Sale 1316 — United States Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 19-20 March, 2024
Category — Mail to China including Forwarding Agents & Printed Matter
Newark New Jersey Jun. 2 (1818). Ornate blue double-oval datestamp with manuscript "2" day and "Paid 6" on folded letter datelined Newark June 1, 1818, from Uzal Ogden to his son, Nicolas Gouverneur Ogden, in Canton, China, "Care of John Jacob Astor Esqr. New York", letter reports "Your favor by the William and John together with the sugar and Tea, we received..." and reports "As I cannot collect any of my debts here nor in the West Indies I am denied for want of money...", receipt docketing with Jan. 5, 1819 reply date, slight wear along file folds
VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY EARLY AND VERY RARE LETTER FROM THE UNITED STATES TO CHINA, ADDRESSED TO ONE OF THE PARTNERS OF JOHN JACOB ASTOR IN THE CHINA TRADE AND CARRIED BY SHIP TO CANTON.
Nicolas G. Ogden (1776-1823) became a partner with John Jacob Astor Sr. in 1816 in the firm's China trade. Ogden was based in Canton, where this letter from his father was received in 1818/19. Ogden died in 1823 and Astor disputed his ownership claims.
Early 19th century mail to and from China is extremely rare. This letter is not only very early, its connection to the Astor China trade business is significant.
Mazatlan, Mexico, to Canton, China, 1844. Three-page folded letter from Mazatlan, Mexico, datelined "Pr 'Perry' Via Sandwich Isls, Port of Mazatlan 17th Novr. 1844" to Samuel W. Comstock, care of Russell & Co. in Canton, China, the writer, G. W. P. Bissell, begins, "The U.S. brig 'Perry' leaves today for the Sandwich Islands and I embrace the chance to write a few lines with the hope that some vessel may be going to China from the Islands."; he notes the Perry has just come from China in the "short passage of 64 days."—a ship's agent himself, Bissell may have instructed the Perry's captain to give the letter to C. Brewer & Co., known as a forwarder in 1844, forwarding agent's notation on back "Fw'd C. Brewer & Co.", Brewer sent the letter to Bush & Co. (this firm opened an office in Lahaina in 1850), clear slightly oily strike of "Forwarded by Bush & Co. Hong Kong" oval handstamp, receipt docketing "Rec'd 17 January" (1845), minor stains on edges of lettersheet not visible when folded with the back panel up
VERY FINE. a remarkable letter, originating in mexico and carried to the hawaiian islands, where forwarded by brewer & company to hong kong and then by bush & company to canton, china.
The U.S. brig Perry was launched in May 1843 at the Norfolk Navy Yard and commissioned in October 1843 with Commander Samuel F. Du Pont in command. The new brig departed Norfolk in December 1843, called at Rio de Janeiro, and sailed to Macao, arriving August 27, 1844. At Macao she was boarded by Caleb Cushing, the first American Commissioner to China, and then sailed via Hong Kong for the coast of Mexico, arriving at Mazatlan November 4, 1844. Four days later Cushing disembarked at San Blas for an overland journey to Vera Cruz. The Perry then sailed to Honolulu with this letter, arriving December 9, 1844. In Honolulu the mail forwarder, Brewer & Co., arranged for another ship to carry the letter to Bush & Co. in Hong Kong, and the Perry sailed for other Pacific Islands. The American ship Mariposa sailed from Honolulu to Hong Kong on December 16, 1844, and could have carried this letter, which was received in Canton on January 17, 1845.
Ex Honolulu Advertiser and Dr. Spicer.
Baltimore Md. Jul. 25 (1843). Blue circular datestamp and matching "PAID" handstamp, red manuscript "37 1/2" double rate on folded letter to Augustine Heard, Canton, China, care of forwarding agent in New York, red "Forwd. by T. W. Ward Boston" oval handstamp lightly struck on back, receipt docketing on inside, minor stain at upper right, otherwise Very Fine, placed by T. W. Ward on a ship out of Boston and bound for China
Forwarded by Rawle Duus & Co. Victoria H.K. Faint strike of red oval handstamp on blue folded letter datelined Salem Mass., May 30, 1847, to W. G. Saltonstall, care of Wetmore & Co., Canton, China, sender's directive per ship "Eliza Warren" and "Kindness of F. Gassett Esq.", Fine, rare ship letter to Canton handled by Hong Kong forwarder
Forwarded from Harnden & Co. Foreign Letter Office Phila. Clear strike of red circular handstamp and matching "Pd. H" in circle handstamp with manuscript "($)1.75" rate on folded letter from C. N. Baneker (and other family members) to his son, James Albert Baneker, at Olyphant & Co. in Canton, China, with sender's directive "By Overland Mail, Harnden's Express Jany 29/43" and "Paid to Canton", magenta "Via Falmouth" in another hand, clearly struck "Forwarded through Willmer & Smith's British & American Package Express Office, Liverpool" oval handstamp on back, red "PAID AT LIVERPOOL" framed handstamp and corresponding Liverpool datestamp on back (partly torn away), red manuscript "1/-" prepaid British rate, docketed with June 5, 1843 receipt date
EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE HARNDEN'S EXPRESS LETTER TO CHINA—THIS WAS SENT FROM PHILADELPHIA TO BOSTON FOR THE CUNARD SAILING TO LIVERPOOL, AND FROM THERE BY THE OVERLAND ROUTE TO CHINA.
