[Railroads, Philately] 1869 ALS Regarding Pending Completion of American Transcontinental Railroad

San Francisco, California to Liverpool, England: 1869. [Railroads, Philately] 1869 ALS Regarding Pending Completion of American Transcontinental Railroad, Red. McKnight to George McKnight, San Francisco, California to Liverpool, England, April 23, 1869, 8 x 10.5 inches, 1 pp. bifolio.

One-page bifolio letter on fragile blue paper; small holes at folds, else in excellent condition, no edge wear; franked with 12-cent black Washington stamp embossed with an E-grill (Scott #90). Very good condition. Letter also bears a magenta San Francisco paid exchange circular stamp and a manuscript “pr Overland Mail” endorsement; it was carried by the S.S. Donau, a ship of the North German Lloyd Line, which left New York on May 6th and arrived in Southampton on May 17th according to a red London Paid transit circular date stamp, with a backstamp showing it arrived in Liverpool later that day. Transcript of letter and Philatelic Foundation Certificate of Authenticity will be provided.

Interesting letter from a Red. McKnight to his brother George, in which Red. reports that the American Transcontinental Railroad is nearing completion and that it will be the beginning of the end for ocean shipping from New York to California:

“Great events expected on the completion of the Pacific Rail Road which will be in about 30 days, the first train through from the Atlantic Stsates is looked for on the 4th of July next, which will be the occasion of a grand Jubilee – it will prove a strong competitor against the Ocean Steam Ship Line as the difference in time will be on half or more, the steamers taking 22 & 23 days the overland Rail Road 8 or 9 from New York…”

Red. McKnight in fact overestimated the time needed to complete the railroad; the ceremonial golden spike was driven in at Promontory Point in Utah only 17 days later, on May 10th, 1869.

A nice letter containing a certified scarce stamp and making prescient predictions that railroads would soon eclipse shipping as the main mode of cross-country travel and transportation. Very Good. Item #1191

Price: $320.00