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U.S. Stamps, U.S. and C.S.A. Postal History, Foreign Stamps and Covers continued...

Western Mails
Lot Sym. Lot Description  
1134 c ImageAlpheus 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 COVER 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, Robertson. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $750.00
Will close during Public Auction
1135 c ImageAlpheus 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.

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.

Ex Hahn (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $650.00
Will close during Public Auction
1136 c Via Tehuantepec. Manuscript route directive and matching address to "Mrs. Ellen M. Stanton," in Pittsburgh Pa., written by Edwin M. Stanton while serving as Special Federal Agent in California, on 10c Green Nesbitt entire (U15), "San Francisco Cal. Nov. 30, 1858" circular datestamp, some light soiling and small scuff, otherwise Very Fine, scarce cover sent via Tehuantepec route made even more desirable by the sender, before serving as President Lincoln's Secretary of War Stanton was sent to California in 1858 by the Attorney General Jeremiah Black as special Federal Agent for the settlement of land claims

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $1,400.00
Will close during Public Auction
1137 c ImageOverland via Los Angeles. Three-line imprint in black on 3c Red Nesbitt entire (U10) to Downieville Cal., clearly struck "San Francisco Cal. Jul. 14, 1859" circular datestamp, backflap removed and faults affecting a couple of letters of imprint, still Fine and exhibit-worthy, beginning in Sep. 1858 the Overland Mail Co. started regular semi-weekly stagecoach service along the so-called "Butterfield Route" between San Francisco and St. Louis via Los Angeles, a variety of markings, printed and handstamped, were used on mail to designate this route, this "Overland via Los Angeles" three-line imprint is found on 3c and 10c Nesbitt entires, in red or black, with or without the Wells, Fargo & Company's frank, and one plain envelope, a census quickly compiled from our Levi records and other sources counts 17 entires in total (excluding the plain envelope with a 10c adhesive) (Image)

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 E. 400-500

SOLD for $375.00
Will close during Public Auction
1138 c Image10c Green, Ty. V (35). Rich color, cancelled by blue penstrokes, "West Point Cal. Jan 19" circular datestamp on yellow cover to Denmark N.Y., with "Overland--via--Los Angeles" hand-colored illustrated four-horse stagecoach design, stamp lifted and replaced, cover expertly repaired at left and lightly cleaned, Very Fine appearance and scarce, ex Baker and Beals, with 1996 P.F. certificate (Image)

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 E. 400-500

SOLD for $225.00
Will close during Public Auction
1139 c Image3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). S.e. at right and rounded corner, tied by "San Francisco Cal. May ? 1860" circular datestamp on cover to Sacramento Cal., 4-Horse Stagecoach design with ms. lines thru "Per Overland Mail" and stamp positioned over "Via Los Angeles", Very Fine, rare intra-California use of this illustrated envelope, especially interesting with sender's obvious effort to change its meaning, ex Kutz (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. 500-750

SOLD for $450.00
Will close during Public Auction
1140 c ImageSTEAMER/WINFIELD SCOTT. Two-line handstamp in red struck on 1853 brown cover to Auraria Ga., red "Culloma Cal. Nov. 29" circular datestamp and "10" rate handstamp, refolded at top, stained and repaired at bottom right

ONE OF ONLY SEVEN KNOWN COVERS RECOVERED FROM THE WRECK OF THE PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP COMPANY STEAMER WINFIELD SCOTT.

The Winfield Scott was a 1,291-ton steamer built in New York City in 1851, which was put into service along the Pacific Coast route in 1852. On December 2, 1853, she was stranded off Anacapa Island in the Santa Barbara Channel and lost, but the mails, passengers and cargo were saved. Our Levi records contain nine examples of the two-line handstamp, of which two were carried before the Winfield Scott was commissioned into the Pacific service.

Ex Knapp, Wiltsee and Hahn (Image)

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 E. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $750.00
Will close during Public Auction
1141 c ImagePER STR. COLUMBUS. Red straightline handstamp and matching "San Francisco 17 June 40" integral-rate circular datestamp on cover to East Granby Ct., fresh and Very Fine, scarce, carried on the first sailing of the Columbus, with copy of 1995 P.F. certificate for a similar cover (as reference) (Image)

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 E. 500-750

SOLD for $350.00
Will close during Public Auction
1142 c ImageGreenwood Cal. Jan. 2. Greenish blue circular datestamp and matching "Paid" with manuscript "10" rate on manila cover to Rockland Me. with "Put's California Envelope" illustrated design depicting miners at breakfast table, promoter outside doorway, slogan "California and Miners' Rights", satiric verse showing disdain for promoters, skillfully cleaned, Very Fine, this is the only example of this design recorded by Kutz in Gold Fever, ex Jarrett (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. 750-1,000

SOLD for $2,100.00
Will close during Public Auction
1143 c Image12c Black, Diagonal Half Used as 6c (17a). Top left diagonal half, large margins to clear, tied across the cut by light strike of "San Francisco Cal. 16 Aug." circular datestamp on cover to Boston, endorsed "pr. Steamship 'Winfield Scott' August 16th 1853", slightly reduced at right, gently cleaned, Very Fine appearance, with 1980 P.F. certificate (Image)

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 2,750.00

SOLD for $1,300.00
Will close during Public Auction
1144 c Image1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Positions 25-28R1L, horizontal strip of four, mostly ample to large margins, rich color, tied by segmented cork cancel, indistinct Cal. town circular datestamp on 6c Green Nesbitt entire (U14) to Johnstown N.Y., minor cover soiling and edge faults, still Very Fine, rare use of 1c 1851 on uprated 6c entire for 10c transcontinental rate, ex Seybold, Green (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. 750-1,000

SOLD for $500.00
Will close during Public Auction

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