WESTERN EXPANSION continued...
OVERLAND MAILS OF THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI WEST continued...
| Lot |
Symbol |
CatNo. |
Lot Description |
CV or Estimate |
| 621 |
 |
|
Fort Fillmore, N.M., Aug 29, bold postmark tying 3c Dull red (#26, small repair at top left) to yellow cover to Beloit, Wisconsin, forwarded to Syracuse, N.Y. with
additional 3c Dull red (#26) tied by Beloit datestamp, fresh and very fine; the only recorded handstamped postmark from Fort Fillmore.Fort Fillmore was a way station on the Butterfield Overland Mail route.
(Image) |
Est. $1,000-1,500
SOLD for $4,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 622 |
 |
|
Fort Buchanan, New Mexico Territory yellow cover originating in Mexico with red boxed "Franco*/en Alamos" postmark and their matching "3" reales rate handstamp on
reverse, entered the U.S. mails with 3c Dull red (#26) tied by clear strike of "Fort Buchanan, N.M./Feb 28" datestamp, addressed to Sacramento, alta California and carried by the Butterfield stage, couple opening tears at top, still very fine; a rare
and unusual usage.This fort was located near the Sonoita River about 40 miles south-southwest of Tucson in what was then the Territory of New Mexico, before the establishment of the Arizona Territory in 1863. A detachment of the U.S. First Dragoons
under Col. J.V.F. Blake arrived at the site on Nov. 17, 1856, and began the construction of the fort, calling it Camp Moore, which was then changed to Fort Buchanan on May 29, 1857. It was a crude establishment but played an important roll in the
Indian wars with the Apaches and other tribes. The fort was burned on July 21, 1861 to keep it from falling into the hands of the Confederates during the Civil War and never rebuilt. The Post Office was established on June 5, 1857 and discontinued
Oct. 21, 1863. (Image) |
Est. $2,000-3,000
SOLD for $18,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 623 |
 |
|
Butterfield Overland Mail route balance, ten covers and two letterheads including cover to "Fort Buchanan, Arizona, New Mexico" with "O.L.M. via St. Louis" Over Land Mail directive, cover from Fort Belknap, Texas with "By over land mail to St.
Louis" directive, two covers with "Via Southern Overland Mail" directives, cover to Fort Stanton, New Mexico with "Via Butterfields overland mail route" directive, cover with Fort Union, New Mexico datestamp franked by three 2c "Black Jacks" (#73)
and cover with allover "Butterfield's Overland Despatch, Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Montana Territories" advertisement with wagon illustrations, various frankings, couple minor faults, generally fine-very fine. |
Est. $1,000-1,500
SOLD for $5,750.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 624 |
 |
|
Overland via Stockton, manuscript directive on cover to Albany, Wisconsin with "Dutch Flat, Cal./? 21" datestamp, "Paid" in circle and "10" rate handstamp, very fine; the
only recorded cover with this directive, although the route had most likely been discontinued when sent.The Kansas City to Stockton route was authorized by act of Congress on 3 March 1855, but it was not until May of 1857 that a contract was
entered into with Jacob Hall. The route was discontinued on 1 July, 1859 after being in operation only nine months. Most of the mail carried over this route was between Santa Fe and Kansas City.
(Image) |
Est. $1,500-2,000
SOLD for $14,500.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 625 |
 |
|
Pony Express, St. Joseph, Jun 3 (1860), perfectly struck running pony handstamp on 3c Red entire (#U9) to Camp Floyd, Utah Territory, endorsed "Per Pony Express" and
with light blue pencil "$5.00" express rate, cover with small repaired hole, extremely fine strike; a lovely westbound usage from the first period, of which only twelve examples are recorded, scarcer use to an intermediate point on the route;
illustrated in The Pony Express, A Postal History by Frajola, Kramer & Walske census #W6.According to "Official Army Records" captain Parmenas T. Turnley, to whom this cover is addressed, was in the Army from 1842 to 1863 and served in the
Mexican War. He was Chief Quartermaster of the forces operating in Utah Territory from 1858 to 1860 and was then on leave from 1860 to 1861, consequently the date of use of this cover must be 1860.
(Image) |
Est. $30,000-40,000
SOLD for $47,500.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 626 |
 |
|
Paid Central Overland Pony Express Company, printed Pony Express frank on eastbound 10c Green on buff entire (#U18) to Coopers Mills, Maine, manuscript "Carson City -
Sept 30/60, Paid $2.50, Dean Teleg Operator" notation at left of the agent at Carson City, Utah Territory (present day Nevada), clear oval "The Central Overland California/& Pikes Peak/Express Company/St. Joseph/Oct 10" datestamp, entered the mails
with double circle "St. Joseph, Mo/Oct 11, 1860" postmark and target canceling the indicia, extremely fine; only eight reported examples of this printed frank used in first two rate period on eastbound mail carried by the Pony Express, this the
earliest use in second rate period; cover discussed and illustrated in The Pony Express, A Postal History by Frajola, Kramer & Walske on page 37, census #E23; ex-Barkhausen, West. This cover contained a telegraph message which had been
wired from San Francisco to Carson City, Utah Territory. The telegraph operator forwarded it on the Pony Express to Saint Joseph. The "Paid $2.50" is for the Pony Express. Printed envelopes of this type were for use only of the company and were not
sold to the general public. (Image) |
Est. $15,000-20,000
SOLD for $65,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 627 |
 |
|
Pony Express, San Francisco, Sep 11 (1861), clear blue running pony handstamp tying Wells, Fargo & Co. $1.00 Red (#143L3), large margins to in at top, to 10c Green
entire (#U32) with red Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank to New York City, with original letter datelined "Pony Express, San Francisco, Sept 11th 1861", entered the mails with double circle "Atchison, Kan./Sep 23" postmark, cover with repaired tear
into the indicia, otherwise extremely fine; Frajola, Kramer & Walske census #E157; ex-Meroni.This cover was carried eastbound over the entire route during the third period when the rate was $1.00. The eastern terminus had been changed from St.
Joseph, Missouri to Atchison, Kansas in September of 1861. (Image) |
Est. $10,000-15,000
SOLD for $35,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 628 |
|
|
[Post Office Department route summary for the Overland Mails] dated March 22nd, 1860 giving the Southern Route (Route: 12.578) from St. Louis and Memphis, via
Fort Smith, Arkansas to San Francisco to John Butterfield & Co. "the service to be performed in from horse coaches or spring wagons," the Central Route (Route: 8.911) from St. Joseph to Salt Lake City to Hiram Kimball with "service to be monthly
trips in covered wagons" and Salt Lake City to Placerville (Route: 12.801) to George Chorpenning, the five page document also list subsequent changes and other route contract awards. A complete transcription of this important postal document may be
found in The Pony Express, A Postal History by Frajola, Kramer and Walske on pages 147-149. (Image) |
Est. $400-500
SOLD for $2,200.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 629 |
 |
|
[Indian War on the Central Overland Mail Route] 3c Pink on buff entire (#U35) to Delevan, Wisconsin with manuscript "Colorado City, C.T./Sept 5, 1864" postmark,
with original letter giving vivid descriptions of Indian depredations along the overland in 1864, cover reduced at right and bottom, very fine content.The following quotes are from the letter: "Communication with the States was cut off by Indians
and Guerillas the latter part of July or the first part of august ... the Savages and Guerillas has mad Terrible work in the Valley of the Platt River. Report says that there is not hardly one man left alive between Denver and Fort Kerny excepting
soldiers ... in some Places a Great amount of Stock has been driven off especially mules. I suppose that the Platt River valley is nearly or quite Cleaned out of stock and a Great many lives Taken. Our men in the mountains and in the valleys is
Rallying and comming to the Rescue ... there Seams To be a thorough Combination of most of the Tribes to make war on the whites ... it was reportd last evening that the mail would be Taken to California and Remailed at San Francisco but this morning
the Report is that the mail has Come through the Platt River Valley to Denver from Omaha..." (Image) |
Est. $1,000-1,500
SOLD for $850.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 630 |
|
|
[Indian War on the Central Overland Mail Route] Post Office partially printed report from W.A. Gillespie, Agent of the Line from St. Joseph to Placerville dated
10th August, 1864 explaining why the mails have been delayed leaving Atchison: Indians Killing families on Little Blue, Burning Stations and running off stock - That the coach made every effort to get through. Was attacked - two passengers
seriously wounded and Coach compelled to return to Fort Kearney., a few minor reinforced splits, very fine; also includes three newspaper clippings from the time reporting on the Indian depredations.
