Lot 28
(Alma, Colo., 3/1, 1888) The Pacific Express Company, money package receipt for letter on papers valued at $50 to New York to Hon. D.M. Kelly from J. Fortune, Very Fine.Estimate $200 - 300.
Lot
29 
Auraria, K.T., Aug 2, 1859, clearly struck two line handstamp postmark on cover with manuscript "Paid" at top right to Rhode Island, interesting original contents datelined "Auraria Kansas Territory, Foot of the Rocky Mountains" with letter written by Joseph Whiting and in part…"I wrote you a long letter eleven days ago and is on way to you…I can think of better way to fill up this sheet then by giving you an insight into my style of life. So begins living in a log cabin on the out skirts of Auraria is so situated on the road to the Mountains and from the door I can see the greater portion of the Rocky Mountain Range. Sixty or seventy miles to the South West, looming up above the other portions of the range not withstanding the distance stands Pikes Peak…I can see the road that leads to Jackson's Diggings winding over a tall mountain - and yet it is 15 miles away still keeping your eye on the mountain you plainly see to the north west Long Peak… Col. Thom H. Tenton -- speaking of the exploration of his son-in-law John C. Fremont -- says, and places considerable stress on the fact in one of his expedition's he was not out of sight of snow for eight months…I shoulder a transit rods and staff and walk to the end of the paper lots of Auraria where during the rest of the day I work at driving stakes for naming angles and streets" (surveying the Auraria Townsite); both the cover and contents are water stained and otherwise damaged, but quite readable and historically significant, Fine appearance.Estimate $300 - 400.
Contract mail service to Auraria was begun on July 11, 1859 and was carried by the United States Express Company until they failed after their 26 August 1859 trip.
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Realized: $375
Lot
30
Auraria, K.T., Aug 19, 1859, two line handstamp postmark on cover from D.L. Clemens to cousin in West Alexander, Pa., manuscript "Paid 3" rating, with original enclosure datelined "Russell Diggings, July 25, 1859" with interesting content regarding trip into the area…"From that day until the 25 May was very beautiful weather and we left the waters of the Arkansas to cross the divide on the waters of Platte River…About noon the wind commenced blowing form the West and in a short time shifted to the N.W. and rain began to fall But soon changed to snow at this I became alarmed…About 11 o'clock that night a young man came into our camp almost froze and reported that his companion was about three miles back on th plains…next morning three young men from Ohio and myself took a pack animal and started to search for him -- he was dead…on the 27 we arrived on the head of Cherry Creek (here I saw the first indications of a gold region except float indications) which is about 100 miles South East of here and on the 29th we arrived in the famed City of Denver.", mentions going to the mountain for prospecting, direct letters to Denver City, K.T.; some cover wear and some discoloration spots, F.-V.F.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
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Realized: $900
Lot
31
Breckenridge P.O., Utah Terr. (After it Became Part of Colorado Territory), 1861 cover from Granville, Ohio address to "Breckenridge P.O., American Gulch, Rocky Mts., Utah Terr.", franked with 1857, 3¢ dull red (gutter straight line at right) tied by grid handstamp, matching "Granville, O., Mar 13" cds alongside, Very Fine.Scott No. 26 Estimate $200 - 300.
Apparently, the knowledge of the creation of Colorado Territory was not yet widespread.
Realized: $260
Lot
32
Denver City, K.T., Aug 29, 1860, clear strike of sans-serif tombstone postmark (first type) on incoming cover addressed to "Denver City, Pikes Peak", franked with 1857, 3¢ dull red (26) tied by "Stillwater, Min., Aug 9, 1860" cds, carried on the third westbound trip by the Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express; cover with a few trivial spots, otherwise Very Fine, a rare and unusual usage of the Denver City tombstone date stamp used as a receiving postmark, the sans-serif tombstone postmark was in use for only two weeks in August of 1860.Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $700
Lot
33
(Denver City, Jefferson Territory), address on cover with "Sidney, Ioa., Oct 1" origin cds, franked with manuscript canceled 1857, 3¢ dull red, manuscript "pr U.S. mail" and "Via St. Joseph, Mo." endorsements, with original 1860 enclosure, Very Fine, ex-Dale-Lichtenstein & Kramer.Scott No. 26 Estimate $400 - 600.
The resident of the goldfields, unhappy with the great distance to the Kansas Territorial Government, created their own Territorial government which became Jefferson Territory. The federal government did not recognize this action. A few items addressed to Jefferson Territory exist, but there are no postal markings with that designation.
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Realized: $850
Lot
34
Denver City K.T., Nov 12 1860, clear strike of serifed "Tombstone" postmark (Jarrett 65) on fresh cover to Maine, with matching straight line "Paid" handstamp; cover reduced at right, otherwise Very Fine, an attractive example of the scarce Denver City Tombstone postmark, ex-Rogers.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Realized: $1,300
Lot
35
Denver City, Kas., Apr 15, 1861, clear cds with matching "Paid" in oval handstamp on fresh cover to Trenton, N.J., year docketing at left, Very Fine and choice, one of two known examples of this rare postmark in conjunction with the "Paid" in oval handstamp.Estimate $400 - 600.
Realized: $725
Lot
36
Ft. Garland, New Mexico, via Santa Fe (before it became part of Colorado Territory), neat November 1860 cover from South Carolina addressed to Lieut. Ben F. Stone, via Santa Fe, Ft. Garland, New Mexico, franked with 1857 3¢ dull red (corner crease) carried via Santa Fe route, reduced at left, Very Fine.Scott No. 26 Estimate $200 - 300.
Fort Garland was the former Fort Massachusetts, renamed and relocated six miles south. There were no United States post offices in that part of New Mexico which became part of Colorado Territory.
Realized: $200
Lot
37
Fort Garland, "Denver City, Kan, Apr 8, 1861" double circle postmark and 1857, 3¢ dull red, two singles with grid cancels on cover to Bristol, R.I., "Charles H. Alden, Fort Garland, March 25th 1861" docket at left so evidently carried by military courier from Fort Garland to Denver City a year before the Fort Garland Post Office was established, Extremely Fine, a late use of this postmark type after Colorado Territory was created.Scott No. 26 Estimate $300 - 400.
Fort Garland was 200 miles south of Denver City. The sender of this cover, Captain Charles Alden, was an army surgeon.
Realized: $500