Lot
46 
(New Mexico) Fort Union N.M., Sept 3rd, 1852, manuscript New Mexico Territory military postmark with matching pen strokes tying 1851, 3¢ dull red (11A), rich color, on blue folded letter to St. Louis, Mo., with original lengthy four-page letter from Gov. William Carr Lane that mentions using chloroform and ether for illness, traveling 100 miles to Santa Fe with Major Carleton with stations all the way, etc., Extremely Fine and choice, ex-Meroni.Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
AN EXTREMELY RARE EARLY FORT UNION N.M. TERRITORY MILITARY POSTMARK USAGE.
The sender, William Carr Lane, was a doctor by profession and elected the first Mayor of St. Louis. He served from 1823 to 1829 and elected again in 1837 to 1840. In 1852, President Fillmore appointed him also the Governor of Territory of New Mexico where he severed a two year term from 1852 to 1853.