Auction # 58 - Winter 2014 Auction

1850 (Nov. 8) Sanquhar, Scotland to San Francisco Cal. Folded letter with cds at upper right and red manuscript. "Paid 2/5½" rating of 2s5½d (59¢), Liverpool (11.9) transit backstamp, carried by Cunard Line Niagara departing Nov. 9th to New York arriving Nov. 22nd, then Ohio to Havana and Pacific to Chagres, and finally on PMSS Tennessee from Panama City to San Francisco, red "Paid" handstamp indicating full prepayment, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

The 59¢ rate (2s 5½d) rate from the west coast of the United States comprised of 40¢ across the country to New York and then 19¢ transatlantic and British fees. This very expensive and scarce rate was effective only August 1850 until July 1851.