Auction # 60 - The Westpex Sale

(Naval) 1852 (Aug. 3) Robbinston, Me. to U.S.S. Saratoga at Hong Kong, China. Red "Robbinston Me. Aug 2/4" cds and matching "Paid" and "3" handstamps on blue folded letter addressed to John Sewall, U.S. Ship Saratoga, East India Squadron, via Naval Lyceum, New York, forwarded with Brooklyn "U.S. Naval Lyceum" handstamp depicting full-rigged ship, docketed "Rec'd pr. 'Anne Buckman; Hong Kong, China, Feby 13. 1853.", Very Fine.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

The U.S. Sloop "Saratoga" was a 24-gun sloop of war, comparable to today's light cruiser. She was assigned to the East India Station in 1852, and added to the Japan Expedition of Commodore M.C. Perry in 1853 to make his squadron more impressive.