Sale 1326 — 2024 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Thursday, 27 June, 2024
Category — Via Nicaragua Route: Select Items from the Gordon Eubanks Collection
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Large margins to just in, cancelled by bold grid on gray folded printed market report to Boston dated "San Francisco May 31, 1853" with summary of passengers arriving from January 1 to May 30, 1853, and market summary by Geo. N. Shaw & Co., clear strike of blue "VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS" italicized two-line handstamp (Type 1), sender's route directive "Via Nicaragua" at top, carried on the Vanderbilt Brother Jonathan, departing San Francisco June 1, 1853
VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT CIRCULAR RATE SENT FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO BOSTON WITH THE ITALICIZED "VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS" MARKING.
Ex Knapp, Dr. Polland, Haas and Grunin. With 1987 P.F. certificate.
3c Dull Red, Ty. II, Diagonal Half Used as 1c (11Ad). Bottom right diagonal half, large margins to just in at bottom, tied across the cut by bold strike of New York City grid cancel on blue folded printed market report to Philadelphia dated "San Francisco May 31, 1853" with summary of passengers arriving from January 1 to May 30, 1853, and market summary by Geo. N. Shaw & Co., clear strike of blue "VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS" italicized two-line handstamp (Type 1), sender's route directive "via Nicaragua", carried on the Vanderbilt Brother Jonathan, departing San Francisco June 1, 1853, file folds well away from bisect, some minor splitting along folds
VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE BISECTED USE OF THE 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE, PAYING THE ONE-CENT CIRCULAR RATE FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO PHILADELPHIA, WITH THE RARE "VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS" BLUE ITALICIZED HANDSTAMP.
The census of 3c 1851 bisects, published by David Beals in Chronicle 76 and updated by Stanley Piller, contains a total of 16 covers. Of these, one is the strip of four bisects used from Milton, Massachusetts, seven were bisected for use as 1c stamps to pay part of the 10c transcontinental rate, and eight were bisected to pay the 1c circular rate. Of the eight used to pay the 1c circular rate, only two originated on the West Coast. This circular is dated before the Post Office Department instructed postmasters to reject fractions of stamps as payment of postage in September 1853.
Illustrated and described in the Chase 3c book (1942 edition) on pp. 217-218. Illustrated in Letters of Gold (p. 111). Illustrated in Chronicle 40. Ex Dr. Chase, Brown, Emerson, Wiltsee, Dr. Polland, Ishikawa, Hackmey and Gross. With 1975 P.F. certificate.
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Horizontal pair, Positions 73-74L3, large margins to just in, deep rich color, tied by "New-York Sep. 9" circular datestamp on buff cover to South Boston, perfect strike of blue "VIA NICARAGUA./AHEAD OF THE MAILS./LELAND" octagonal handstamp (Type 5)
EXTREMELY FINE. A PHENOMENAL EXAMPLE OF THE "VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS/LELAND" MARKING. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN STRUCK IN BLUE, AND WE DOUBT WHETHER A FINER STRIKE EXISTS.
There is no year date on this cover. It was probably mailed in 1853 or 1854. The New York September 9 datestamp corresponds with the arrival of the Vanderbilt line steamer from San Juan del Norte on September 9 in 1853 or on September 8 in 1854—in both years it was the Star of the West. On the Pacific side, the Sierra Nevada departed San Francisco on August 16, 1853, and in 1854 the Cortes departed on the same day, August 16.
Illustrated in Western Express, March 2017, p. 38. Ex Mason, Wiltsee and Haas. With 1981 P.F. certificate.
12c Black, Diagonal Half Used as 6c (17a). Top right diagonal half with large margins, tied all around by "New-York Ship Jul. 25" circular datestamp on blue linen-lined envelope to Baltimore, sender's route directive "Via Nicaragua" and perfectly clear strike of blue "VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS" two-line framed handstamp (Type 6), departing San Francisco Jul. 1, 1853 on the Sierra Nevada to San Juan del Sur, carried overland to San Juan del Norte where put on the Northern Light, departing Jul. 16 and arriving New York Jul. 25, immaculate condition
EXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT BISECTED USE OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE WITH A REMARKABLY CLEAR STRIKE OF THE "VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS" LETTER BAG OPERATOR HANDSTAMP.
This wonderful cover was featured on the front cover of the sale catalogue for the 1972 H. R. Harmer sale of Frederick R. Mayer's United States collection, where it realized $5,000 hammer.
Illustrated in Western Express, March 2017, p. 40. Ex Mayer and Jarrett. With 1971 and 2011 P.F. certificates.
12c Black, Diagonal Half Used as 6c (17a). Top left diagonal half, tied across the cut by clear strike of "New-York Ship 7 Oct. 10" 7c integral-rate circular datestamp on blue folded letter datelined "San Francisco Sep. 15, 1853" to Boston, sender's route directive "Via Nicaragua", stamp with very faint crease from vertical file fold
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE BISECTED USE OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE, WHICH WAS NOT ACCEPTED AS PREPAYMENT.
Accompanied by typed and signed note from Stanley B. Ashbrook, who notes that the letter was sent by the Vanderbilt Cortes from San Francisco on Friday, Sep. 16, 1853. It was then transported across Nicaragua and carried out of the regular mails to New York on the Star of the West, which arrived in New York late in the afternoon of Oct. 9. The mails were deposited in the N.Y. post office on Oct. 10, where the bisect was not recognized as valid postage due to a recent ruling of the Postmaster General. It was therefore rated and marked as an unpaid ship letter (7c due).
Ex "J & J". With 1989 Calves and 1991 P.F. certificates. Accompanied by 1943 note from Stanley B. Ashbrook.
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Horizontal pair, ample margins to just touching, tied by bold "STEAM/SHIP" two-line handstamp of New York City, well-struck blue "Stmr. Sierra Nevada/Via Nicaragua/Advance of the Mails" in oval (Type 10) on blue 1854 folded letter to New York, departing San Francisco Dec. 9 on the Sierra Nevada and then on the Star of the West which arrived New York Jan. 1, 1855, vertical file fold affects left stamp, barely noticeable and otherwise Very Fine example of this scarce "Via Nicaragua" marking, ex Dr. Chase, Knapp and Dr. Robertson, with 2007 P.F. certificate
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Horizontal pair, large margins to just in, tied by "New-York Oct. 27" circular datestamp on buff cover to Lynchburg Va., perfect strike of "VIA NICARAGUA/IN ADVANCE OF THE MAILS" oval handstamp (Type 12), sender's directive "pr Steamer Pacific via Nicaragua" — carried on the Vanderbilt Pacific, departing San Francisco Oct. 1, 1853 and arriving San Juan del Sur Oct. 14, carried overland and departing Nicaragua Oct. 17 on the Northern Light, arriving New York Oct. 27 — left stamp small scuff
VERY FINE. A REMARKABLE STRIKE OF THE RARE "VIA NICARAGUA IN ADVANCE OF THE MAILS" OVAL HANDSTAMP. VERY FEW OF THIS STYLE ARE KNOWN. THE QUALITY OF THIS STRIKE IS TRULY REMARKABLE.
Illustrated in Letters of Gold (p. 93) and Chronicle (No. 220, p. 319). Illustrated in Western Express, March 2017, p. 44. Ex Jessup, Polland, Oakley, Salzer and Jarrett.
12c Black (17). Horizontal pair, used with horizontal pair of 1c Blue, Ty. IV (9) and single of 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), large margins to just in, cancelled or tied by red "19" credit handstamps on gray folded letter datelined "San Francisco Octr. 24th 1854" to London, England, light strike of "Via Nicaragua/In Advance of the Mails/Sullivan" oval handstamp (Type 13) struck in red, red "Paid 27 NO 1854" London circular datestamp, light vertical file fold affects right 1c stamp
VERY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY REPORTED COVER WITH A COMPLETE "SET" OF THE 1851 ISSUE SENT VIA NICARAGUA FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO ENGLAND. A TRULY REMARKABLE USE.
The 10c was issued in 1855 and the 5c was issued in 1856, so the three denominations on this cover were the only ones available when it was sent. It was given to the letter bag operator Sullivan, who applied the faint "Via Nicaragua" marking. It left San Francisco on the Vanderbilt Sierra Nevada, departing Oct. 24, 1854, and arriving San Juan del Sur Nov. 6. It was then carried to the east coast of Nicaragua where it was put on the Northern Light, departing San Juan del Norte Nov. 7 and arriving New York Nov. 14. The letter entered the mails at the New York foreign exchange office where the red "19" credit handstamp was used to cancel the stamps; it did not receive a circular datestamp or standard cancels. The franking pays the 24c rate plus 5c extra for a letter originating on the West Coast. It departed New York Nov. 15 on the Cunarder Arabia, arriving in London Nov. 27.
Ex Hubbard, Grunin and Walske. With 1960 P.F. certificate.
12c Black (17). Horizontal pair, large margins to just in at bottom, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), all stamps tied by red "New York Am. Packet Aug. 12" (1854) circular datestamp with third strike at bottom right, clear strike of "Stmr. Sierra Nevada/Via Nicaragua/Advance of the Mails" oval handstamp (Type 10) on buff cover to Lyon, France, red Calais arrival datestamp also ties 12c pair, "8" decimes due handstamp ties 3c stamp, receiving backstamps, negligible edgewear and right 12c stamp with corner crease from bend in the cover
VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING USE OF 12-CENT AND 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE STAMPS WITH THE "STMR. SIERRA NEVADA/VIA NICARAGUA/ADVANCE OF THE MAILS" HANDSTAMP ON A COVER FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO FRANCE.
The rate from the U.S. to France via Great Britain under the 1848 treaty was 16c for American Packet plus 5c inland. If coming from the West Coast, an additional 5c surcharge was added, for a total of 26c. This 27c franking overpays the rate by 1c. It was carried on the Vanderbilt Sierra Nevada, leaving San Francisco Jul. 15 and arriving San Juan del Sur Jul. 27. It was then carried by the Vanderbilt Star of the West, leaving San Juan del Norte Jul. 29 and arriving New York Aug. 7. Carriage from New York was via the Ocean Line Hermann on Aug. 12, arriving Southampton on Aug. 26. This is one of only a handful of "Via Nicaragua" covers to Europe and the only recorded example to France.
Ex Piller and Walske.
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Positions 58-60L3, horizontal strip of three, huge margins to barely in including parts of three adjoining stamps at top, bright shade, used on 3c Red on Buff Nesbitt entire (U10) with Pacific Express Co. horse-and-rider printed frank, manuscript "LR" initials of Levi Robie, to Barnard Vt., blue "Pacific Express Co. Auburn Jan. 4" oval datestamp applied at origin, lightly struck "Pacific Express Co. Sacramento Jan. 19" (1856) blue oval datestamp applied in transit, stamps tied by "New-York Feb. 13" circular datestamps, left stamp small faults, cover with minor scuffs
VERY FINE. AN IMPORTANT AND SPECTACULAR COVER, CARRIED BY THE PACIFIC EXPRESS COMPANY WITHIN CALIFORNIA, THEN BY THE VANDERBILT LINE (OUTSIDE THE MAILS) TO NEW YORK CITY, WHERE IT ENTERED THE REGULAR MAILS FOR FINAL DELIVERY TO VERMONT. TRANSCONTINENTAL COVERS ACTUALLY CARRIED BY EXPRESS ARE EXCEEDINGLY RARE.
The Pacific Express Company was formed on March 2, 1855, by former employees of Adams & Company, the huge express and banking concern that went bankrupt in February 1855. Pacific Express operated until sometime in 1857, carrying mail between points in California and also through connections to the East Coast.
This cover was received by the Pacific Express office in Auburn on Jan. 4, 1856. It was carried by express about 35 miles south to the office at Sacramento, where it was datestamped again on Jan. 19. The New York Feb. 13 postmark date coincides with the Feb. 13, 1856, arrival date of the Northern Light, which departed San Juan del Norte on Feb. 5. The trip from San Francisco to San Juan del Sur was probably on the Sierra Nevada, but no specific departure and arrival dates are listed in the Wierenga tables. Both ships carried mail via the Nicaragua route. Allowing for the typical 12-day transit between San Francisco and Nicaragua, as well as the crossing to the Atlantic side, the San Francisco departure of the Sierra Nevada was probably on or about Jan. 20, which fits with the Pacific Express Co. Sacramento Jan. 19 date.
