Chorpenning Route, Utah via San Francisco to Hawaii. 6c Green on Buff Nesbitt entire (U10) cancelled by blue "Salt Lake City Utah T. Jan. 1" (1856) circular datestamp, addressed to "Orson K. Whitney, c/o John G. Caine, Honolulu, Sandwich Islands", 1856 docketing at left, missing top flap, minor edgewear and toning

VERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF MAIL SENT TO HAWAII VIA THE CHORPENNING ROUTE.

As discussed in an article in Chronicle No. 215 by Floyd Risvold and Richard Frajola, in 1851 Absalom Woodward and George Chorpenning were awarded the contract for monthly service between California and Salt Lake City. The winter snows made passage virtually impossible, and the routes were eventually changed depending on the season. After July 1854 the route was changed, with Salt Lake City on one end and San Diego on the other and incorporating the Old Spanish Trail, with a branch line service between Carson Valley (Genoa) and Placerville.

This cover was sent by John Whitney to Orson Whitney. Both were related to Henry Whitney, the first postmaster in Hawaii and the person responsible for the famous Missionaries.

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables