click images to enlarge

[Overland Via Los Angeles], three line imprint to left of 10c green Nesbitt entire to Massachusetts, San Francisco Cal Jun 28 1859 postmark, a very early use of a printed directive

(MWE Figure 9-9), ex Knapp, Dale Lichtenstein and Walske

[San Francisco, Via Los Angeles Overland], four horse stage illustrated cover, "Boyd" imprint at lower left of cut, used to New York, 10c postage prepaid with 1c (#24) and strip of three 3c dull red, type I (#25) tied by San Francisco Cal Jun 24 1859 postmarks, a spectacular design

ex Haas and Walske

[Overland Mail, Via Los Angeles], train illustrated cover used to Ohio, 10c green (#33) tied by San Francisco Cal Aug 19 1859 postmark, minor closed edge tear at right

ex Kramer and Walske

[Per Overland Mail, Via Los Angeles, In Hope of the (railroad)], train illustrated cover used to Mass. 10c green (#35) tied by San Francisco Cal Sep 23 1859 postmark, all over reverse illustration of "What Cheer House" with vignettes of their facades on Sacramento Street and Leidersdorff Streets, edge at right restored, an iconic accomplishment combining advertising, propaganda and a directive on a single cover

(MWE Figure 9-11), ex Walske

[Overland Mail Stage, Via Los Angeles], framed stage coach illustrated cover used to New Hampshire, 10c green (#35) tied by San Francisco Cal Nov 14 1859 postmark, original letter mentions, "I left (a letter) onboard the ship, did not know till a moment since there was a mail today"

 ex Jessup, Haas, Kramer and Walske

now
$1,500

[Overland Via Los Angeles, US Mail], blue stage coach illustrated cover. "The Star of The West - California" imprint beneath, used to Iowa, 10c green (#35, faulty perfs) with star cancel, matching Downieville Cal Jun 26 1860 postmark, cover edge toning and soiling, PF cert

see Daily Overland Mail (section 10) for same design but with the "Via Los Angeles" text removed used on the Central route after the Southern route was abandoned

 ex Kramer and Walske

[Per Overland Mail Stage, Via Los Angeles], stage coach illustrated design cover, "Geo. B. Hitchcock, Stationer, Sansome St, San Francisco" addressed to a soldier with 2 Regt, US Mounted Rifles at Fort Craig, New Mexico, 3c dull red (#26) tied by San Francisco Oct 19 1860 postmark, forwarded to Stone Wall Mill, Virginia with "Fort Craig N.M" postmark with "8 Novr" manuscript date and manuscript "fwd 3c due" at far left (cheaper total postage than if prepaid for full distance at origin), an exceptional use

(MWE Figure 9-15) ex Risvold and Walske

[Overland via Los Angeles, From E.S. Howell, San Francisco], imprint in blue placed at top and bottom left of cover to Rhode Island, 10c green (#35) tied by San Francisco May 21 1860 postmark, illustrated in "Letters of Gold"

ex Haas, Kramer and Walske

[Overland, via Los Angeles.] blue typeset text on cover to Factoryville, New York, pair 10c green (#35) tied by San Francisco Dec 2 1859 postmark, forwarded to New Orleans with pair 3c dull red (#26) tied by Factoryville NY Jan 2" postmark and manuscript lines across the previous franking

ex Vogel, Kramer and Walske

[Overland via Los Angeles] oval handstamp in red on cover to Maine, bold Camptonville Cal Dec 3 1859 postmark and their syncopated grid cancel on 10c green (#35), only two reported examples, both used from Camptonville

ex Kramer and Walske

[OVERLAND] San Francisco type 1 handstamp (dropped "R") applied in transit on cover to Mass, Don Pedro's Bar Cal Oct 4 (185) manuscript postmark, prepaid 10c with 1c blue (#24) and three copies 3c dull red (#26), and exceptionally bold strike and the earliest reported example of the type 1 handstamp (in use October 1859 until April 1860)

ex Polland, Haas, Conland, Walske

#3265
 
price $7,500

sold
$6,000

[OVERLAND], San Francisco type 1 handstamp on cover from Hawaii to Pennsylvania, Hawaii 5c Blue (#8) tied with U.S. 12 Black (#17) by red Honolulu Oct 3 postmark and San Francisco Oct 24 1859 postmark, both stamps with additional manuscript cancels, cover edge worn and minor faults, PF cert, six known Overland covers with this combination

