Lot
466 
(Trail Letters) William Stackpole Correspondence 1849-50. Group of three letters from Wm Stackpole to his mother in South Thompson, Maine on his overland journey to the gold field in California, first is a 4-page letter datelined "Near St. Joseph, Mo., May 6th/49" with vivid details of his trip to the frontier of Missouri…We are now encamped five miles west of the town on the opposite side the Missouri in the territory of the friendly Indians who have been removed from the U.S., mentions the mass westward emigration…There are hundreds and hundreds of wagons on the road en route for California and it is estimated that there will be 5,000 emigrants leaving St. Joseph for California this season., second is a 2-page folded letter datelined "Fort Hall, July 20th, 1849" and sent almost a year later with manuscript "G.S.L.C. Cal., July 11/50" postmark (Utah Territory) and matching "40" rate, letter mentions the sending of the letter and the wonders encountered on the journey…We have just arrived here and as an opportunity is now offered to send letters to the States by the Government Express I hasten to inform you of my whereabouts…I should like to give you some account of many parts of this trip as well as a description of many great natural curiosities such as the Court House Rock, Chimney Rock, The Devils Gate (where the Sweetwater passes through a perpendicular chasm in the Rock 400 feet in height) of Ice Spring, Bear Spring, Steamboat Spring, etc., third is a 3-page fold letter in care of friend back to the east coast with red "New York, 10cts, Sept 5" cds, datelined "San Francisco, June 12th, 1850" regarding his mining on Bear River and sending gold back…Accompanying this you will receive from Mess. Adams & Co.s express seventy five ounces (75oz) gold dust which I hope will neat you something over thirteen hundred dollars.; some light cover staining, F.-V.F., a fascinating overland correspondence to the gold fields in California. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
Realized: $6,250