.J. via New Orleans. Cover endorsed "Tehauntepec Mexico Sept 29. 1859" to Middletown Point N.J., entered mails with double strike of "New Orleans La., Oct 10 1860" cds and matching partial "Steamship, 10" circular due handstamp, original Sep. 29th letter from Charles Webster, the U.S. Consul and agent for the Louisiana Tehuantepec Co. at Tehuantepec, reads in part "The mail will leave in a few moments for Minatitlan and New Orleans, and as the contract with the Tehuantepec Company expires on the first of October, I greatly fear it will be the last direct opportunity I will have for some time…[I am] rather poor in pocket…from the failure of the Louisiana Tehuantepec Company to pay its debts - They owe me some $4000…" He hopes he will get paid "as the company besides owning the valuable privilege of the exclusive transit on this Isthmus for seventy years, has some half millions of acres of land - all of which is liable for its debts contracted in Mexico…", Very Fine use carried on the last mail via Tehuantepec to New Orleans, ex-Risvold.
Estimate; $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750