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An Exceptionally Scarce Waybill from the Colorado Steam Navi

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Historical Memorabilia Start Price:225.00 USD Estimated At:300.00 - 400.00 USD
An Exceptionally Scarce Waybill from the Colorado Steam Navi

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Auction Date:2009 Jun 24 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Location:6270 Este Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45232, United States
1p, obl., 8.5 x 14", San Francisco, 10 Feb 1875. Waybill for 97 packages to be shipped from California to Yuma, AT for L. M. Jacobs & Co. on the Steamer Newbern.

The Colorado Steam Navigation Company ran the only line of steamers to Arizona in the years just after the Civil War. The company originally transshipped by sailing vessel, purchasing their first steamer in 1871. According to their advertising, the ocean steamers left San Francisco every 20 days, going the 1900 miles to the head of the Gulf of California. The cargo would then be transferred to river steamers and shipped up the Colorado for 513 miles into the territories. Most of the freight is only listed as "merchandize," but there are some specifics: seven cases of sewing machines; three cases of books; 24 bales dry goods; show cases; cigars; hats; and, last, but not least, two cases of chocolate! (At least it was February.)

The Newbern was one of the two ocean steamers, along with Montana. She was built in Brooklyn in 1862 to serve in the Civil War. After the war, in 1867 she was taken to the West Coast and sold to the Colorado Steam Navigation Co. in 1871. They sold her in 1878 to John Birmingham. She rolled in San Francisco in 1880 and finally stranded and sank off Redondo in 1893, but not as one of Colorado Steam's fleet. 

The Thomas Minckler Collection of Western Americana

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