Schuyler J. Rumsey Philatelic Auctions Sale

General Foreign continued...

Vatican to Western Ukraine continued...

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

1743

35-40

Vatican, 1934, 40c-3.70L Provisional Surcharges complete. O.g., never hinged, all bright and fresh with rich vibrant colors, a Very Fine set, with 2006 S. Sorani certificate. Sassone No. 35-40.
Scott No. 35-40; $2,900. (Image1)

Scott $2,900

Selling for...$375.00
Will close during Public Auction

1744

35-40

Vatican, 1934, 40c-3.70L Provisional Surcharges complete. O.g., never hinged, fresh colors, a Very Fine set, with 1973 A. Diena certificate. Sassone No. 35-40.
Scott No. 35-40; $2,900. (Image1)

Scott $2,900

Selling for...$260.00
Will close during Public Auction

1745

35-40

Vatican, 1934, 40c-3.70L Provisional Surcharges complete. Marginal singles including three with corner margins and two showing imprints. In combination with 1931, 5c-10l Parcel Post issue complete (Q1-Q13) on unaddressed "Cito del Vaticano" picture postcard, all tied by "Cito Del Vaticano, 7.3.38" cds's, Very Fine, with 2005 & 2006 Raybaudi certificates and signed. Sassone No. 35-40.
Scott No. 35-40; $1,447 for off cover; Estimate $750 - 1,000. (Image1)

Scott $1,447 for off cover
Est. $750-1,000
Selling for...$375.00
Will close during Public Auction

1746

35, 36b-40b

Vatican, 1934-37, 40c-3.70L Provisional Surcharges complete. 1.30L-3.70L from the 1937 second printing. All tied on unaddressed cover by "Citta De Vaticano, 30.10.39" cds's, Very Fine, with 1966 A. Diena certificate and signed. Sassone No. 35, B36-B40.
Scott No. 35, 36b-40b; $1,543 for off cover; Estimate $400 - 600. (Image1)

Scott $1,543 for off cover
Est. $400-600
Selling for...$200.00
Will close during Public Auction

1747

36a

Vatican, 1934, 1.30L on 1.25L Provisional Surcharge, "30" in small figures. O.g., lightly hinged, rich color, slight paper crease at lower left which is only visible from reverse, still Very Fine, an attractive example of this extremely rare essay that where mistakenly release at the Vatican Post Office, the illustrated example in the 2012 Scott catalog, with 1976 A. Diena certificate and signed. Sassone No. 36A.
Scott No. 36a; $22,500.

When it was decided there would have to be a postal rate increase and new stamps would require months to prepare, it was suggested that some of the current stamps be overprinted. Two sheets of 100 were prepared of each value, with a thin essay surcharge. These essays were rejected by the postal authorities because the surcharge was not sufficiently visible. The printers were told to use a larger, bolder type which they did. One sheet of the 1.30 on 1.25 essay was mistakenly included among those intended for sale and was release to the public at postal station No. 1 of the Vatican City Post Office on June 18, 1934. This essay offered here is one of the few mint examples that exist, as most were used to send mail of the first day of issue. (Image1)

Scott $22,500

Selling for...$4,250.00
Will close during Public Auction

1748

Vatican, 1936 Hindenburg 1st North America Flight, May 6-14. Flown cover to Lakehurst, N.J. with mixed franking Vatican #43 and Italy #C4; addressed to Pruss on the Hindenburg (who would command the final flight a year later) tied by "Citta del Vaticano, 4.V.36" and Italian stamps tied by Rome postmark of the same date, reverse with "Frankfurt Flughafen, 5.5.36" and New York transit, Very Fine. Sassone No. 406 D.
Estimate; $400 - 600. (Image1)

Est. $400-600
Selling for...$200.00
Will close during Public Auction

1749

Vatican, 1947, 10L on 75c carmine, gray & brown proof postal card, narrow "10" surcharge. Bright and fresh, Very Fine, an extremely rare card with very few recorded (Nuovo Pertile N. 5), with 1995 Raybaudi certificate and signed.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000. (Image1)

Est. $750-1,000
Selling for...$375.00
Will close during Public Auction

1750

50a

Venezuela, 1879, 5c orange. Four large margins, tied on 1879 folded cover to Caracas by light strike of La Guaira double circle postmark, Very Fine and choice, a tough stamp on cover, written in pencil "5c Orange" in the hand of P. Holcombe.
Scott No. 50a; Estimate $200 - 300. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
Selling for...$100.00
Will close during Public Auction

1751

Western Ukraine, 1919, 4h on 4k dark green. Light cancel, beautifully centered, Extremely Fine and scarce, signed Mikulski.
Scott No. 26; $850. (Image1)

Scott $850

Selling for...$100.00
Will close during Public Auction

1752

Western Ukraine, 1919, 10h on 10k deep violet. Tied by Stanislau cancel on small piece, well centered, Extremely Fine, a rare stamp with only 199 issued, with 1999 Mikulski certificate.
Scott No. 28; $800. (Image1)

Scott $800

Selling for...$100.00
Will close during Public Auction

Historic Western Letters

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

2001

Brig Sarah at Sea, Feb 27 (1849). Dateline on one of two letters sent together from I. W. Myrick from ship arriving at Chagres, both with interesting content regarding trip from New York in part…Dear Brother, You will see by this that we are on the deep and on our way to the land of Gold in good earnest & the cliffs of Chagres are in view. We have had probably the best trip on record only 13 days from New York. We had a storm of about one hour, it seemed as if the wind & water was trying to outdo each other. We had some on board who were frightened but as for me it was but a grand sight and I staid on deck through the whole of it lashed to the side of the vessel. So you see I have some courage. I have not been sea sick at all but all of the rest were sick for three or four days and I had to wait on them and promenade on deck almost alone. It is very warm in this region - the thermometer stands at 80 in the shade and a burning sun but we have had but very little rain as I have been led to expect from all accounts that in dry weather it only rained but nine or ten times a day… I think I should like the climate of the West Indies very much. We saw Cuba & St. Domingo & another small island which has been all the land we have seen since we left New York… The reason of my writing now before we land is I can send it to New Orleans by the Capt. of this ship who by the by has got the gold fever as much as any of us. He says if he could get any one to take ship back he would go with us…Albert I want you should do one thing for me without fail and that is to get that letter of introduction to the Prime Minister of the Sandwich Islands of Mr. Hastings as soon as you can & send it to me at San Francisco. I want it very much as I shall have to go there next summer for another man on business., and the other letter datelined "Feb. 28 1849 Chagres" in part..I will write to you after I have landed I find the place Chagres altogether different from what I have been led to suppose. It is quite a place. Some 250 houses if houses you can call them. Rather hutts made of some kind of cane and covered over with leaves. I have seen today enough to pay me for all of my trouble so far. I visited the fort it is an old Spanish fort built some two hundred years ago. It is a stupendious piece of masonry is situated some two hundred feet above the sea & town. The guns are all rotted down, the cannon are large. The fort has been one of the strongest ever laid. The people are a very good looking people & dress very well it is very dry. We shall go up the river tomorrow in canoes instead of the steam boat on account of the price. It costs us 10.00 & by the steam boat $15.00 or over…We shall go to the Golgon-a, up the river. there is two or three of us who are almost induced to set up a hotel here. We can earn all $20,000 in a year but will have to be quick on it. Oh Burt you have no idea how nice it is i this place oranges lemons cocoanutts bananas and in fact every thing growing in abundance, women are so pretty. I loved one as soon as I saw her. She is the daughter of one of the rich, her father is worth two millions of dollars. There is more money in this place ten to one is in Palmyra. I have seen money in piles as large as a bushel basket. Albert if I do not do California I shall come back here & settle. I can get independent in two years easy.; with cover addressed Palmya, N.Y., partial "New Orleans, La., Mar 18" cds, matching straight line "Ship" and large "12" rate handstamp; some cover toning, F.-V.F., a wonderful early letter from traveler to California making the trip across the Isthmus of Panama.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

Transcribed as written.

