I am selling material that I do not want for my own collection and exhibits. 

Many of this material I have been playing around with AI and will enclose the printouts of transcriptions and geneological/historical interest (if any).  Info is below.

I am a member of the APS and a bunch of other philatelic societies (and if you, are not, suggest you check out the American Philatelic Society as they are great!)


I guarantee your satisfaction.  Completely.  If for any reason you are not completely and totally satisfied and happy that you made the purchase up to 60 days (or 90 if you want to send something to be expertized!) I will reimburse your entire price and shipping.  

 

I have been doing this for a while so please check my Ebay references.  I travel for work so while I usually get material out within a day or so of your payment, it can sometimes take 3 or 4 days to mail if I am away.

 

While I try to describe my items as accurately as possible, I am bound to make the occasional error though, so if for any reason you are not delighted with your purchase, I will provide a full refund if notified within 60 days.


I also have scanned many of these to get transcriptions and historical/geneological significance and will enclose the printout.


US Upper Gloucester Me 01 MAR 1853 Bidwell's Bar CA 10 stampless Env, black circular cds "UPPER GLOUCESTER Me. MAR 1", integral "10" rate mark. Sent to Gold Rush mining camp Bidwell's Bar via Panama route. Otis C. Nelson genealogical interest.

(1853 stampless Env sent from Upper Gloucester, Maine to Bidwell's Bar, California, a prominent Gold Rush mining camp, via the transcontinental 10-cent Panama route, postmarked with a circular date stamp with integral rate.)

Summary

  • Date Letter Was Sent: 01 MAR 1853

  • Country of Origin: United States

  • Country of Destination: United States

  • Town Sent From: Upper Gloucester, Maine

  • Town Sent To: Bidwell's Bar, California

  • Distance Between Towns: Approximately 3,300 miles (via Panama route)

  • Significant Philatelic Details: Stampless Env featuring a circular town date stamp reading UPPER GLOUCESTER Me. MAR 1 with integral 10 postal rate. The 10-cent rate represented the transcontinental rate applicable to single-sheet letters carried between the East and West coasts under the U.S. Postal Act of 1851, typically conveyed via the Isthmus of Panama.

  • Names of Sender and Receiver:

    • Sender: Not indicated on outer envelope.

    • Receiver: Otis C. Nelson

  • Sociological, Historical, & Genealogical Significance:

    • California Gold Rush: Sent to Bidwell's Bar, a significant mining camp along the Feather River in Butte County, California, active during the height of the Gold Rush. Bidwell's Bar served as the initial county seat of Butte County in the early 1850s before mining declined and it was eventually submerged by Lake Oroville.

    • East-West Communications: Illustrates the established postal link connecting remote Maine communities to pioneers and miners seeking fortune in the California gold fields.

    • Otis C. Nelson: Common name for genealogical research, connecting to Maine and the California Gold Rush.

Transcription

[Cover / Outer Envelope]

Address: Otis C Nelson Bidwell's Bar- Butte California

Postal Markings:

  • UPPER GLOUCESTER Me. MAR 1 (black circular town date stamp with integral rate)

Annotations/Dockets:

  • 10 (pencil notation, likely rate confirmation)

  • 1853 (pencil docket, repeated)

  • Otis C Nelson 12/2/59 (pencil, possible later collector note)

  • E-30-b 10/- (pencil collector notation)

  • 10/5 calif (pencil notation)