We wish to emphasize the difference between an express cover to the East Coast that entered the regular mails in California (usually carried by a contract steamer via Panama) and one that was actually carried outside the mails through an express company. They are entirely different from a postal history perspective, and covers carried outside the mails are far rarer.
This cover was carried across Nicaragua during the period in which William Walker was engaged in taking control of the country. The completion of the Panama Railway, the rate wars between competing lines and the country's political instability eventually led to the decline of the Nicaragua route.
Ex Dr. Chase, Knapp, Barkhausen, Hackmey and Gross. With 2005 P.F. certificate.
3c Dull Red, Ty. I (11). Large margins to clear including top sheet margin, tied by "Steamship" in circle handstamp (applied at New Orleans) on blue cover to Mr. Appleton Oaksmith in New York City, originating in Nicaragua with clear strike of "Wines & Co.'s Express" straightline handstamp (Type 18) on bottom flap, clearly struck "Republica de Nicaragua, Admon de Correos de Granada" double-oval handstamp (Type 20)—carried on the Nicaragua Line (Morgan/Garrison) Daniel Webster, departing San Juan del Norte July 31, 1856, arriving New Orleans August 12— "New Orleans La. Aug. 12" (1856) circular datestamp where entered the mails, treated as a steamship letter and thus marked with pencil "Due 7" to make up the 10c rate, bottom flap opened for display
A FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF MAIL SENT FROM A MEMBER OF WILLIAM WALKER'S FILIBUSTERING CAMPAIGN IN NICARAGUA AND CARRIED BY G. H. WINES EXPRESS.
G. H. Wines & Co.'s Express, founded in 1855, provided service from San Francisco to Sacramento, where they connected with Rhodes & Whitney's Express to serve the mines. The company also became involved with the Accessory Transit Company's steamship operation (the Vanderbilt Line) to provide coast-to-coast service via Nicaragua. Their agent, J. A. Ruggles, was appointed postmaster of Nicaragua after William Walker became president of Nicaragua in 1856, following his invasion of that country. Walker's private residence was located in the Wines Express office in Granada (El Nicaraguense, May 31, 1856). After Walker's defeat by allied Central American and British forces, the company was disbanded in 1857.
Appleton Oaksmith, the addressee, was a filibustering agent from North Carolina. He is described in one biography as "a sea captain, writer, munitions supplier, soldier of fortune, slave trader, politician, blockade runner, entrepreneur, railroad speculator, and some said, a pirate." He unsuccessfully attempted a shipping venture in 1855, in which his ship was seized near Mobile, Alabama, apparently while carrying arms to Cuba and Nicaragua. In 1861, Oaksmith was arrested, imprisoned and convicted of slave trading. He was jailed in Boston but escaped from prison in 1862 with the help of friends who bribed the guards.
Illustrated in Western Express, March 2017, p. 46 and p. 48.
Wines & Co.'s Express. Fully readable strike of straightline handstamp (Type 18) and clearly struck "Republica de Nicaragua, Admon de Correos de Granada" double-oval handstamp (Type 20) on circa 1856 blue folded cover to Christian Russ, in care of Adolphus Russ, San Francisco, edges slightly age bleached, reinforced along folds with hinges
A FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF MAIL SENT FROM A MEMBER OF WILLIAM WALKER'S FILIBUSTERING CAMPAIGN IN NICARAGUA AND CARRIED BY G. H. WINES EXPRESS.
G. H. Wines & Co.'s Express, founded in 1855, provided service from San Francisco to Sacramento, where they connected with Rhodes & Whitney's Express to serve the mines. The company also became involved with the Accessory Transit Company's steamship operation (the Vanderbilt Line) to provide coast-to-coast service via Nicaragua. Their agent, J. A. Ruggles, was appointed postmaster of Nicaragua after William Walker became president of Nicaragua in 1856, following his invasion of that country. Walker's private residence was located in the Wines Express office in Granada (El Nicaraguense, May 31, 1856). After Walker's defeat by allied Central American and British forces, the company was disbanded in 1857.
