Lot
63 
Sullivan (California), Sep 30th, 1849, dateline on folded letter from Ebenezer Bower Bateman to his brother in Saint Charles, Mo., entered the mails with manuscript "Stockton T.C., Oct 4th" (Territory of California) postmark, with additional "San Francisco, Cal, Nov 1" cds and matching boxed "40" rate, manuscript "Via Panama" routing endorsement, with lengthy 3½ page letter regarding journey from Santa Fe, Stockton area and areas of potential gold mining…"I arrived at this place on the 20th Ult' 135 Days from Santa fe. This is 75 miles from Stockton & 200 miles from San Francisco, on a tributary to & twelve miles from its confluence with the Tuolumne River; at this immediate point there is not a great number at present, but in the neighborhood (say) within three miles there are probably Three Thousand & yet this region from all account is more sparsely populated than most others & they cry is: still they come…It is about 50 days sail from San Francisco to China & about twelve to the Sandwich Islands, from which; I believe, from all other countries, there are people here, seeking what appear to be generally considered "The one thing needful" The mining region so far as discovered & worked, compares a strip of country from eight to twenty miles wide, running parallel with the mountains & the Tulare Valley, having for its western boundary the margin of the latter & its Eastern, the superior hills (not the principle mountains) of the former. To these limits the experience & opinions of nearly all testify. Although, there are some who think there must be a grand fountain head, to so much Treasure higher up in the mountains, in quest of which Exploring Parties have already been out, and others are going: I have in contemplation setting out shortly with a party for region lying South-East of Kings River, we take with us an experienced Mountaineer & Indian - Man - one who has formerly been employed by Government as such for Guide. He declares he knows where the (Big Slugs lie.) The mines at this point are very rich, but the Gold lies from 8 to 20 feet beneath the surface, the ground is rocky & water is very troublesome…Enclosed are specimens of California Gold, that taken in this region is general much larger, but I send small because less liable to detection - the average run may be fairly set down at from 6-1/4 cts to 50%$ in value - the piece, observe it is perfectly pure & of the finest quality, no only recorded example, no intermixtion of any kind, the pure original Virgin Gold & this is characteristic of all taken in this country." and signed "E. B. Bateman Address me Stockton Upper California", Very Fine.Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
THE EARLIEST RECORDED POSTMARK FROM STOCKTON AND PERHAPS THE ONLY EXAMPLE WITH THE "T.C." TERRITORY OF CALIFORNIA DESIGNATION.
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Current Opening Bid: $750