Lot
12 
(Arkansas) "Arkansas 29 April", manuscript territorial postmark on 1828 folded letter to Bangor Me., interesting letter to writer's brother, mentioning bad weather including hurricanes, going to the lead mines in Missouri and "matrimonial affairs… still unsettled,", Very Fine and rare. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Realized: $750
Lot
13
(California) Monterey, Cal., folded letter datelined "U.S. Ship Warren, Monterey, December 28th. 1848" and with Monterey "Ship 8" manuscript rating to Doct. Robert F. Maccom, U.S. Ship Ohio, Mazatlan, Mexico, manuscript endorsement "Per brig Euphemia", interesting content, Extremely Fine. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
A FASCINATING EARLY NAVAL CALIFORNIA COVER FROM MONTEREY SENT JUST AFTER THE MEXICAN WAR.
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Realized: $3,250
Lot
14
(Colorado) Denver Colo. May 12, territorial cds duplexed with grid cancel ties 10¢ brown, 12¢ blackish violet (Scott 161, 162) on 1874 cover to Bombay, India, red "Chicago Ill. Am. Pkt. '18' " credit exchange postmark, red London (6.1.74) transit and matching "1d" colonial credit handstamp also ties stamps, Sea Post Office (6.19) backstamp, Very Fine and rare use from Colorado Territory to India; signed by Ashbrook on reverse. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
THE ONLY RECORDED COLORADO TERRITORIAL USAGE TO INDIA.
This cover was prepaid for the 22¢ British mail rate via Southampton. Colorado was a Territory until August 1, 1876.
Realized: $3,000
Lot
15
(Colorado) Fort Garland Colo Apr 15, partial clear strike of cds with matching quartered corks on 2¢ brown (157) pair and 6¢ dull pink (159) on Col. James Bassel correspondence cover to Hong Kong, China at the 10¢ trans-pacific rate, endorsed "Via San Francisco" at lower left, Hong Kong (6.5.75) arrival backstamp, top part of letter only with "Fort Garland C.T., April 15/75" dateline accompanies; small opening tear lower left, Very Fine and rare use, ex-Beals; with 2016 P.F. certificate. Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
THE ONLY RECORDED COLORADO TERRITORY USE TO HONG KONG, CHINA.
Col. James Bassel was a West Point graduate (class of 1867) who had served at Fort Garland and went to Egypt in 1874 as part of a contingent of American Soldiers and Veterans recruited by Khedive Isma'il in an effort to improve Egypt's army. Apart from their role in training the Egyptian army, the Americans supervised engineering projects and conducted important mapping expeditions in the Nile River region. Bassel was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of Engineers, but served less than a year because "his unfitness for Egyptian service was apparent from the day of his arrival."After leaving Egypt he was employed in China and Japan by an American ship builder. Lieutenant-Colonel Bassel returned to the United States and ran unsuccessfully for congress in 1878. (see Trepel's article: "The Bassel Correspondence: An American Soldier in Egypt", Chronicle 230, May 2011, pp. 139-145).
Lot
16
(Illinois - Chicago) Washn. City, Mar 23, cds with matching free handstamp "H. Dearborn" free frank signature on folded War Department cover to Philadelphia Pa., original letter (separated) datelined "War Department, March 23d. 1805" and reads "Your letter of the 19th inst. is received. Orders will be sent to Mr Ingels to deliver the white cotton cloths for printing. The Factory at Chikago will be substituted for that now at Detroit and the latter discontinued. I am Sir. very respectfully Your. Ob. Hum. Servt. H Dearborn". Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
A RARE HENRY DEARBORN ALS LETTER WITH "CHIKAGO" SPELLED WITH A "K" AS IT WAS KNOWN AT THIS TIME.
Henry Dearborn was Secretary of War under President Thomas Jefferson, 1801-1809. Fort Dearborn was named after him and important in Chicago's history.
Lot
17
(New Mexico) Cimarron, New Mexico, Aug 17 1867, bold strike of blue double-circle datestamp with manuscript "Paid 3¢" rating on orange cover to Delaware Oh., original enclosed letter datelined "Cimarron New Mexico Aug 17th/67" with farmer telling of problems in harvesting hay for government; reduced slightly at right, upper right corner repair, Fine and rare; with 2015 P.F. certificate. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
THIS IS AN EXCEEDINGLY SCARCE USE AND THE STAMPLESS LISTING EXAMPLE BY CHASE.
Realized: $725
Lot
18
(Wyoming) Ft. Laramie, O.R., June 15, complete sharp strike of cds with manuscript date on folded letter to New York City, manuscript "5" rate at top, with three-page letter datelined "Encampment opposite Fort Laramie, June 9th, 1852", letter with interesting content regarding the trip out west…We helped to shoot a Buffalo and one of our young men an Antelope so they had fresh meat plenty. The Indians keep away from us for fear of the Cholera and small pox which they are told we bring with us. mentions women dying of the former…they dug the grave before she ceased to breathe!, mention of eventual arrival in Sacramento, etc., Very Fine and choice. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
BELIEVED TO BE THE FINEST STRIKE OF THE RARE FT. LARAMIE OREGON ROUTE CIRCULAR POSTMARK.
A Post Office at Fort Laramie on the Oregon Route or Oregon Trail across the plains was established in 1850. The Post Office was located in unorganized territory but attached to Oregon Territory for administrative purposes and was the last Post Office on the Oregon Trail going west.
Realized: $4,500