California Mails and Western Expresses, Carriers, Locals and Independent Mails continued...

VERY FINE AND HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT COVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA MAILS. THIS IS ONE OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE MANUSCRIPT "PANAMA & SAN FRANCISCO" ROUTE AGENT'S MARKING.

This cover was carried by PMSS Panama on May 1, 1850, connecting with USMSS Georgia at Chagres. This was the only trip handled by route agent R. J. Laurensen, who applied the manuscript postmark in the absence of a datestamping device. Only two examples of this manuscript marking are reported.

Ex Knapp (Image)

VERY FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED COVERS FRANKED BY FREMONT AND HANDSTAMPED WITH THE "PANAMA" STRAIGHTLINE AT THE UNITED STATES POSTAL AGENCY IN PANAMA.

John C. Fremont was the most famous of early explorers of the American West. When gold was discovered on his property, Fremont became a wealthy man, but he lost much of his fortune in subsequent failed business deals. He was politically well-connected and married to Jessie Benton, the beautiful and popular daughter of Senator Thomas Benton of Missouri, whose expansionist policies helped Fremont's rising star. In 1850 Fremont became a U.S. Senator from California and proponent of the anti-slavery Republican Party. He ran as their presidential candidate in the 1856 campaign, but lost to James Buchanan. In later life Fremont's stature declined, and it was only through the publication of books about his early years of exploration that the "Pathfinder of the West" remained financially solvent. The addressee, Charles F. Mayer, was a member of the Konig family and principal in the Baltimore firm of Mayer & Konig, a prominent importer and dealer in fancy goods.

This cover was handstamped "Panama" by the U.S. postal agent in Panama, and it was carried by steamship from the east coast of the Isthmus of Panama to New York City. At New York, the "Steam Ship 30 Cts" was applied to indicate postage due, but Fremont's senatorial free frank was soon recognized, and the letter was properly marked "Free" (blue ink is typical of New York in this period). There is no date on the cover, but it was probably mailed in 1850.

Ex Robertson. A similar cover (except bearing the "Steam/Ship" marking in two lines) was offered in our 1996 Rarities of the World sale and realized $7,500 hammer. (Image)