Vanderbilt Independent Line

Cornelius Vanderbilt operated his Nicaragua route between 1850 and 1856, in competition with the Panama route which held the Post Office contract for mails to San Francisco.

Greytown, Nicaragua, October 20, 1851, “per Prometheus” Vanderbilt independent line departed San Juan del Norte October 26, 1851, arrived New York November 6, 1851, New York, "STEAMSHIP 10" rated 10¢ due for distance under 2,500 miles.