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Est. $400-600
Selling for...$200.00
Will close during Public Auction

2002

Brigg Sarah off Chagres Feb 27th 1849. Dateline on letter sent from Gilbert Howell from ship arriving at Chagres, with interesting content regarding trip from New York in part…Dear Wife, In my Last Letter I Informed you that we intended to saile on the 10th ins But the Winds ware not favourable and We did Not Saile untill the 13th. We have had a Verry quick Passage only 14 Days. the 2nd & 3rd Days out almost every one on Board wer Sea Sick I had a Light touch of it my self. ate Nothing for two Days But made up for that after I got well. on the evening of the 16th We had a heavy squall strike us from the West causing our Little Brig to Roll to and fro and Plunge through the Waves With Great Violence. on the morning of the 23rd heard the Cry of Land, Went on Deck and saw the Island of St. Domingo some 20 miles to the east, While far away to the west we Beheld the Island of Cuba…this morning 27th again heard the Cry of Land. Looked over the Bow of the Vessel and saw the High Lands of the Isthmus at 8 oclock the Capt altered his course runing more to the South West this course Brought us very near the Land at 1 cclock and we continued within 4 or 5 miles of shore untill we reached Chagres…28th this morning we Weighed anchor & Run into the harbour of Chagres River the Price is $10 Dollars for each Passenger up the River to Gorgona What it will cost from there to Panama I cannot tell. The Price from New York to this port was $40 Dolls the horid Discriptions Given in the News Papers of Chagres are false. the Streets are Dry and Clean the houses are Built of Reedes or Cane Brake and covered with a Kind of Flagg But they are Verry Comfortable inside I counted one hundred and thirty Buildings in all But they are not all inhabited this afternoon I visited the old Fort it is Built on the Sumit of a high Bluff Point Projecting out Directly Between the harbour and the sea it is about two hundred feet above the Level of the Water 250 two hundred & fifty years old and the most Romantic Place I ever Beheld Round Chagres the Scenery is Lovely indeede (mate) it Reminds me of havana verry much the Location is similar in many Respects yes (mate) all I have ever Read in Romance Respecting old castles and Dungens in Europe I have seen to Day in the Ruins of this Old Fort there is 5 Rooms under Ground about 12 or 14 feet wide & Sixty feet Long as Near as I Can Judge, also a number of other underground Rooms with Subteranian passages Leading from one to the other and Likewise a Deep Ditch cut on 3 Sides of the Fort some 20 feet Deep & about 15 feet Wide the Name of the Fort is San De Lorenzo.; letter addressed to Palmyra, N.Y. and sent under another cover; some minor aging, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Transcribed as written.

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Est. $300-400
Selling for...$325.00
Will close during Public Auction

2003

Butte Creek July 10 /57. Dateline on 4-page miner's letter to father, with interesting content regarding working a creek mining claim in part…Alvin and me are to work in one claim which has payed us very well. The Bed rock however we found after working in the bank a short distance rose nearly to the top of the ground and we have had quite a job cutting through it…I have thought several times since I have been in California while mineing that I had fine prospects ahead for makeing some money but have almost always missed it, and it is most impossible for a man to tell whether he is going to make money a mineing or not as his claim may pay ten dollars to day and tomorrow not pay a cent…the miners here make there own laws in regard to the size of the claims generally however they are about 100 feet square and if gold is only found in the top dirt it does not take long to dig that much ground over our claim is on the Bank of the Creek and is some fifteen or twenty feet deep we find some gold in all the dirt that is from top to bottom, and we can git about half a cent to the pan, that is if we wash a pan of dirt about the size that Mother keeps milk in, we will git about half a central strike worth of gold. We have to paid fifteen dollars a week for water and our other expenses in mineing are considerable, as the wear and tare of tools amounts to considerable in the course of a year, sluice boxes to wash dirt in costs about 2½ & 3 dollars a piece and it takes generally from 15 to 20 of them and they will wear out in about 4 or 6 months…I intended to send one hundred and fifty dollars more to you the first of August but have let it out on good security for three percent a month and I think if I am fortunate I shall send enough home this fall to pay up all my de(b)ts and have a little left. It is impossible for me to tell when I shall come home not very soon I think, and if l cross the plains I am afraid it will be in a stage coach as I see them Great men in Washington are determined we poor fellows in California shall not have a Railroad. I see in the paers that the Dred Scott decesion is making considerable stir in the Northern and middle states and have had quite a time about it in Ohio, but I guess both parties will git cool after a while.; letter with a few tone spots on front, still Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

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Est. $200-300
Selling for...$100.00
Will close during Public Auction

