(Mail Routes) Chorpenning Contract Route and Woodson Contract Route. 1853-55 10¢ Nesbitt entire postmarked with "Placerville, Cal./Dec. 11" (1859) cds to New York with manuscript endorsement "By Salt Lake", entire with lengthy original enclosure which talks of the newly constructed Salt Lake Stage Road (Chorpenning Route), "We have a good wagon road over the dreaded Sierra Mountains to Carson Valley - constructed this season & is 85 miles long over which the mail from the States passes in a 4 horse coach or wagon weekly.", "I may send this by the Salt Lake Route so that it may pass over the same road that I did in coming out here…", plus much more regarding the City of Placerville & life in California, part of flap torn away, Very Fine and attractive, a wonderful & historic item. Estimate  $400 - 600. Carried on the Chorpenning Route to Salt Lake City and on the Woodson Route to Independence, Mo. This service primarily benefited those offices between California and Missouri who would otherwise have to rely on private mail services. The route was rarely used for mail between California and the East. $0 (Image)

(Mail Routes) Chorpenning Contract Route and Woodson Contract Route. 1853-55 10¢ Nesbitt entire postmarked with "Yreka, Cal./Mar. 29, 1859" cds to St. Louis, Mo. with manuscript endorsement "via Salt Lake Route", Very Fine and attractive. Estimate  $300 - 400. Carried on the Chorpenning Route to Salt Lake City and on the Woodson Route to Independence, Mo. $0 (Image)