Lot
21 
[Indians - Pawnee] Pawnee Indian Raid on Council Grove, Kansas Mo. Sep 28, cds ties 1857, 3¢ dull red, staddle s.e. at left, on 1860 yellow cover to J.W. Denver in Sacramento, Cal., printed "Northrup & Co., Bankers, Kansas City, Mo." corner card, endorsed "Via Overland", straightline "Due 7" handstamp, original 1860 illustrated letterhead enclosure with splitting along fold; some cover faults, Fine and scarce use. Scott No. 26 Estimate $400 - 600.
This letter was sent to Sacramento via the Butterfield Overland Mail prepaid 3¢ (less than 3,000 miles between Kansas City and San Francisco). The postmaster at Kansas City (still called "Kansas") was not aware of this special rate and marked the cover DUE 7 to make up the normal 10¢ rate for mail traveling more than 3,000 miles.
The enclosure addressed to John W. Denver in his capacity as former Commissioner of Indian Affairs concerns a bank's claim against the Pawnee Indians: "You will no doubt remember the claim which we had against the Pawnee Indians for stealing horses from our Trading House at Council Grove and will also remember the fact of Mr. Munken having went up to Pawnee Village & meeting you & the Indians, thats when the Indians promised to pay for the horses stolen…".
Realized: $3,500