2004

Jacksonville, Feb 19, 1861. Dateline on four page letter from G.B. Worden, with interesting content regarding the unseemly side of California population in part…to take all the accidents, assassinations, Duels & Diseases, I think the there are more deaths here than there are in the eastern and northern states…I known but one thing is certain that all writers and speakers from this country try to show the bright side & hardly mention the dark…perhaps one in a hundred has made their fortunes and a great portion of them have learned bad habits sufficient to do them more injury then they would have ever have known if they has remained at home poor. to be sure this is a fast country & fast people who reside in it but four fifths of the people are not settled but roving from one camp to another trying to make enough to take them home where they can enjoy the society of friends. every town is infested with loafers, thiefs & gamblers where you can find men capable of picking your pocket in the most aproved style, up to commiting a burglary or highway robbery with all the fearlessness & darling of Hare or Thunderbolt. Some times they get detected than comes a mob with a rope over a limb of a tree & the victim is hung up with as little cerimony as you would hang a cat. but this style is getting out of date but give me one hundred thousand dollars and I can shoot any quiet honest citizen down in open daylight & in presence of witnesses and if I can escape the mob I do not fear the civil authority, my money will buy my pardon. I do not think that this kind of Society would suit you to bring a family to., also accompanied by another letter from correspondence in 1859 with a detailed description of his cabin at Jacksonville, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

Transcribed as written.

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Est. $200-300
Selling for...$100.00
Will close during Public Auction

2005

Navigators' Islands (Samoa), March 1, 1849. Dateline on two page folded letter to New Bedford, Mass. with manuscript "By Panama" endorsement, red "New York, Ship 7cts, Aug 25" cds, letter with fascinating letter detailing the wreck and recovery of the ship "Gem of Sag Harbor" in whole…I now take this oportunity to wright you a few lines to Let you know that I am in good health and hope that this will find you Enjoying the same Blessing. I sailed from Oahu in the ship Gem of Sag Harbour bound home on the 30th of Dec 1848. We had a Pleasant passage for about a month when on the 22 of Jany She struck a Reef and soon became a total wreck and we had to take to our boats all that we could but as I could get No chance i had to Remain on the Wreck all Night. when the Mates boats came to the wreck but could se Nothing of the captains boat and concludin that they was lost. the mate took all the Navigation tools and then started for a pole but 56 hours after the wreck the capt came on Board but the remainder of the crew had managed to launch a boat from over head and I got into here with four others and the Boat filled and Capsised and sent us upon the Reef and we struck on a Rock where we all had to Remain all Night and we had to walk to the nearest Island and we stoped there 2 day and Night where we was lucky to find some Bread that had Drifted ashore the Night Before the capt came to the wreak haveing got Drifted away to the Lee Side of the Island without one drop of water or one morsel to Eat But when he came he commenced geting Provisions on shore and water as fast as he could so as to have somethin to live upon while we Repaired our boats so that we could manage to get to some other Land Where we could get a chance to get home the Island on which we went to the Night was Nothing but sand and stones with not a Drop of water to be found and so low that it could Not be seen any distance at Sea so we hoisted A Blanket which we found in the slop cask on a Pole for a signal which was all that saved us from Death as the capt seeing the signal came to our Releif But we had given up all hopes of ever geting off alive as it Being a Desolate Island with Nothing but Birds so we had to Repair the Boats and that took 3 weeks and then we started for some land and was five days and Nights when we made the Land where we stoped 3 days and Nights and then came here where I Now are where the wreck and Boats and other things were sold at Publick Auction for Little or Nothing. the wreck sold for 5 hundred and one dollars but started at 20 dollars. I send this By the courier of Tahiti not knowing that it will get there Before i do But if it does please to show this to Mr. Ezra P. Johnson and tel him that I want him to settel my voyage in the gov troup and what is left give to you, Abram Thomas; cover with rebacked edge wear and tears, Fine, a remarkable ship wreck letter sent from Samoa Islands.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

Transcribed as written.

