Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

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

**"Via Nicaragua" Markings**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
4020		Alpheus Felch. Free frank "Free A. Felch", former U.S. Senator (1847-53), franked as president of a commission appointed by President Franklin Pierce to settle land claims in California (1853-56), on blue cover from California to Ann Arbor, Michigan, routed thru New York, clear strike of red boxed "Via Nicaragua Ahead of the Mails" handstamp, also strikes of "Steam/Ship" and "Free" handstamps, minor wear VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE TRANS-CONTINENTAL USAGE WITH ALPHEUS FELCH'S FREE FRANK AND THE "VIA NICARAGUA" ROUTE HANDSTAMP. SENT FROM CALIFORNIA WHILE FELCH WAS PRESIDENT OF A SPECIAL COMMISSION TO SETTLE LAND CLAIMS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE MEXICAN WAR. Alpheus Felch was Governor of Michigan from 1846 to 1847 and U.S. Senator from March 1847 to March 1853, when he was appointed by President Franklin Pierce to be part of a commission to settle Spanish and Mexican land claims in California arising from the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican War. Felch served as president of the commission until 1856. This undated cover was mailed during Felch's stay in California and had to have been franked in his role as commissioner. Ex Knapp, Wiltsee, Grunin and Robertson. (Image)	E. 1,500-2,000
4021		Alpheus Felch. Free frank "Free A. Felch", former U.S. Senator (1847-53), franked as president of a commission appointed by President Franklin Pierce to settle land claims in California (1853-56), on light buff cover from California to Charlestown Mass., routed thru New York, clear strike of red boxed "Via Nicaragua Ahead of the Mails" handstamp, "New-York Ship 7 cts. Oct. 10" datestamp with rate crossed out in recognition of the free frank, with original autograph letter signed by Felch and datelined San Francisco, Sep. 15, 1853 VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE TRANS-CONTINENTAL COVER WITH ALPHEUS FELCH'S FREE FRANK AND THE "VIA NICARAGUA" ROUTE HANDSTAMP. This is another 1853 cover and letter mailed during Felch's stay in California as special land claim commissioner. (Image)	E. 1,500-2,000
4022		3c Dull Red (11). Vertical pair, margins to cut in, tied by bold "New-York Jun. 9" receiving datestamp on cover to Keene N.H. with "Mining Scene" illustration of miner panning for gold, Hutchings imprint, smaller Anthony & Baker imprint at right, tiny ms. "Sacramento May 15" (1854), partly readable strike of blue "Via Nicaragua/In Advance of the Mails/Sullivan" double-line oval handstamp, reduced at right, sealed tear at upper right and cleaned to remove some toning FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE. VERY FEW ILLUSTRATED MINING SCENE ENVELOPES ARE KNOWN WITH THE "VIA NICARAGUA" FORWARDER'S MARKING. A SPECTACULAR COVER FOR THE COLLECTOR OF CALIFORNIA POSTAL HISTORY OR THE 1851 ISSUE. This cover is reported to have left San Francisco on May 16, 1854, for San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua on the Brother Jonathan, then from San Juan del Norte on the Star of the West, arriving in New York on June 8 (it entered the post office on June 9). (Image)	E. 2,000-3,000
4023		3c Dull Red (11). Horizontal pair, large margins to just clear at left, tied by bold "New-York Jan. 2" (ca. 1854) circular datestamp on small cover to Farmer N.Y., full mostly clear strike of blue "Stmr. Sierra Nevada, Via Nicaragua, Ahead of the Mails" oval handstamp, backflap reattached, Very Fine, excellent strike of this scarce "Via Nicaragua" marking with Sierra Nevada ship name, illustrated in Ashbrook Vol. II (p. 268), ex Haas (who paid $450 in 1968) (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500
4024		3c Dull Red (11). Two, ample to large margins, one slightly creased, tied by "New-York Sep. 9" circular datestamp on blue cover to East Aron N.Y., clearly struck red "Via Nicaragua/Ahead of the Mails" framed handstamp, few scattered stain spots, otherwise Very Fine (Image)	E. 400-500
4025		12c Black (17). Large margins to in incl. sheet margin at bottom, tied by bold strike of "New-York Jul. 12" circular datestamp on cover to Buckland Mass., light strike of oval "Via Nicaragua/In Advance of the Mails/Sullivan" handstamp, some toning and wear, otherwise Fine, scarce usage, the stamp was not cancelled in California and was cancelled on arrival in New York (Image)	1,500.00
4026		Via Nicaragua/In Advance of the Mails/Sullivan. Bold oval handstamp on 6c Green Nesbitt entire (U14) from California to Norwich Conn., bold "New-York Jul. 12" circular datestamp applied on arrival from San Francisco, Very Fine and choice, scarce with the Sullivan designation and extremely rare on the 6c Nesbitt entire (the rate increased to 10c in April 1855, and the Via Nicaragua markings were used beginning in 1853) (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500
4027		Forwarded via Nicaragua from Noisy Carriers Publishing Hall San Francisco. Readable strike in green on 6c Green Nesbitt entire (U14) to Patchogue N.Y., cancelled by clear strike of "New-York Jan. 15" circular datestamp, 1855 docketing on back, trivial edgewear, Very Fine, attractive usage, with 1981 P.F. certificate (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500
4028		Nicaragua Line, In Advance of the Mail. Perfect bold strike of oval handstamp on cover to San Francisco, sender's routing "Nicaragua Steamer 5th Jany.", no indication of government postage as required (possibly carried inside another envelope), Extremely Fine, examples of westbound mail carried by the Vanderbilt Line are much scarcer than eastbound, ex Pearce and Haas (who paid $650 in 1974) (Image)	E. 750-1,000
4029		Nicaragua Line, In Advance of the Mail. Perfect bold strike of oval handstamp on cover to Virgin Bay, Nicaragua, faults incl. repair at top center, still presentable, extremely unusual use of this marking on mail to Nicaragua (Image)	E. 200-300

