3c Dull Red, Type II (11A). Vertical pair, large margins to slightly in, bottom stamp crease, top stamp crease ending in a tear, tied by grid cancels with "Sonora Cal. Nov. 28" (1853) circular datestamp, with red "STEAMER/WINFIELD SCOTT." two-line handstamp clearly struck on light buff cover to Kalamazoo Mich., minor edgewear and small toned spot at top

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF SEVEN COVERS KNOWN 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. Her first trip as a Pacific Mail Steamship Co. contract vessel was on August 16, 1853. On December 1, 1853, she left San Francisco for Panama, but was stranded off Anacapa Island in the Santa Barbara Channel and lost. The mails, passengers and cargo were saved, and the recovered mail was transferred to the PMSS California, which left San Francisco on December 7 and arrived in Panama on December 24. The USMSC Illinois carried the mail from Aspinwall to New York (depart December 26, arrive January 5, 1854).

Our Levi records contain nine examples of the two-line handstamp, including seven recovered from the December 1 wreck. This example with 1851 Issue stamps is particularly desirable as several of the other recorded covers are stampless.

Ex Simmons

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