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Est. $500-750
Selling for...$250.00
Will close during Public Auction

2006

New Orleans to Acapulco 1849. Three letters written by M.H.L. Schooley to his wife on his trip out to California; the first datelined "New Orleans March 20th 1849" and reads in part…We have now taken passage on the U.S. Mail Steam Ship Falcon for Chagres which leaves this evening for that port. Without any axident we shall reach Chagres in 8 or 9 days and then I think in 3 days we shall reach Panama from which port I shall write you again…You know nothing of the excitement about California. It seems that there are 20 here going to California where there is one in Illinois going to in every possible direction some by the Isthmus, some by Vera Cruz and through Mexico, some to Santiago & then in the same way, some to Fort Smith, Independence St. Joseph & in every possible way. Every hotel, Barding House & Exchange here is full of California emigrants…you had better direct your first letter to San Francisco California via N. Orleans Chagres & Panama, & I have not been able yet to learn whether it would be necessary for you to pay postage or not in order to secure the passage of your letter through New Granada. There have been several deaths in this city from Cholera since we came & I wonder they don't all die here. It is certainly the dirtiest and most filthy city that I ever saw or ever want to see., the second letter datelined "Chagres March 28th 1849" and reads in part…We have all arived here safely & in good health 8 days from N. Orleans at which latter Port I wrote you twice. I like a sea voyage much better than I expected. We are now in great Hooray & Bustel to get off to Panama have got our canoe & baggage all in it the Steamer Falcon brought our 250 passengers for California. The Crescent City also arived here two or 3 days since with 355 Passengers all for California. We are informed here that there are now on the Isthmus about 2000 persons for California & we can say nothing about when we shall get off from Panama. The California Steamer ship has not yet returned to Panama., and the third letter datelined "Acalpulco, Mexico, June 17th, 1849" and reads in part…As I wrote you from Panama, we sailed from that port on the 11th of May and arived in this city on 15th inst. after being at sea 35 days. A voyage at sea in a sail vessel is a very uncertain one as to time. The wind being the only dependence. When leaving Panama we hoped to be at San Francisco in 40 or 50 days but in consequence of head winds and calms our voyage has been thus protracted and we shall not probably reach our point of destination for another 30 or 35 days yet. this city is 1500 miles from Panama & 2000 from San Francisco. We were forced to put in to Acapulco for water and will sail I presume on Tuesday next the 19 inst. We have made the shortest voyage of any of the vessels that sailed from Panama so far this year their being quite a number having days previous to us all stop here for water. The steamer California stoped at this port on 1st inst on her way to Panama there are now 3 steamers playing between Panama & San Francisco & probably the Senetor has arived at Panama by this time which will make 4…There is no trouble in getting from New Orleans to Panama, and the American consul in Panama and the agents of Howlan(d) Aspinwall & Co are only authorized to issue tickets when vacancies may occur at the time the steamers sails and then they are enganged in speculation and will put the tickets out if any in the and sell to the highest bidder. The Gold news from California state continues altogether encouraging more so if possible than when we left the states. We have seen and conversed with many persons from the Gold mines and they all confirm the the amt of Gold…. We found 50 Americans waiting in this city for passage to California they came across from Vera Cruz through Mexico and give a most horrible description of the hardships they suffered. I longed to receive a letter from you while at Panama but was disappointed. The mail arived 3 days before we sailed but was so large that they could not complete the assorting of it for some 5 days. Hence if there was any letters for me they have gone on to San Francisco and await my arrival at that city; first two letters folded and addressed to Virginia, Ill. and forwarded to Springfield, with "10" and "20" rates respectively, later with cover tear, last with some internal erosion, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

Transcribed as written.

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Est. $500-750
Selling for...$250.00
Will close during Public Auction

2007

Panama March 15th 1849. Dateline on lengthy two page letter from Gilbert Howell, with interesting content regarding his travel from New York to Chagres and Panama on his way to California in part…Dear Wife in my Letter to Mr. Horton I have mentioned the Letter I sent to you from Chagres By the Way of New Orleans which you will probably Get sometime Before you get this. We Left Chagres the 1st Day of March in the afternoon put up for the night at a small setlement some 10 miles above Chagres-took our supper of boiled ham & bread on the Bank of the River took Lodging in an old Negro hut spread our Blankets on some Spanish hides and had a good sleep 4 oclock next morning the Natives called us up and continued our Journey up the River which we found Verry Crooked the Banks of which are Clothed with a Dense forrest the Wildest and most Beautifull I ever saw. in some places the Branches of the trees Project 50 or 60 feet over the River Pitching Down to the Verry Surface of the Water and so Dense and Large that a Large Canoe with 20 men could Run in and be Perfectly secreted there is Plenty suger Cane Bamboo & Cane Brake, Coconut and mahogany trees along the Banks of the River we Likewise found Plenty of Game whole flocks of Parrets. Red Green & White the most beautifull Birds I ever saw also a Great Variety of other Large Birds are continualy flying about the River. our Party had much sport shooting Birds and aligators along the River. on the afternoon of the second Day we found the River Verry Rappid in some places. We had Rather a hard Days Ride on account of the heat of the Sun and the Large amount of Baggage in the Canoe…we arrived at Gorgona and there pitched our tents for the first time. here we found about ninety tents and Perhaps Five hundred men early the next morning we heard firing & Cheers for Old Zack this was the 4th of March the Commencement of Taylors administration and the Whig Portion of the Camp took this opertunity to have a Bit of a Celebration We Ware about a week getting everything over to Panama… had a good Deal of trouble with our Luggage and Night overtook us 10 miles from Panama…arrived here at 10 Oclock AM from that time to this I have been lounging round town some times on the Beach and some times Viewing the Ruins tomorrow we send part of our Baggage on Board the British Bark Collooney and on the 19th We are off for the Diggins; some wear along file folds, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

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Est. $300-400
Selling for...$150.00
Will close during Public Auction

2008

Panama, New Granada, March 14th 1849. Dateline on lengthy 3-page letter from Gilbert Howell, with interesting content regarding his travel from New York to Chagres and Panama on his way to California in part…on my arrival at Chagres I wrote home and sent the Letter by the Capt. of our Brig to New orleans. in that Letter I gave a short description of our Passage from New York to Chagres which was Performed in 14 Days Being much quicker than We expected. We Left the Latter Place the 1st Day of March at 3 o'clock PM and Proceded up the River in Canoes, the steamer Being unable to Prodeede more than 14 or 18 miles the Water above Being to shole to alow her to Run at Present. and arrived at Gorgona the 3rd at 5 Oclock P.M. Pitched our tents immediately and commenced camp Life in company with some 4 or 5 hundred other Americans Bound for the Gold Regions. Gorgona is a high & Rather Plesant Place said to contain about 900 Inhabitants. on the 5th three of our party started for Panama to make arrangements for getting our baggage over and succeeded in making a contract with a gentleman by the name of Weed and on the 13th found everything safe at Panama. the Distance from Chagres to Gorgona is not far from 50 miles by the River which has verry little currant at its mouth But increases in Rapidity as you advance up the River and at some few points we ware obliged to get on shore in order to give the Natives a chance to get their Canoes over the Rapids. from Gorgona to Panama the distance is about 25' miles and much the hardest Portion of the Isthmas Rout. there Roads Being nothing more than Rude Paths and narrow Passes winding Round mountains and over hills so Verry narrow in many Places as not to alow two mules to Pass abrest. these narrow Passes are sometimes worne or cut to the Depth of 10 & 15 feet…the average expense of our company getting from Chagres here has been about $20 each…Panama is an old Spanish town situated on a point of Land Projecting into the Bay, has evidantly Been a Place of much importance. But time and Revolution changes everything, all that was once the Pride and Glory of the Place, is Now Crumbling to Dust. Vast heaps of Ruins are met with on every side some of the most magnificent churches have only there naked walls and arches standing, while within the Walls Groves of trees are growing in full Bloom…We have much News from California But we have none, for the simple reason that no Vessels are here from that Region. The steamer California is Due the 15th tomorrow When she arrives she Will Probably Bring Plenty of News our Company have got tickets on the British Bark Collooney at $200 each this is $100 more for each man than we expected to pay when we Left New York But tickets are Verry high at Present there Being Perhaps one thousand Persons there wating for passage. the Steamer Oregon Left here yesterday for California with about 300 Passengers her tickers for the cabin have been sold as high as $1000 dolls and steerage tickets for $450 & $500 Dolls and We could have sold our tickets for $300 each We are to sail on the 19th We expect to Be from 30 to 40 Days on our Passage from here to San Francisco…We expected to find Letters here But found None if any come here after we Leave they will be forwarded on to San Francisco; letter folded and addressed to "Palmyra, New York, United States of N.A." and sent under another cover; some wear along file folds, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Transcribed as written.

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Est. $300-400
Selling for...$220.00
Will close during Public Auction

2009

(San Francisco) April 16, 1850. Dateline on three page letter from C.H. Williams, with interesting content regarding trip around Cape Horn, going to the mines and details of life in San Francisco in part…We are in Sanfrancisco and arived there on the sixth of april all in good health. we have got our tent in hapy valey it costs about three dollars a week to board our selvs but board is twelve dolars a week wagers are from five to ten a day…there is hundreds going to the mines evry day the mines are good as ever they was we think we shall go to the mines in about a week to the sothern minds it is thought that it is healthier there than at the nothern and it is to early to go to the nothern. the steamer came in on the thirtnth of april and had three hundred pasengers and left three times as many on the isthmus. I did not get eny leter from you as I expected to. I sent one when in St Catherine. we stopt there twelve days, we left there on the fifth of January and made staton land on the twenty third and cape Horn on the twenty sixth and on the twenty ninth there was a young man died in his birth when now one knew it he had ben unwell a few days. his name was James Weston he was from hancock N.H. we were of cape horn fifteen days in sight of land and we had some gales that were not very pleasant. we could see snow on the mountains but we had very good luck and went in to valperaso on the sevententh of Feb and stopt five days. the greatest bisness that is done in Sanfrancisco is gambling…there is people from all parts of the world. this is a country full of money and gold dust but I wouldent advise eny one to come out here all thou it is a great place for making money if he has luck and health. there is a great meny in the streat. the first day that I was there there was a man lay dead besid the streat but if a man takes care of him self there is not much more danger of geting sick than at home. there is hundreds lay around in the steats all night drunk…you hear in the papers the news beter than I can tel it. it is a great country that one thing I can say…We expect the next steemer in before i we go to the mines and expect to get a leter there is a express runs to the mines and you may direct leters to sanfrancisco until you hear from me.; includes the second letter (Dec 24th, 1849) sent from St. Caterine (Jamaica) mentioned in this letter, both addressed to Pepperell, Mass. carried under other covers, Very Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

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Est. $300-400
Selling for...$150.00
Will close during Public Auction

2010

San Francisco June 26th 1849. Dateline on lengthy three page letter from Gilbert Howell, with interest content regarding lengthy travel from Panama to San Francisco, San Francisco & travel to the mines in part…Dear Wife, When I wrote from Panama I think I said We expected to be from thirty to Forty Days on our Passage But we Ware sadly disapointed in our expectation We have Been one hundred Days on the Passage We got on Board the 18th of March On the 19th run to the Island of Toboga to get a few casks of water and on the 20th made sail and continued our Journey on the First of April We put into the Port of Realejo for Water and Provisions Remained there ten Days then Put to sea again But owing to the Continual Calms and unfavourable winds We got Short of Water and Ware oblieged to Put in to San Jose a small Town near Cape St. Lucas Lower California here we ware Detained six days We Left this Port on the 21st of May and after contending with strong head winds for thirty six days found ourselves safely anchored in the Bay of San Francisco the 25th of June…While sailing up the Bay yesterday afternoon the most intense excitement Prevailed on Board the Vessel the Day was beautiful this with a Fair Wind Blowing Directly up the Bay seemed to give new Life and energy to every one on Board and as we Rounded the Point and got a view of the shipping in the harbour we Remarked to each other that the Fleete of Vessels had got round the horn But we ware mistaken although there is ninety odd vessels in the harbour yet the Great mass of Vessels that Left the states Last Winter has not arrived the most of the Vessels here are from south America some from China and others from the Sand Wich Islands from al that I can learn. Respecting Law Judg Linch Presides. those who steal they whip out of the country and if they Return and commence their Depredations the Second time they are generaly shot. Provisions are Plenty…how Long this wild state of excitement will continue no one can tell. all Depends upon the success of the miners and some are all ready returning from the mines discouraged while others are verry fortunate. indeed We know but Little more here about the mines than we Did in New York (June 27th) But we shall soon have a chance to see for ourselves if we have good luck as the Schooner is Long Side taking our Baggage from the vessel. all is Confusion and I have But Little time to Write. We intend to go to Sutters Fort which is about one hundred and forty miles then we Leave the Schooner and have some sixty miles yet to go so you see we have some distance to go yet But we dont mind that for we are already acustomed to a sort of Ruff and tumble Life., Very Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Transcribed as written.

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Est. $300-400
Selling for...$150.00
Will close during Public Auction

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