64 |
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3c Dull Red (26). Wide
straddle-pane margin at left, tied by "Fort Smith Ark. 13 Jan." (ca. 1859)
circular datestamp on cover with 4-Horse Stagecoach and "Via Visalia &
Los Angeles" banner corner card, endorsed "Telegraphic" and
addressed to the National Telegraph Office in St. Louis, ms. "pd 35c" for
telegraph fee, minor soiling and cover fold at bottom VERY FINE. AN
EXTREMELY RARE USE OF THE VISALIA AND LOS ANGELES STAGECOACH ENVELOPE IN
CONNECTION WITH A TELEGRAPH DISPATCH FROM ST. LOUIS. According to
Thomas J. Alexander, "Reporters along the Butterfield Overland Mail Route
carried information concerning events in the West. At the first telegraph
office, the information was transmitted to newspapers in the East. When the
Butterfield operations began, the National Telegraph Office in St. Louis
was at the terminus, not only of the route, but also of the furthest
westward extension of any telegraph line. Later, the wire was extended to
Springfield, Missouri" (http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/statepostalhistory/Missouri-
Western_Frontier.pdf). This stagecoach envelope was undoubtedly used by
one of the news reporters to mail a telegraphic message from Fort Smith
Ark. to St. Louis, where it could be sent electronically from the National
Telegraph Office. The Alexander article illustrates two envelopes with
similar printed addresses, which bear 3c 1857 stamps but were not
postmarked because they never entered the mails. Ex Baker, Grunin and
Piller (Image) |
E. 2,000-3,000
SOLD for $5,750.00
Will close during Public Auction |