Harnden carried this letter from Philadelphia to Boston to make the Cunarder Caledonia's departure on February 2, 1843. The ship arrived in Liverpool on February 17 and was forwarded by Willmer & Smith to Canton, China, on the overland mail route.
Postage Paid to Destination by Harnden & Co. of Liverpool. Mostly clear strike of framed handstamp with red "Paid H & Co." in circle handstamp on folded letter datelined New York July 13 and 15, 1847, to Dr. John P. Green, care of Olyphant & Co., Canton, China, two different letter writers, one of whom notes "I wish you would let us know at any rate whether you have recd. the two letters sent by overland mail, as we pay most exorbitantly for their carriage", red Liverpool Paid Jul. 28 and Jul. 29 datestamps, manuscript "1/" rate, "Hong-Kong 18 OC 1847" arrival backstamp, Oct. 19, 1847 receipt docketing, Very Fine, an extremely rare Harnden's Express cover to China
Postage Paid to Destination by Harnden & Co. of Liverpool. Mostly clear strike of framed handstamp with red "Paid H & Co." in shield handstamp on June 28, 1847, folded letter to William G. Saltonstall, care of Baring Brothers in London and Wetmore & Co. in Canton, China, sender's directive "Paid to Canton by Harnden & Co.", red Liverpool Paid Jul. 13 and Jul. 14 datestamps, manuscript "1/10" rate, "Hong-Kong 15 SE 1847" arrival backstamp, blurry strike of red "Forwarded by Wetmore & Co. [Hong Kong?]" oval backstamp, Very Fine, an extremely rare Harnden's Express cover to China, ex Bolton
Forwarded through Gilpin's Exchange Reading Room and Foreign Letter Office, N-York. Mostly readable strike of red oval handstamp on Jan. 11, 1848 folded letter to Franklin Bache Meigs, care of Drinker & Heyl in Hong Kong, China, blue "Philada. Pa. 5 cts Jan. 12" integral-rate circular datestamp and matching "PAID" in oval, red crayon "5" rate, sender's directive "per the Edward Carrington from New York" — the Carrington sailed for Canton on January 15, 1848, this trip was included in a notice of letter bags by Gilpin and Hale — no other markings, slightly toned file fold, otherwise Very Fine, extremely rare use of Gilpin's mail forwarding service to send a letter to China
NAVY DEPARTMENT. Partly clear strike of straightline handstamp on small cover to Dr. Robert T. Maccoun, an assistant surgeon on board the U.S.S. Ohio in "Canton", with Jan. 24, 1848 letter from his sister at school in Lawrenceville N.J., this was sent to the Navy Department for forwarding to Maccoun, the Ohio was part of the Pacific Squadron but is believed to have been sailing off the coast of Mexico at this time, not in China (there is no indication of delivery in China), Very Fine, Maccoun had two sisters who died in 1849 and 1850
U.S. Naval Lyceum. Mostly clear and complete strike, manuscript "Woolwich Me. Mar. 27" postmark, "Paid" and "10" rate on brown cover to John S. Sewall, U.S. Ship Saratoga, East India Squadron, Macau, China, sender's directive "Via Naval Lyceum, N. York", receipt docketing "Recd. pr. 'Mary Adams', Macao, Nov. 7, 51", Very Fine, the U.S. Naval Lyceum was located at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and forwarded mail to naval personnel at no additional charge, ex Walske
Oriental Line Ogden & Haynes Agents. Bold strike of blue double-line oval handstamp on blue folded letter datelined San Francisco, Feb. 1, 1853, from Macondray & Co. to Augustine Heard & Co., Canton, China, sender's directive per ship "Pathfinder" — this vessel was involved in the opium trade conducted by Jardine Metheson & Co. — Extremely Fine, Ogden & Haynes were commission merchants located at the Clay Street wharf, they had a line of China trade ships, examples of the oval marking are extremely rare, ex Polland and Tatham
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Horizontal pair, large margins to slightly in, rich color, tied by blue "Baltimore Md. Nov. 12" (ca. 1852) circular datestamp on black-bordered mourning cover to Mrs. Mary D. Culbertson, Shanghai, China, care of Macondray & Co, San Francisco, edgewear and small tear at top, Fine, sent by mail at 6c rate and then by ship outside the mails to China
Boston to Hong Kong via Calcutta, 1857. Blue folded letter datelined Boston, Mar. 9, 1857, from Theodore Chase to Capt. Robert H. Waters, "Ship 'Eagle Wing'", care of Russell & Co., Hong Kong, China, with sender's directive "care Ashburner & Co., Calcutta", docketing indicates received in Calcutta July 5, 1857, carried outside the mails or inside a transmittal envelope, no postal markings, Very Fine, ex Bolton
Steilacoom City W.T. Jan. 19 (ca. 1858). Mostly clear strike of balloon-style circular datestamp and "Paid 3" in circle handstamp on blue cover addressed to "Captain Rooney, Ship Spray, Care of W. M. Robinet & Co., Hong Kong", directive in a different hand "by Ship from San Francisco"
VERY FINE. AN EXTRAORDINARY AND PROBABLY UNIQUE COVER FROM WASHINGTON TERRITORY TO HONG KONG VIA SAN FRANCISCO—ROBINET & COMPANY Was instrumental in opening taiwan (formosa) TO WESTERN TRADE IN 1856, and captain rooney was PLACED IN CHARGE OF THE HARBOR AT TAKOW.
The Spray made its journey to Hong Kong in early 1855 under the command of Captain Matthew Rooney, an Irish-American with a British passport who had gotten himself into trouble in the Pacific Northwest before leaving for China. After arriving in Hong Kong, Rooney went on to Takow where he assumed charge of the harbor and commanded one of Jardine Matheson & Co.'s opium receiving ships, the Pathfinder. This cover from Washington Territory was sent by mail to San Francisco. Presumably, Robinet & Co. arranged to place it on a ship bound for Hong Kong.
Forwarded by Macondray & Co. San Francisco. Blue strike of oval handstamp in turquoise blue on folded cover to Augustine Heard & Co., Hong Kong, China, with sender's notation "Circular only" indicating printed matter contents, very faint overall toning, Very Fine, extremely rare circular usage carried outside the mails from San Francisco to China, ex Cipolla
New York to Canton, China, 1856. Dec. 31, 1856 dated printed circular announcing the dissolution of Haggerty, Jones & Co, manuscript "Printed Circular", addressed to Augustine Heard & Co. in Canton, China, 4c paid in New York (not indicated), bold "2" cents handstamp credit to Great Britain, red London datestamp (Feb. 3, 1857), pencil "/", docketing on flap, Very Fine, an outstanding and rare example of the 4c newspaper rate to China via British Mail, which applied to unsealed printed circulars as well during this time, carried on the Cunarder Asia and by P & O steamers from Southampton to Alexandria and from Suez to Hong Kong, ex Winter
San Francisco Cal. 16 May (1852). Red circular datestamp with matching "PAID" and "5" handstamps boldly struck on greenish blue folded The San Francisco Prices Current and Shipping List, May 15, 1852 edition published by S. O. Johnson & Co. for Geo. N. Shaw & Co., addressed to Augustine Heard & Co. in Canton, China, datestamp struck over red "Forwarded by Geo. N. Shaw & Co. San Francisco" oval handstamp, printed "Per Steamer Oregon" ship-name directive on masthead of publication, but this was carried by either the clipper ship Invincible or Eclipse bound for Hong Kong, both of which cleared San Francisco on the same day as the Oregon (May 16, 1852)
EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS REPORTED TO BE THE ONLY KNOWN PRINTED CIRCULAR TO CHINA SHOWING THE 5-CENT PRIVATE SHIP RATE, WHICH WAS ALSO THE INLAND RATE FOR PRINTED MATTER CARRIED OVER 3,500 MILES.
The 1843 Postal Laws & Regulations provided correspondents with the option to send mail by private ship, rather than a contract vessel, if that was the fastest route to the destination. In this case, the sender, George N. Shaw & Co., directed the post office to send this on a clipper ship direct to China, rather than a contract steamer bound for Panama (for the British Mail). The 1852 postal regulations also authorized the San Francisco postmaster to send mail by private ship (charged with inland postage) to Hawaii, China and New South Wales. In this case, the printed circular was rated at 5c, applicable to both the inland circular rate for a distance greater than 3,500 miles and the outbound private ship letter rate.
Three ships cleared San Francisco on May 16, 1852: the contract mail steamer Oregon (the printed ship-name on the masthead of this publication), the Invincible and the Eclipse, both clipper ships bound for Hong Kong (Daily Alta California, May 17, 1852).
Ex Cippola.