(San Francisco) San Francisco/July 2 (Cal.). Straight line postmark with magenta manuscript date on cover to Waterville, Maine with matching manuscript "40" rate, included is original enclosure with fascinating contents, datelined (Ship) "North Bend March 3, at Sea, Lat. 150.40' South, Long 330.20' West 1849", letter continued later with 2nd datelined "June 29th 1849, San Francisco" and reads in part, The Gold is plenty, every vessel is deserted - every ship that comes in here is sure to lose all of there men. And men will not work for love nor money unless they get hard pushed and then they go to the gold mines. You know I left the North Bend in the Straits of Magellan. I left the Brig at Pont Famine (in the Straits) and joined the Pilot Boat. My intentions are to go to the Gold mines as soon as possible. I have seen some beautiful specimens of the mines. From the Straits of Magellan we reached Juan Fernadez (Island), the residence of Robison Crusoe). From there to the Galapagos Islands under the equator, opposite the isthmus of Panama. The Steamship Oregon sails with the U.S. mails on Monday the 2nd of July. (The date of this cover sending),In addition, the cover has been turned & re-used to forward the letter to another family member in Boston with red "Waterville, Me". cds with matching "Paid" & "5" handstamps, Very Fine, a spectacular & historic item. Estimate  $1,000 - 1,500. $0 (Image)