VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE COVER SENT BY THE CENTRAL ROUTE VIA SALT LAKE CITY ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE NEW DAILY OVERLAND MAIL SERVICE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THIS FRANKING, THE IMPRINT AND THE FOREIGN DESTINATION.
On March 12, 1861, service on the Southern Overland Mail Route (the Butterfield route) was ordered discontinued due to disruptions caused by the Civil War. The first daily stages on the new central route left St. Joseph and Placerville on July 1, 1861 (the same day the government contract for the Pony Express commenced). Both coaches reached their destinations on July 18, a savings of approximately eight days over the old route.
5¢ Brown, Type II, 10¢ Green, Type V (30A, 35), two of each, affixed at left of cover and partly covering red and blue Waving Flag Patriotic design, tied by "San Francisco Cal. Sep. 2, 1861" circular datestamps and addressed to Bremen, Germany, red "N. York Am. Pkt. Sep. 28 7 Paid" 7¢ credit datestamp, slightly reduced at top and missing backflap, fresh and Very Fine, rare use of a Patriotic cover from the West Coast to a foreign destination, ex Matthies and "Sevenoaks"
10¢ Green, Type V (35), used with 3¢ Dull Red, Type III (26) and 5¢ Brown, Type II, (30A), vertical pair of 3¢, singles of 5¢ and 10¢, tied by large "Paid" grid cancels, "Boston Am. Pkt. May 24" (1861) circular datestamp on back of blue folded letter to Calcutta, India, addressed to Caleb Ladd at the Ice House, manuscript directives "Via Marseilles" and "pr Steamer fr N York", red London transit backstamp (June 8), manuscript "1/" one-shilling debit, "Calcutta Steamer Letter" backstamp with "8" annas due, 5¢ single pulled perf at right, missing one leaf of letter but front and back are complete, Very Fine, a beautiful three-color 1857 Issue franking to the Ice House in Calcutta, India, paying the 21¢ British Open Mail via Marseilles rate via American Packet, ex Newbury