"Via Nicaragua" Markings

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

4020

Alpheus Felch. Free frank "Free A. Felch", former U.S. Senator (1847-53), franked as president of a commission appointed by President Franklin Pierce to settle land claims in California (1853-56), on blue cover from California to Ann Arbor, Michigan, routed thru New York, clear strike of red boxed "Via Nicaragua Ahead of the Mails" handstamp, also strikes of "Steam/Ship" and "Free" handstamps, minor wear

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE TRANS-CONTINENTAL USAGE WITH ALPHEUS FELCH'S FREE FRANK AND THE "VIA NICARAGUA" ROUTE HANDSTAMP. SENT FROM CALIFORNIA WHILE FELCH WAS PRESIDENT OF A SPECIAL COMMISSION TO SETTLE LAND CLAIMS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE MEXICAN WAR.

Alpheus Felch was Governor of Michigan from 1846 to 1847 and U.S. Senator from March 1847 to March 1853, when he was appointed by President Franklin Pierce to be part of a commission to settle Spanish and Mexican land claims in California arising from the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican War. Felch served as president of the commission until 1856. This undated cover was mailed during Felch's stay in California and had to have been franked in his role as commissioner.

Ex Knapp, Wiltsee, Grunin and Robertson. (Image)

E. 1,500-2,000

4021

Alpheus Felch. Free frank "Free A. Felch", former U.S. Senator (1847-53), franked as president of a commission appointed by President Franklin Pierce to settle land claims in California (1853-56), on light buff cover from California to Charlestown Mass., routed thru New York, clear strike of red boxed "Via Nicaragua Ahead of the Mails" handstamp, "New-York Ship 7 cts. Oct. 10" datestamp with rate crossed out in recognition of the free frank, with original autograph letter signed by Felch and datelined San Francisco, Sep. 15, 1853

VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE TRANS-CONTINENTAL COVER WITH ALPHEUS FELCH'S FREE FRANK AND THE "VIA NICARAGUA" ROUTE HANDSTAMP.