(Image) |
Est. $400-500
SOLD for $1,300.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 631 |
 |
|
[Ship mail from South America to New York via the Central Overland Stage Route], three Lanman & Kemp correspondence folded letters with integral address leaves, all
carried by the same steamer from Valparaiso, Chile, Lima, Peru and Guayaquil, Ecuador sent prepaid to Panama, where they were forwarded to San Francisco, arriving with double circle "San Francisco, Cal./Oct 26, 1864" datestamp, "SHIP" and "12" rate,
then sent collect via the Overland Stage, very fine. (Image) |
Est. $750-1,000
SOLD for $1,600.00
Will close during Public Auction |
VIA PANAMA MAIL ROUTE
| Lot |
Symbol |
CatNo. |
Lot Description |
CV or Estimate |
| 632 |
 |
|
Pan. & San. Fran. S.S., Apr 22 (1850), Panama and San Francisco ocean route agent postmark and manuscript "30" rate on folded letter with integral address leaf
datelined at "San Francisco May 31st, 1850", addressed to John McHenry of New Orleans care of the forwarding agents Mott, Talbot & Co at Mazatlan, Mexico, note on reverse asks "Messrs. Mott Talbot & Co will oblige me by retaining this letter until
called for by Judge McHenry, James Van Ness", carried privately to Mazatlan where it was apparently held until April 22, 1851 and posted to agent Midgett of the PMSS steamer California on trip to San Francisco, the forwarding agents
information crossed out, very fine and most unusual applied on a northbound trip.This marking was applied by postal agents on board ships of the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. plying between San Francisco and Panama in 1850-52. (Image) |
Est. $1,000-1,500
SOLD for $1,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 633 |
 |
|
Independent Line, Ahead of the Mails, Via Panama, Uncle Sam and North Star, large clear double oval handstamp on folded letter with integral address leaf to
Scotland datelined at "San Francisco 1st Sep 1854" and franked by two 3c Dull red (#11), carried by steamship Uncle Sam to Panama where there were connections with the S.S. North Star for the run to New York, however, it was turned
over to the British Post Office at Panama with their Sept. 21st backstamp and manuscript "1/-" due rate, and then carried direct by British mail steamer to London where it arrived with an October 18th backstamp, thence to Scotland for delivery the
next day, the U.S. stamps were required for mail carried privately and remained uncancelled.The Independent Line was organized by Commodore Vanderbilt as an opposition line between California and New York via Panama in September of 1853. (Image) |
Est. $1,000-1,500
SOLD for $2,200.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 634 |
 |
|
Via Panama, steamship illustrated printed directive published by Geo. H. Ball of San Francisco on cover to Oswego, N.Y. with 10c Green, Ty. V (#35) tied by "San Francisco,
Cal./Feb 1, 1861" datestamp, extremely fine and handsome. (Image) |
Est. $1,000-1,500
SOLD for $3,750.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 635 |
 |
|
STEAM,/MAZATLAN. and STEAM,/PANAMA., clear oval handstamps with flourishes on separate covers franked by 3c Rose (#65), both with San Francisco transit datestamps and
large "DUE 7" handstamps, former endorsed "Mazatlan, Mex./U.S. Stmr "Resaca" with original six page letter written while on board and dateline 1868, former cover with back flap missing and latter cover a bit reduced at right and opening tears on
reverse, very fine strikes.In the letter George H. White writes home under the dateline "U.S. Steamer "Resaca"/Mazatlan Mex./May 13th 1868" We left Guaymas on the 25th of last month and stopped for over a week on the way, off Ajiabampo. This is
the only port of the city of Alamos distance some 70 miles. I went up to the landing about 20 miles off to meet the silver train coming down for us. We were gone all night sleeping in the boats and brought back one hundred and twenty
thousand dollars...The money was brought down in three large wagons drawn by 12 mules and guarded by 40 as hard looking soldiers as I ever saw. They had walked the distance in less than two days keeping up with the wagons - it is said that they will
travel more miles in a day than a mule. They certainly did not seem to mind their tramp for as soon as the money was turned over to us they started back on a jog trot. The Revolution that has been going on in this state has been broken up, and the
proper authorities are once more in charge, they had quite a little fight some twenty miles out of town in which 150 were killed. Last Monday several Officers accompanied our Captain to call on the Governor Genl. Robea and Genl. Caroua the
Genl. in comd. of the forces here, which consists of some 4000 men. He is one of the few that made a name for themselves during the French occupation of the country, he is about 30 years of age, rather good looking and has an American wife... The
writer continues noting that a circus is in town, how the Mexicans love to gamble, their low valuation of the human life and the curious way in which water is transported in leather bags. (imagea)
(Image) |
Est. $750-1,000
SOLD for $2,600.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 636 |
 |
|
P.M.S.S.Co., Acapulco Agency, red oval Pacific Mail Steamship Company handstamp struck twice on cover with original letter datelined "Acapulco July 28th, 1862" in
which the writer states "The return steamer touches at this point this evening so this letter will go without delay", after carriage via Panama it entered the mails to Saint Paul, Minnesota with 10c Green (#68, small tear) tied by "N.
York/Steamship" postmark and matching "Due 10" handstamp, fine.At that time the rate from Acapulco to New York or to San Francisco was 20 cents per ½ ounce while the rate from New York to San Francisco was only 10 cents, thus the "Due 10." (Image) |
Est. $400-500
SOLD for $2,100.00
Will close during Public Auction |
VIA NICARAGUA PRIVATE MAIL ROUTE
| Lot |
Symbol |
CatNo. |
Lot Description |
CV or Estimate |
| 637 |
 |
|
[Crossing the Isthmus'] three eastbound covers, first a 6c Green entire (#U13) with blue framed "Forwarded via Nicaragua from Noisy Carriers Publishing Hall San
Francisco" handstamp entering the mails to Boston with "New-York/Ship/Jan 9" datestamp, the second an August 7th, 1851 folded letter with integral address leaf datelined at "El Barrio, Ists. of Tehuantepic, Mexico" from a member of the U.S. Army
Engineers surveying for a railroad across the isthmus that entered the mails to New York with boxed "Franqueado en/Tehuantepic" handstamp and carried by steamer to New Orleans entering the mails there with red "New Orleans, La./Aug 31" datestamp,
matching "SHIP" handstamp and manuscript "7" rate, and lastly a cover with interesting letter datelined "Grey Town May 16th 1853" from an emigrant crossing by the Nicaragua route giving a detailed account of his travails that was carried by steamer
to New York entering the mails with "New-York/Ship 7ct/Jun 9" postmark, very fine. (Image) |
Est. $500-750
SOLD for $1,200.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 638 |
 |
|
Via Nicaragua, Ahead of the Mails, beautifully struck red boxed handstamp on double rate folded letter with integral address leaf to Boston, datelined "San Francisco
Sept 1st 1853", entered the mails with top sheet-margin 12c Black (#17), other margins huge to touching at base, tied by two-line straightline "STEAM/SHIP" handstamp of New York, harmless file fold through the handstamp, extremely fine and handsome
usage; ex-Emerson, Knapp.The writer advises that he has made shipments via the Clipper ships Staffordshire & Golden Fleece and that "I have only time to write...which I forward by the Nicaragua Steamer the mails having
closed."This handstamp was used on mail carried by the Accessory Transit Company of William Vanderbilt, who obtained a concession from Nicaragua to operate across that country between New York and San Francisco. It operated without a U.S. mail
contract. (Image) |
Est. $2,000-3,000
SOLD for $11,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 639 |
 |
|
Via Nicaragua, Ahead of the Mails, well struck boxed handstamps in blue and in red on separate covers, former tying vertical pair 3c Dull red (#11, trivial corner
crease), ample to large margins all around, to cover to Salem, Ohio that entered the mails with twice struck "New-York/Ship/2 Aug" postmark, latter on buff cover to Brunswick, Main with two 3c Dull red (#11, one faulty) that entered the mails with
"New-York/Sep 9" datestamp tying the stamps, both very fine and attractive; former ex-Wiltsee. (Image) |
Est. $750-1,000
SOLD for $1,250.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 640 |
 |
|
Stmr. Sierra Nevada, Via Nicaragua, Advance of the Mails, bold indigo handstamp on buff cover to Russia, N.Y., entered the mails with right sheet-margin horizontal pair
3c Dull red (#11), other margins large to just touching, tied by "New-York/Ship/Nov 10" datestamp, extremely fine; also includes scarce Star of the West advertising card.The Vanderbilt steamer of the Accessory Transit Co., the Sierra
Nevada, departed San Francisco for Nicaragua on Oct. 16, 1853 and arrived at San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua on Oct. 29th. Connection was made with the S.S. Star of the West on the Atlantic side, the latter sailing for New York on Oct. 31st.
The Sierra Nevada sailed for San Francisco, on the return trip, on Nov. 5, 1853 and arrived at that port on Nov. 16th. The Star of the West arrived at New York at midnight of Nov. 9th and the U.S. Mail, which she carried, was placed in
the New York Post Office on the 10th. (Image) |
Est. $500-750
SOLD for $1,800.00
Will close during Public Auction |
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