Lot
146 
Esmeralda/Aurora, "Esmeralda, Cal., March 17/62" (Mono), manuscript postmark (MON-650; R-5) on 1860, 3¢ pink entire addressed to San Francisco; sealed cover tear at top slightly affecting postmark, otherwise Very Fine, This is the earliest recorded example in Williams. Estimate $300 - 400.
Esmeralda is one of the most interesting post offices in the history of California and Nevada. It was opened in Mono county on September 9, 1861 and after a boundary dispute was discovered on Sept. 16, 1863 to be in Nevada Terr. It was transferred to Nevada on January 20, 1864. The postmaster, even before the dispute was settled, ordered an Esmeralda (Nevada Terr.) postmark resulting in the "N.T." usages during the California period. On February 27, 1866 the post office name was change to the real town name of Aurora.
Realized: $2,000