Lot
619 
Fort Whipple, Arizona, Apr. 26, 1864. / By Military Express. }, red two-line handstamp at left on legal-size "Territory of Arizona, Office of the Governor" imprint cover to Washington D.C. with manuscript "Las Cruces N.M., May 14 /64" postmark and matching ms. cancelling 3¢ rose (65) pair and single, faults, prepaying three-times the 3¢ letter rate; edge flaws, Fine and rare use. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
THE ONLY RECORDED RED STRIKE OF THE EXTREMELY RARE FORT WHIPPLE TWO-LINE MILITARY EXPRESS DATESTAMP.
Only one other example of this Fort Whipple Military Express datestamp is reported, also incompletely struck in black.
There is another Las Cruces N.M. use dated Apr. 30th 1864 (Dike Collection, Frajola sale 18, lot 443) with a descriptive letter headed "Fort Whipple, Arizona" that mentions "We have no mail facilities and … have to send out an express".
Realized: $1,350