San Francisco, California to Liverpool, England: April 23, 1869. Envelope or Cover. This one-page folded letter is franked with a 12-cent black Washington stamp embossed with an E-grill for postal security (Scott # 90). The stamp is canceled by a fancy radial cork handstamp. It bears a magenta San Francisco..... More

Ship Burgundy to Middletown, Connecticut: August 14, 1837. Envelope or Cover. This two-page folded letter measures 16” x 10” unfolded. It bears a circular red New York “Ship” postmark dated August 16 and is in nice shape. The ship Burgundy regularly brought immigrants from Europe to the United States..... More

Naples: 1810. Unbound. This two-page stampless folded letter measures approximately 14.5" x 10" unfolded. It was sent by Olphert Tittle in Naples to Olphert Tittle (his father) in Beverly, Massachusetts. The letter is dated "March 11th 1810," and its salutation begins "Honor'd Mother." It bears a weak red strike of..... More

Vladivostock, Russia, Honolulu, Hawaii, and Vallejo, California: Mostly 1904-1905. Various. The vernacular photographs in this archive, most of which were taken by Teresa M. Browne, a high school sophomore who would not graduate from Vallejo High until 1907, document the Russian Cruiser Lena’s stay in San Francisco. Its two letters..... More

Greenpoint (Brooklyn), New York: 1861. This 3-page letter and endorsement measure approximately 8” x 9”. It was apparently carried by courier between Rowland’s Continental Iron Works and the Providence Tool and Armory Company, which employed both Borden and Andrews, as there are no postal markings. The letter has two horizontal..... More

Richmond, Virginia: 26 July 1861. Envelope or Cover. This 5.5" x 3.25" 'opened' envelope has two Richmond, Virginia postal markings: a circular city postmark dated "Jul 26 1861" and a circular "Paid 10" handstamp indicating Confederate postage was paid at the time of mailing. There is also a bold strike..... More

New York to San Francisco: June 1-4, 1876. Unbound. The transcontinental Lightning Express captured the attention of the nation while transporting a theatrical troupe from New York to San Francisco in record-breaking time for opening night. A small archive relating to Jarrett & Palmer's famous non-stop transcontinental Lightning Express..... More

Osceola, [probably Nevada]: 1880. Unbound. This letter is in nice shape, with short splits starting along a couple of the mailing folds. It has no accompanying envelope. A transcript will be included. In the letter, W. B. reports to his mother that although he had found gold, it..... More

Jeffersonville, Indiana to St. Louis, Missouri: 1905. Both postal cards (Scott UX18), which Hedgcock sent to his cousin Johnson, bear Jeffersonville, Indiana postmarks. On also has a St. Louis receiving handstamp. One is in nice shape; the other has some soiling and is worn at the lover right corner... More

Gonzales, Texas: 1851. Envelope or Cover. This two-page folded letter was written on September 18, 1851. It was franked with a three-cent orange-brown Washington stamp (Scott #10A) and received a manuscript postmark that reads, “Gonzales / Sept 20th”. The letter was missent to Bristol, Pennsylvania where it received a circular..... More

Memphis, Tennessee to South Hanover, Indiana: 1849. This four-page stampless folded letter measures 15” x 9.5” unfolded. Sent from Memphis to South Hanover, Indiana and bearing a circular Memphis postmark in blue, a manuscript “10” rate marking, and the annotation “via river mail.” It has a 1.5” split on one..... More