Carried on the bark Yankee, which departed Honolulu on 3 Oct 1859, arrived in San Francisco on 21 Oct 21. Arrival was one day late for the regular twice-monthly sailing for Panama and was marked with the Overland handstamp to alternate routing over the Butterfield route. The San Francisco Oct. 24 postmark date corresponds with the regular Monday stagecoach departure.

ex Kramer

[OVERLAND] San Francisco type 1 handstamp on cover to France, without origin postmark (but circa 9 December 1859), their distinctive red  manuscript "Paid 15" rate, red New York Jan 3 (1860) exchange datestamp,  Havre French entry and 1860 Paris transit backstamps

ex Noel and Walske

sold
$1,300

[OVERLAND] San Francisco type 1 handstamp on Rumsey correspondence cover from Victoria, Vancouver Island to Ingersoll, Canada, "Victoria Post Office" black oval frank indicating Colonial postage paid, San Francisco Dec 20 1859 postmark, boxed "15" (cents) due rate handstamp, and "U.STATES" exchange handstamp, Ingersoll January 27 1860 arrival backstamp, cover minor stray discoloration spots

ex Dale Lichtenstein and Walske

[OVERLAND] San Francisco type  2 handstamp (dropped "LAND” in "OVERLAND" in use September 1860 until October 1860, fewer than 10 examples reported) on cover front from Victoria, Vancouver Island to Canada,  prepaid 15c rate with 10c green (#35) and 5c brick red (#27) "Victoria Post Office" coat of arms oval frank indicating Colonial postage paid, San Francisco Sep 27 1860 postmark, the earliest known use of the type 2 handstamp

ex Dale-Lichtenstein and Walske

[OVERLAND] San Francisco type  2 handstamp on cover to Locarno, Switzerland, prepaid 35c with strip 10c green (#35) and single 5c brick red (#27) tied by San Francisco Sep 24 1860 postmarks, carried via PCM with red New York Oct 20 exchange backstamp, boxed "Aachen Franco" and multiple backstamps (see reverse image here), an outstanding use

(MWE Figure 9-18), ex Walske

[OVERLAND] San Francisco type  2 handstamp on folded letter on Boston, prepaid with pair 5c brown, type II (#30A) by San Francisco Oct 26 1860 postmark, an exceptional franking with a rare handstamp

ex Knapp, Grunin, Kramer and Walske

now
$2,700

[OVERLAND] Sacramento Post Office's straight line handstamp on cover to Meadville, Pennsylvania, 10c green (#33) tied by Sacramento Oct 10 1859 postmark, six reported examples, minor cover tears, PF cert

(MWE Figure 9-13)ex Straley and Walske

[OVERLAND] Weaverville Post Office's straight line handstamp on 10c green Nesbitt entire to Manchester, Massachusetts, two reported examples, reduced at right into the indicia

ex Perlman and Walske
 

#4118
 
sold  $6,000

[Overland Via Visalia, Fort Tejon, Los Angeles, Fort Yuma, El Paso & Fort Smith] manuscript directive that lists six key points on the Southern route on cover to Gaysville, Vermont, 10c green (#35) tied by Auburn cal Feb 1 1860 postmark and manuscript, the endorsement was possibly applied to ensure the letter went first from Auburn to Visalia to connect with the Southern route at that point rather than San Francisco

ex Jessup, Haas, Beals, Kramer and Walske

#3262
 
price $7,500

now
$6,000

[Combination Central Route & Butterfield Route Use] December 1859 use from Carson City with "Via California & Southern Overland" directive on entire to Ohio, convenience use of Langton's Pioneer Express franked 10c Green Nesbitt entire, manuscript "Carson City Dec 29th" postmark (Utah Territory at this date), cover edges cleaned and pressed crease

This cover was carried westbound from Carson City on the Central Route (Third Chorpenning Contract) via Placerville to San Francisco and then on Butterfield Southern Overland Route. This is the only example I can recall that was clearly carried on both overland contract routes.

