The Allan Goldberg Collection of United States Postal History continued...

VERY FINE. A CHOICE 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE COVER WITH ONE OF THE SCARCEST OF THE VARIOUS "VIA NICARAGUA" HANDSTAMPS.

Based on the New York June 24 arrival date, this cover was carried on the Vanderbilt Line's Northern Light, which departed San Juan del Norte on June 16, 1853. It was carried between San Francisco and San Juan del Sur on the Vanderbilt Line's Brother Jonathan, which left San Francisco on June 1, 1853. (Image)

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE AND ATTRACTIVE FRANKING FOR THE 29-CENT RATE FROM CALIFORNIA TO ENGLAND. ONE OF TWO SUCH COVERS REPORTED WITH THE "VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS" HANDSTAMP.

Interestingly, the New York exchange office did not apply a credit or transit marking to this cover, but the stamps were cancelled on arrival by the New York 7-bar grid, and it was treated as fully prepaid by the British post office.

Ex Piller (Image)

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE USE OF THE 1851 12-CENT BISECT IN COMBINATION WITH THE "VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS" HANDSTAMP AND NEW YORK SHIP-LETTER DATESTAMP. A FASCINATING COVER SHOWING CORRECTED RATING AS AN UNPAID SHIP LETTER.

During the period from 1853 to April 1855, bisected 12c 1851 stamps were used on mail from San Francisco to prepay the 6c over-3,000 miles rate to the East Coast. Upon arrival in New York, the bisects were either accepted or rejected. In this case, the New York office did not accept the bisect, but incorrectly applied the 6c due marking for a letter received from a non-contract vessel addressed to the port of arrival. This was then corrected by applying the New York "Ship" datestamp and 7c rate for a non-contract ship letter to another post office (5c unpaid rate plus 2c ship fee).

Ex Grunin (Image)