Lot 595 o
Auraria, K.T., 1859 two-line postmark cancelling 1857 3¢ dull red, type III, some adhesion on reverse, F.-V.F., a very rare cancellation with only a few covers known.Scott No. 26 Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $135
Lot
596 
Auraria K.T., Aug 2, 1859, full bold strike of two-line straight line date stamp on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Pacific City, Iowa; partial backflap and a few small cover tears at top, otherwise Very Fine, a wonderful strike of this rare short-lived handstamp marking known used between July 25 and August 26, 1859. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
The Auraria post office was established on January 18, 1859. 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 August 26, 1859 trip. Auraria was eventually moved and the name changed to Denver City on February 11, 1860.
Realized: $1,800
Lot
597
Boulder N.T., Oct 3rd, 1860, manuscript postmark with matching "Paid" at right on cover to Illinois, "Answered, Jan. 18th, 1861" docketing; cover slightly reduced at right with small opening tear in bottom right corner, otherwise Very Fine, the earliest of four recorded manuscript postmarks from Boulder, Nebraska Territory (see the census in Charles W. Winter's Nebraska Postal History). Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
Twenty five miles to the northwest of Auraria and barely across line into Nebraska Territory, Boulder came into existence as an entry point to the mountains and the newly discovered gold mines. Of the seven post offices that where authorized in the portion of Nebraska Territory that eventually became a part of Colorado, postmarks are only known from Boulder. For administrative purposes the Boulder Post Office appears as being part of Kansas Territory.
Realized: $3,500
Lot
598
Breckinridge, Utah Ter'y, 13th Sept 1860, manuscript postmark on cover to Iowa franked with 1857 3¢ tied (slightly defective at top) by matching manuscript cancel, neat docketing on face, Very Fine, this is the earlier of two known covers from the only post office in that part of Utah Territory that is now Colorado, a stunning Colorado rarity. Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
Named for Vice President and presidential candidate John C. Breckinridge, the town later changed its spelling to Breckenridge after its namesake's support of the Confederacy in 1861. This cover sold for $17,000 hammer in our February 2008 auction sale.
Realized: $8,000
Lot
599
to 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. Estimate $150 - 200.
Apparently, the knowledge of the creation of Colorado Territory was not yet widespread.
Realized: $180
Lot
600
"Cherry Creek", directive in early ca. 1858-59 letter…Write to me and direct my letters to Cherry Creek Head Quarters via Fort Laramie, letter mentions scarcity postage stamps, traveling to Elk Horn City and Fremont, with 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Omaha, N.T.; reduction at left, Very Fine, a very early usage from Cherry Creek. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Early mails to and from the new settlements, were often carried back to the Missouri River towns by travelers. The settlers privately contracted with William Smith to operate a letter express between Cherry Creek and Fort Laramie. The quote from this letter acknowledges the lack of government mail service to the Cherry Creek settlements. The writer, Will (W.D. McClain) is known to have arrived at Cherry Creek on November 2, 1858.
Realized: $500
Lot
601
Denver City, K.T., Aug 22, 1860 "Tombstone" Postmark, clear strike of san-serif date stamp (first type) on incoming cover addressed to "Denver City, Pikes Peak", franked with 1857, 3¢ dull red tied by Minnesota cds; 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. Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $575
Lot
602
Denver City, K.T., Aug 23, 1860 "Tombstone" Postmark, clear strike of san-serif date stamp (first type) on cover to Ohio, with full clear "Hinckley & Co.'s Express, Denver City, Aug 23, 1860" cds, franked with 1857, 3¢ dull red (s.e. at right) tied by grid handstamp, manuscript "Nevada City, K.T., Aug 16th" docketing at left and pencil "8" possible express rate notation, Very Fine, a rare express combination usage of the Denver City san-serif tombstone postmark, known in use for only two weeks in August of 1860. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
This letter originated in Nevada City, K.T. where there was no post office until early the next year. It was carried by Hinckley & Co.'s Express to Denver City where it placed in the mails on August 23, 1860. It was most likely carried eastward by the Central Overland, California and Pike's Peak Express Co.
Realized: $3,500
Lot
603
Denver City, K.T., Nov 7, 1860 "Tombstone" Postmark, clear strike of serifed date stamp (second type) on cover to Ripon, Wis., franked with 1857, 3¢ dull red, gutter margin single canceled by grid handstamp, with original enclosure datelined "Missouri City, Nov. 10th/60"; stamp with small margin tear at lower right and cover slightly reduced at right, otherwise Very Fine. Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $1,000
Lot
604
Denver City, K.T., Feb 11, 1861 "Tombstone" Postmark (Unorganized Territory), bold full serifed postmark (third type) on cover to Oswego, Ind., franked with 1857, 3¢ dull red canceled by grid handstamp; cover slightly reduced at left and stamp with minor corner nick at bottom right, still Very Fine, a rare usage of the Denver City K.T. Tombstone date stamp used after Kansas had become a state on January 29th and before the formation of Colorado Territory on February 28th of 1861. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Realized: $6,000