ex Kramer

#4097
 
sold
$500

[Via Southern Overland Mail] manuscript postmaster's endorsement on cover free franked "J.B. Whitecount, P.M., Foster's Bar" to New Hampshire, mostly clear Foster's Bar Cal Feb 16 postmark

ex Kramer and Walske

#4129
 
price $5,000

now
$4,000

[Via Texas] manuscript directive on cover to New York, manuscript Socorro, New Mexico Territory Nov 7 (1860)  origin postmark, matching pen cancel on 3c dull red (#26), cover reduced at right, very fine use

ex Birkinbine, Kramer and Walske

#4105
 
sold
 $750

[Via over Land Mail Rout] manuscript directive on cover to Columbus, Ohio, Breckinridge Texas August 25 1859 manuscript postmark ties 3c dull red (#25), as the route bifurcated at Fort Smith, the sender directed that it was to be sent via St. Louis rather than Memphis for faster transmission to Columbus, cover faults and worn at top but rare endorsement from Texas

ex Kramer and Walske

#4107
 
sold
$1,250

[Via Overland Mail] manuscript directive on cover to Fayetteville, Arkansas, blue San Antonio Tex Oct 1 (1859) postmark tying 3c dull red (#26), this use from Texas would have gone to Ft Smith and north about 60 miles to Fayetteville, very fine

ex Kramer and Walske

#4099
 
price $2,000

now
$1,500

[Overland Route via S. louis & El Paso Mail] manuscript directive on westbound cover to Benicia, California, 10c green (#32) tied by bold Shakopee, Minnesota Territory Apr 5 1859 postmark, cover light but large stain at top, no flap

ex Risvold, Kramer and Walske

#4111
 
price $2,000

now
$1,500

[Fort Arbuckle via Ft Smith, Arks] manuscript military notation on a 3c Nesbitt entire  originally addressed to Col. E(dmund) B. Alexander (who had established Fort Bliss, Texas in 1854 and was on leave in 1859) in Philadelphia, note on reverse indicates originated at Camp Cobb on 5 November 1859  (Camp Cobb was established on 1 October 1859 near the Wichita Indian Agency) notes look like the military was noting the locations of Edmund's brothers, it entered the mails with Fort Arbuckle Ark Nov 8 postmark, other notations on front include names of the two brothers and place names including Fort Chadbourne, Texas, Camp Colorado (Texas) and Fort Cobb, unusual and enigmatic but rare postmark from Chickasaw Nation

ex Kramer and Walske

#4109
 
price $4,500

now
$4,000

[Via Los Angeles Overland Mail] manuscript directive on cover to Lowell, Mass, brown cameo embossed corner card of "Freeman & Co. Atlantic States Express" but used from Marysville with large blue oval "Freeman & Co Marysville Oct 6" datestamp on reverse, entered the mails with 10c green (#35) tied by blue grid cancel, matching Marysville Oct 7 postmark to left, 1859 docket on front includes, "Alonzo ... spent one day with Col. John C. Freemont", very fine and handsome

ex Haas, Kramer and Walske

#4131
 
sold
$750

[Overland] manuscript directive on double rate cover to Senator Redman in Augusta, Maine, two copies 10c green (#35) tied by bold Sacramento City Cal Feb 11 1861 postmarks, a very late use of the Southern route before it was moved north (the last eastbound coach left on 1 April 1861 and the last westbound coach left St. Louis on 21 March 1861)

ex Forster, Kramer and Walske

#4128
 
sold
$300

[Via Overland St. Louis ] manuscript directive on cover to Philadelphia, 3c dull red (#26) tied by Fayetteville, Ark Oct 31 (1860) postmark, the October 12 stagecoach from San Francisco passed through Fayetteville on October 31, arrived in St. Louis around November 3 and reached Philadelphia on November 6, cover docketed as received that on that date

ex Kramer and Walske

#4122
 
sold
$450

[(via Memphis)] Armstrong Academy (Choctaw Nation) June 11 1860 manuscript postmark on 3c red Nesbitt entire addressed to Rev. Folsom, Washington, DC, without a route directive but it was carried via Fort Smith and then on the Memphis branch of the Butterfield route to Memphis, a rare origin marking and use, very fine

ex Kramer and Walske

#4116
 
sold
$150

[By Overland Mail] manuscript directive on cover to France,  San Francisco Cal Dec 9 1859 Paid postmark and red crayon "15" rate, red New York Jan 8 exchange, French entry and transit backstamps

ex Noel and Walske

#4119
 
sold
$200

[Pr Overland Mail Via Los Angeles] manuscript directive on unpaid folded letter to France, San Francisco Cal Mar 16 1860 postmark and boxed "15" due rate, black New York Apr 11 exchange, French entry, "8" decimes due handstamp, Paris transit and Reims arrival backstamps

ex Noel and Walske

#4120
 
sold
$350

[Malle Overland Via Los Angeles] manuscript directive in French on folded letter from France to San Francisco, triple rate prepaid with three copies 1859 issue 80c, red New York Paid 45 exchange datestamp of April 19 (1860), unusual to see this directive on such mail

(MWE Figure 9-16) ex Noel and Walske