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[Indians - Cherokee Nation] "New Echota Ga, Feb 4", lengthy folded letter from Rev. Samuel Worcester to his brother Samuel Chandler in Bedford, New Hampshire, datelined "New Echota; Cherokee Nation, February 1, 1833", trace of edge wear, Very Fine and choice, ex-Chase, Bleuler. Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
DR. CHASE'S NOTE ON THE REVERSE READS "THE ONLY RECORDED COVER FROM CHEROKEE NATION (OF WHICH NEW ECHOTA WAS THE CAPITAL) IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA BEFORE THE CHEROKEES WERE MOVED WEST/FULLY DATED COVER - AN EXTREME RARITY".
Reverend Worcester was a missionary of the American Board (Congregational-Presbyterian) and was an advocate of the Cherokees in Georgia starting in 1825. He starts this letter with "…you will learn, perhaps to your surprise, that I am no longer in prison", as he was heavily persecuted for his stand with the Cherokees and eventually moved to the Indian Territory when the Cherokees were removed from Georgia over the "The Trail of Tears".