This is another 1853 cover and letter mailed during Felch's stay in California as special land claim commissioner. (Image)

E. 1,500-2,000

4022

3c Dull Red (11). Vertical pair, margins to cut in, tied by bold "New-York Jun. 9" receiving datestamp on cover to Keene N.H. with "Mining Scene" illustration of miner panning for gold, Hutchings imprint, smaller Anthony & Baker imprint at right, tiny ms. "Sacramento May 15" (1854), partly readable strike of blue "Via Nicaragua/In Advance of the Mails/Sullivan" double-line oval handstamp, reduced at right, sealed tear at upper right and cleaned to remove some toning

FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE. VERY FEW ILLUSTRATED MINING SCENE ENVELOPES ARE KNOWN WITH THE "VIA NICARAGUA" FORWARDER'S MARKING. A SPECTACULAR COVER FOR THE COLLECTOR OF CALIFORNIA POSTAL HISTORY OR THE 1851 ISSUE.

This cover is reported to have left San Francisco on May 16, 1854, for San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua on the Brother Jonathan, then from San Juan del Norte on the Star of the West, arriving in New York on June 8 (it entered the post office on June 9). (Image)

E. 2,000-3,000

4023

3c Dull Red (11). Horizontal pair, large margins to just clear at left, tied by bold "New-York Jan. 2" (ca. 1854) circular datestamp on small cover to Farmer N.Y., full mostly clear strike of blue "Stmr. Sierra Nevada, Via Nicaragua, Ahead of the Mails" oval handstamp, backflap reattached, Very Fine, excellent strike of this scarce "Via Nicaragua" marking with Sierra Nevada ship name, illustrated in Ashbrook Vol. II (p. 268), ex Haas (who paid $450 in 1968) (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

4024

3c Dull Red (11). Two, ample to large margins, one slightly creased, tied by "New-York Sep. 9" circular datestamp on blue cover to East Aron N.Y., clearly struck red "Via Nicaragua/Ahead of the Mails" framed handstamp, few scattered stain spots, otherwise Very Fine (Image)

E. 400-500

4025

12c Black (17). Large margins to in incl. sheet margin at bottom, tied by bold strike of "New-York Jul. 12" circular datestamp on cover to Buckland Mass., light strike of oval "Via Nicaragua/In Advance of the Mails/Sullivan" handstamp, some toning and wear, otherwise Fine, scarce usage, the stamp was not cancelled in California and was cancelled on arrival in New York (Image)

1,500.00

4026

Via Nicaragua/In Advance of the Mails/Sullivan. Bold oval handstamp on 6c Green Nesbitt entire (U14) from California to Norwich Conn., bold "New-York Jul. 12" circular datestamp applied on arrival from San Francisco, Very Fine and choice, scarce with the Sullivan designation and extremely rare on the 6c Nesbitt entire (the rate increased to 10c in April 1855, and the Via Nicaragua markings were used beginning in 1853) (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

4027

Forwarded via Nicaragua from Noisy Carriers Publishing Hall San Francisco. Readable strike in green on 6c Green Nesbitt entire (U14) to Patchogue N.Y., cancelled by clear strike of "New-York Jan. 15" circular datestamp, 1855 docketing on back, trivial edgewear, Very Fine, attractive usage, with 1981 P.F. certificate (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

4028

Nicaragua Line, In Advance of the Mail. Perfect bold strike of oval handstamp on cover to San Francisco, sender's routing "Nicaragua Steamer 5th Jany.", no indication of government postage as required (possibly carried inside another envelope), Extremely Fine, examples of westbound mail carried by the Vanderbilt Line are much scarcer than eastbound, ex Pearce and Haas (who paid $650 in 1974) (Image)

E. 750-1,000

4029

Nicaragua Line, In Advance of the Mail. Perfect bold strike of oval handstamp on cover to Virgin Bay, Nicaragua, faults incl. repair at top center, still presentable, extremely unusual use of this marking on mail to Nicaragua (Image)

E. 200-300