Beschreibung:

Property from the Eric C. Caren Collection(GOLD RUSH)Two bills of lading, documenting cargo related to the California Gold Rush, 1849 and 1859 Partially printed document, 1 page (5 1/2 x 10 1/4 in.; 140 x 260 mm). Bill of lading for the schooner Harrison, ship vignette to upper left, contents of cargo accomplished in a neat hand in ink, dated from San Francisco, 5 September 1849, docketed on verso; some stains, left margin a bit frayed. The consignor has independently obtained a letter of authenticity from PSA that will accompany the lot. Partially printed document, 1 page (8 x 13 3/4 in.; 200 x 350 mm). Bill of lading for the steamer Golden Age, commanded by James Watkins, and issued to Crosby & Dibblee, contents of cargo accomplished in neat hand, dated from San Francisco, 4 April 1859, and signed by James Watkins ("J Watkins"), red wax seal, two California revenue stamps to verso, docketed on verso; central fold and left and right margins reinforced on verso. The first bill of lading lists the contents of the schooner Harrison, which left San Francisco's harbor on 5 September 1849, bound for Sacramento. The cargo included 3 ox carts, 3 crowbars, 3 pickaxes, and other materials related to mining. The second bill of lading outlined the shipment of gold bars, valued at $21,000, which were being sent from San Francisco to Panama. By 1859, it was commonplace to melt gold dust into bars for shipment. This receipt shows the markings that would have been present on the box that contained the bars, meaning that if the aptly named Golden Age sank, its contents would, at least theoretically, be easy to identify.