The addressee, Charles Christian Russ, was born in Saxony, Germany, in 1795 and died in San Francisco in June 1857. His son, Adolphus Gustave Russ, was also born in Germany and succeeded his father in business, becoming one of the wealthiest citizens of San Francisco (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/biographies/r/russ-adolphus.txt). This letter might have been sent by a friend or member of the family, who was accompanying Walker on his expedition to Nicaragua.
Very few examples of the Wines & Co. express markings are known on mail from Nicaragua. This is one of three reported from one of Walker's men, and the only one addressed to San Francisco.
Illustrated in Western Express, March 2017, p. 46 and p. 47. Ex Berthold, Dale-Lichtenstein, Walske and "New Helvetia".
G. H. Wines & Co.'s California Express. Printed frank with elaborate eagle and shield design (Haller FW15) on 10c Green on buff entire (U18) to Boston, light strike of red "Freeman & Co's Express San Francisco" oval handstamp to left of embossed stamp, which is cancelled by bold strike of "STEAM/SHIP" handstamp applied at New York, light strike of "Reply by Freeman & Cos. Express" two-line backstamp, some slight wear
VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING WESTERN EXPRESS COVER WITH THE RARE WINES & COMPANY'S PRINTED FRANK USING A PATRIOTIC MOTIF.
Most examples of this entire we have encountered were used within California and were charged the 3c postage rate. One is known in blue, to Mexico. Another in black is known to Rhode Island used from San Francisco, but it does not have the Freeman & Cos. marking. This cover is not dated, but the New York "STEAM/SHIP" marking and Wines express frank indicate it was probably carried via Nicaragua.
Ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Horizontal pair, large margins to barely into frameline, slightly oxidized, manuscript cancels presumably applied by express office, paying required 6c postage on lady's small embossed cover to Mrs. Buchanan Hall, Hall & Huggins, Stockton Cal., partly clear strike of "VIA NICARAGUA IN ADVANCE OF THE MAIL" oval handstamp (Type 11) presumably applied by Vanderbilt Line's New York office, partly clear strike of "Adams & Co. San Francisco Apr. 16" large blue double-circle datestamp, "RH" embossed seal on flap
VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE EAST-TO-WEST ADAMS & COMPANY EXPRESS COVER CARRIED OUTSIDE OF THE MAILS. THE VANDERBILT "VIA NICARAGUA" OVAL MARKING ON WESTBOUND LETTERS IS EXTREMELY RARE.
Although handled entirely outside the government mails, this cover was prepaid 6c by the sender in New York City, as required by law, effective January 13, 1854. It was carried from New York to San Juan del Norte by the Vanderbilt Line's Star of the West (depart March 20, arrive March 30), then by the Vanderbilt Cortes from San Juan del Sur to San Francisco (depart April 2, arrive April 16). At San Francisco, Adams & Co. datestamped the cover and carried it to Stockton on their regular express route.
Illustrated in Western Express, March 2017, p. 43. Ex Haas, Walske and "New Helvetia".
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Two, large margins to in at top, uncancelled and used on blue folded letter datelined "San Francisco 1st Sep. 1854" to Linlithgow, Scotland, clear strike of "Independent Line/Ahead of the Mails/Uncle Sam/and North Star/Via. Panama." oval handstamp, manuscript "1/-" due marking, vertical file fold just misses stamps
VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE VANDERBILT "INDEPENDENT LINE/AHEAD OF THE MAILS/UNCLE SAM/AND NORTH STAR/VIA PANAMA" HANDSTAMP.
This Independent Line was created by Cornelius Vanderbilt to run between California and New York via Panama, in opposition to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. It ran from August 17, 1853, thru September 1, 1854. His handstamps typically boasted that these sailings would be "Ahead of the Mails", implying faster delivery to the opposite coast. The Uncle Sam departed San Francisco Sep. 1, 1854, and arrived in Panama City Sep. 15. The uncancelled stamps and absence of U.S. postal markings indicate this letter probably never entered the U.S. mails. It was most likely turned over to the British post office in Panama City before crossing the isthmus. If carried by British Royal Packet, it would have been sent by ship to St. Thomas and then on to Southampton. The "1/" shilling due marking confirms it entered the British post office, but there are no other arrival markings.