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California Clipper Ship Cards: William T. Coleman, Classic Roman Figures [154014]

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Paper Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
California Clipper Ship Cards: William T. Coleman, Classic Roman Figures [154014]
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Lot of 4 different cards for William T. Coleman & Co.'s California Line at their 161 Pearl St. location. According to NY Trow Directories, they operated at this address c.1862-64. All of these cards feature ships that are inspired by classic Roman figures. All printed by Nesbitt & Co. 1) Ship "Calypso," Baker, Commander. Built "expressly for the California and China Trade." Gold border, black and gold print. Color vignette of clipper ship at sea. 6.5 x 4" Soiling, wear to edges, sticker on reverse. 2) Ship "Challenger," Winsor, Commander. Gold border, black and gold print. Vignette of Roman soldier. 6.5 x 4" Missing bottom left corner, paper loss, soiling, sticker on reverse. 3) Ship "Vitula," W.F. Peck, Commander. Gold border, blue and gold and red print. 4 x 6.5" Deep creases, soiling, sticker on reverse. 4) Ship "Europa," Robertson, Commander. Black border, red and white print. Vignette of goddess flying over ocean and color vignette of flag. 6.5 x 3.5"Creases, adhesive residue on reverse, some discoloration._x000D_
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William Tell Coleman was a California pioneer. He arrived in California in 1849 during the Gold Rush and starting a shipping and commission business. He is listed at 56 California in the 1852 SF directory, and then the Corner of Front & California in subsequent directories. Coleman was tied to the 1851 and 1856 San Francisco Vigilance Committees. Many of the owners of the other shipping lines in this clipper card collection worked for or were partnered with Coleman, including Edward Mott Robinson, Cornelius Comstock, and Platt & Newton (who took over his business in 1868). Coleman spent time in both New York and California. After leaving the commission business, he engaged in mining borax in Death Valley in the 1880s. He was owner of the Harmony Borax Works in Death Valley which he eventually sold to Francis Marion "Borax" Smith to form the Pacific Coast Borax Company. Coleman died in San Francisco in 1893. Ex. Du Pont Collection

Date: c.1862-64
Country (if not USA):
State: California
City:
Provenance: