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Transatlantic mail between France and the USA and vice versa ...di più
Transatlantic mail between France and the USA and vice versa -
Collins line between 1 September 1851 - 31 December 1856; 1853 (Dec
1): Entire letter from San Francisco to Bordeaux, sent first with
the 'Winfield Scott' which wrecked on Anacapa Island, sent from New
York with the 'Atlantic' of the Collins line, endorsed "p. Winfield
Scott via New York", struck on obverse by "SAN FRANCISCO CAL."
despatch cds and "PAID 26" handstamp in the same black ink as well
as clear two-line "STEAMER / WINFIELD SCOTT" ship purser handstamp,
"NEW YORK Am PACKET / FEB 4" transit cds and French "ÉTATS-UNIS
PAQ. AM. / PARIS" entry cds, all three in red. Reverse with London
and PARIS transit as well as BORDEAUX arrival (Feb 19). There are
less then ten covers known with this purser handstamp, this strike
being one of the best and the only one going abroad with the
'Atlantic' whose voyage lasted from February 4-16, 1854 between New
York and Liverpool. Note: The 'Winfield Scott' was 225-foot steam
paddlewheeler was named for the commanding general of the U. S.
Army, Mexican War hero and presidential nominee. Westervelt and
MacKay of New York built the Winfield Scott in 1850 for a route
between New York and New Orleans. In July 1853 she was sold to the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company and served the San Francisco -
Panama route. Loaded with over 300 passengers and crew and a
reported $1 million in gold bullion (some accounts but the figure
at $2 million), the Winfield Scott departed San Francisco on
December 1, 1853. The next evening Captain Simon F. Blunt chose to
pass through the Santa Barbara Channel to save time, but in a dense
fog crashed into Middle Anacapa at full speed at 11:00 in the
evening. The Captain immediately sent out a boat to see where he
could land the passengers. The purser reported that a little island
separate from the main one was nearest and that the passengers
could be placed on it for the night. The next morning the
passengers, some mail, and the treasure were taken onto the main
island. The large group camped on the island for up to a week. The
'California' saw smoke from the passengers' fires and rescued the
women. It returned on December 9 and, in heavy swells, removed the
rest of the passengers, leaving the ship's company on the island
who attempted to save mail, baggage, furniture and some machinery
from the wreck. On the 10th the steamer 'Southerner' hove into
sight and landed provisions for the officers and crew. Up to that
time, the Winfield Scott had not been broken up by the action of
the waves. When the Republic arrived the next day, however, the
midship was sunk and Captain Blunt gave up all hope of saving her
or getting her off the ledge. The crew went out to the ship and
saved what they could before boarding the Republic for San
Francisco. Some time later, the side-wheeler toppled off the ledge
and sank. (Taken from https://www.nps.gov/) Thus, obviously the
mail was rescued not in one go. This cover was taken by the
'Republic' first back to San Francisco and from there on 29
December to Panama where it arrived on 14 January 1854. The 'Ohio'
brought it from Aspinwall / Colon to New York arriving there on 29
January and where it was picked up by the 'Atlantic' of the Collins
line.
Transatlantic mail between France and the USA and vice versa - ...di più
Transatlantic mail between France and the USA and vice versa - The
1857 Postal Convention, HAPAG line; 1869 (July 24): Envelope from
San Francisco to Breil nearby Combourg, Dept- Ille-et-Vilaine sent
first with the 'Germania', which wrecked and then with the
'Cimbria' of the HAPAG line, endorsed "via Overland", struck by
"SAN FRANCISCO" despatch cds. "NEW YORK PAID / AUG 3 / 3" debit
exchange cds in red, French CHERBOURG entry cds (Aug 22) and framed
PD in the same blue ink alongside. Reverse with COMBOURG arrival
cds of the same day. A well preserved wreck cover which escapped
wetting, mail to France did not get any indication of the accident.
Some documentation included. Note: The 'Germania' left New York on
3 August 1869. On 7 August near Cape Race, Newfoundland she
encountered dense fog and went ashore on the rocks at Cap Race in
Trepassy Bay. All passengers and crew were saved and brought to St.
John's. The mails were later saved, although damaged by sea water.
The 'Cimbria' on its eastbound route called at St. John's on 14
August for the 'Germania' crew, passengers and mail.
Corinphila stamp auction
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Corinphila stamp auction
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