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California Clipper Ship Cards: William T. Coleman & Co. Group [154009]

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Paper Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
California Clipper Ship Cards: William T. Coleman & Co. Group [154009]
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Lot of 5 different for William T. Coleman & Co.'s California Line. Two different locations are represented: 88 Wall Street and 161 Pearl Street. Using NY Trow directories, we determined the 88 Wall Street location dates to c.1857-1861. The 161 Pearl Street location dates to c.1862-1864. (After this, the company is listed at 71 Wall (1865) and then 117 Front St. (1866-70).) 1) Two cards for the 88 Wall Street, Tontine Building location. a) Clipper ship "Reporter," Howes, Commander. Passage to San Francisco in 103 days. Red border, with blue, red, and gold print and a vignette of a color flag. No printer listed. 4 x 6.5" Heavy staining, large creases. b) Clipper ship "Challenger," Winsor, Commander. Passage in 109 days. Gold border, gold and black print with color vignette of a medieval soldier. Nesbitt & Co. printers. 4 x 6.25" Creases, soiling. 2) Three cards for the 161 Pearl Street location. a) Clipper ship "Dreadnaught," Cushing, Commander. Rope and anchor illustrated border, black print. Not printer listed. 4 x 6.5" Reverse is inscribed Louis C. Stover. Some staining. b) Fantastic card for ship "Cyclone," Thos. F. West, Commander. Purple border and print with red, white, and blue curving title and color vignette of ship at sea. Nesbitt & Co., printers. 4 x 6.5" Some staining, creases. c) Clipper ship "Shooting Star," Drinkwater, Commander. Gold border, black and gold print, with vibrant color vignette of ship at sea. Nesbitt & Co., printers. 6.5 x 4" Some discoloration. 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.1857-64
Country (if not USA):
State: California
City:
Provenance: