Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

California Mails and Western Expresses, Carriers, Locals and Independent Mails continued...

**Panama and San Francisco Steamship Route Markings**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
4004		"Panama & San francisco May 7th". Manuscript marking and "40" rate applied by temporary agent R. J. Laurensen on folded cover from San Francisco to New York City street address, sender's sailing designation "Steamer Panama 1st May" (1850), some creasing and edge wear VERY FINE AND HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT COVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA MAILS. THIS IS ONE OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE MANUSCRIPT "PANAMA & SAN FRANCISCO" ROUTE AGENT'S MARKING. This cover was carried by PMSS Panama on May 1, 1850, connecting with USMSS Georgia at Chagres. This was the only trip handled by route agent R. J. Laurensen, who applied the manuscript postmark in the absence of a datestamping device. Only two examples of this manuscript marking are reported. Ex Knapp (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500
4005		Pan. & San. Fran. S.S. Jan. 15. Light but legible red Type I circular datestamp on 1851 folded letter from San Francisco to St. Louis Mo., no rate indicated, reinforced splits along folds and small sealed tear at bottom, still Fine, this rare type of Panama & San Francisco Steamship datestamp was applied by route agents Ferris and Midgett, only 25 examples reported, ex DeVoss (Image)	E. 500-750
4006		Pan. & San. Fran. S.S. May 27. Light but mostly readable strike of Type III circular datestamp on May 10, 1851 blue folded letter from U.S. Army Paymaster in Portland Ore. to Paymaster General in Washington D.C., ms. "f" for free, faint toning along file fold, Fine, scarce (Image)	E. 300-400
4007		Pan. & San. Fran. S.S. Jun. 29. Red route agent's circular datestamp partly struck on light buff cover to Nantucket Mass., small ms. "35" overstruck by bold New York "10" in circle due handstamp, minor edgewear, Fine (Image)	E. 200-300
4008		Panama N.Y. Jun. 23. Panama route agent's circular datestamp with "N.Y." error (was supposed to read N.G. for New Granada), mostly bold strike on cover to Senicaville O., "30" rate handstamp, with original letter datelined at Panama on Jun. 11, 1850, from prospector on his way to in California, filled with descriptions of the journey and local situation including reference to U.S. Consul Corwine, slight wear, otherwise Fine, this "Panama N.Y." marking is a rare and key item in the study of California mails (Image)	E. 400-500
4009		Panama N.Y. Jul. 23. Panama route agent's circular datestamp with "N.Y." error (was supposed to read N.G. for New Granada), mostly readable strike on blue folded letter datelined at Panama, Jul. 20, 1850, from a prospector on his way to "seeking my fortune" in California writing to friends back home in Natchez Miss., a well-written detailed account of the journey, "30" rate handstamp, file fold thru datestamp, otherwise Fine (Image)	E. 400-500
4010		John C. Fremont. Explorer of the Rocky Mountains, the "Pathfinder", Senator from California, free frank "Free J.C. Fremont/U.S. Senate" on undated cover addressed in his hand to Charles F. Mayer in Baltimore Md., red "Panama" straightline handstamp and "Steam Ship 30 Cts" in circle with rate crossed out in blue pen and matching "Free" VERY FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED COVERS FRANKED BY FREMONT AND HANDSTAMPED WITH THE "PANAMA" STRAIGHTLINE AT THE UNITED STATES POSTAL AGENCY IN PANAMA. John C. Fremont was the most famous of early explorers of the American West. When gold was discovered on his property, Fremont became a wealthy man, but he lost much of his fortune in subsequent failed business deals. He was politically well-connected and married to Jessie Benton, the beautiful and popular daughter of Senator Thomas Benton of Missouri, whose expansionist policies helped Fremont's rising star. In 1850 Fremont became a U.S. Senator from California and proponent of the anti-slavery Republican Party. He ran as their presidential candidate in the 1856 campaign, but lost to James Buchanan. In later life Fremont's stature declined, and it was only through the publication of books about his early years of exploration that the "Pathfinder of the West" remained financially solvent. The addressee, Charles F. Mayer, was a member of the Konig family and principal in the Baltimore firm of Mayer & Konig, a prominent importer and dealer in fancy goods. This cover was handstamped "Panama" by the U.S. postal agent in Panama, and it was carried by steamship from the east coast of the Isthmus of Panama to New York City. At New York, the "Steam Ship 30 Cts" was applied to indicate postage due, but Fremont's senatorial free frank was soon recognized, and the letter was properly marked "Free" (blue ink is typical of New York in this period). There is no date on the cover, but it was probably mailed in 1850. Ex Robertson. A similar cover (except bearing the "Steam/Ship" marking in two lines) was offered in our 1996 Rarities of the World sale and realized $7,500 hammer. (Image)	E. 4,000-5,000

Panama and San Francisco Steamship Route Markings

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

4004

"Panama & San francisco May 7th". Manuscript marking and "40" rate applied by temporary agent R. J. Laurensen on folded cover from San Francisco to New York City street address, sender's sailing designation "Steamer Panama 1st May" (1850), some creasing and edge wear

VERY FINE AND HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT COVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA MAILS. THIS IS ONE OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE MANUSCRIPT "PANAMA & SAN FRANCISCO" ROUTE AGENT'S MARKING.

This cover was carried by PMSS Panama on May 1, 1850, connecting with USMSS Georgia at Chagres. This was the only trip handled by route agent R. J. Laurensen, who applied the manuscript postmark in the absence of a datestamping device. Only two examples of this manuscript marking are reported.

Ex Knapp (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

4005

Pan. & San. Fran. S.S. Jan. 15. Light but legible red Type I circular datestamp on 1851 folded letter from San Francisco to St. Louis Mo., no rate indicated, reinforced splits along folds and small sealed tear at bottom, still Fine, this rare type of Panama & San Francisco Steamship datestamp was applied by route agents Ferris and Midgett, only 25 examples reported, ex DeVoss (Image)

E. 500-750

4006

Pan. & San. Fran. S.S. May 27. Light but mostly readable strike of Type III circular datestamp on May 10, 1851 blue folded letter from U.S. Army Paymaster in Portland Ore. to Paymaster General in Washington D.C., ms. "f" for free, faint toning along file fold, Fine, scarce (Image)

E. 300-400

4007

Pan. & San. Fran. S.S. Jun. 29. Red route agent's circular datestamp partly struck on light buff cover to Nantucket Mass., small ms. "35" overstruck by bold New York "10" in circle due handstamp, minor edgewear, Fine (Image)

E. 200-300

4008

Panama N.Y. Jun. 23. Panama route agent's circular datestamp with "N.Y." error (was supposed to read N.G. for New Granada), mostly bold strike on cover to Senicaville O., "30" rate handstamp, with original letter datelined at Panama on Jun. 11, 1850, from prospector on his way to in California, filled with descriptions of the journey and local situation including reference to U.S. Consul Corwine, slight wear, otherwise Fine, this "Panama N.Y." marking is a rare and key item in the study of California mails (Image)

E. 400-500

4009

Panama N.Y. Jul. 23. Panama route agent's circular datestamp with "N.Y." error (was supposed to read N.G. for New Granada), mostly readable strike on blue folded letter datelined at Panama, Jul. 20, 1850, from a prospector on his way to "seeking my fortune" in California writing to friends back home in Natchez Miss., a well-written detailed account of the journey, "30" rate handstamp, file fold thru datestamp, otherwise Fine (Image)

E. 400-500

4010

John C. Fremont. Explorer of the Rocky Mountains, the "Pathfinder", Senator from California, free frank "Free J.C. Fremont/U.S. Senate" on undated cover addressed in his hand to Charles F. Mayer in Baltimore Md., red "Panama" straightline handstamp and "Steam Ship 30 Cts" in circle with rate crossed out in blue pen and matching "Free"

VERY FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED COVERS FRANKED BY FREMONT AND HANDSTAMPED WITH THE "PANAMA" STRAIGHTLINE AT THE UNITED STATES POSTAL AGENCY IN PANAMA.

John C. Fremont was the most famous of early explorers of the American West. When gold was discovered on his property, Fremont became a wealthy man, but he lost much of his fortune in subsequent failed business deals. He was politically well-connected and married to Jessie Benton, the beautiful and popular daughter of Senator Thomas Benton of Missouri, whose expansionist policies helped Fremont's rising star. In 1850 Fremont became a U.S. Senator from California and proponent of the anti-slavery Republican Party. He ran as their presidential candidate in the 1856 campaign, but lost to James Buchanan. In later life Fremont's stature declined, and it was only through the publication of books about his early years of exploration that the "Pathfinder of the West" remained financially solvent. The addressee, Charles F. Mayer, was a member of the Konig family and principal in the Baltimore firm of Mayer & Konig, a prominent importer and dealer in fancy goods.

This cover was handstamped "Panama" by the U.S. postal agent in Panama, and it was carried by steamship from the east coast of the Isthmus of Panama to New York City. At New York, the "Steam Ship 30 Cts" was applied to indicate postage due, but Fremont's senatorial free frank was soon recognized, and the letter was properly marked "Free" (blue ink is typical of New York in this period). There is no date on the cover, but it was probably mailed in 1850.

Ex Robertson. A similar cover (except bearing the "Steam/Ship" marking in two lines) was offered in our 1996 Rarities of the World sale and realized $7,500 hammer. (Image)

E. 4,000-5,000