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The John Birkinbine II Collection of of Arizona and New Mexico Postal History continued...

Arizona Area of New Mexico Territory
Lot Sym. Lot Description  
1036 c ImageAlbuquerque NM April 27th” (ca 1855) Manuscript Postmark--Fort Defiance to Albuquerque by Military Express, then by Stage to Santa Fe, and by Hall-Hockaday Contract Mail to Independence, Missouri. 3¢ Red on White Nesbitt entire (U9) addressed in the hand of Harriet L. Shaw--the wife of Rev. John Milton Shaw, a Baptist schoolteacher who served as military chaplain at Fort Defiance from 1853 to 1856--to Harriet’s mother, Lusanna Bidwell, in North Clarendon, Vermont, carried by military express from Fort Defiance to Albuquerque, entered post office with manuscript postmark, then carried by stage to Santa Fe and from there to Independence, small tear at top into postmark, minor restoration--reported to be the earliest cover from Fort Defiance--ex Dr. Dike and Shipley (Image)

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 E. 1,000-1,500

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction
1037 c ImageFort Fillmore NM August 20/56” Manuscript Postmark--Military Express from Fort Fillmore to Fort Stanton, New Mexico, via Albuquerque. 3¢ Red on Buff Nesbitt entire (U10) addressed to Capt. A. W. Bowman at Fort Stanton with sender’s directive via Albuquerque”, since Fort Stanton did not have a post office at this time, this was carried by military express, slight toning, Very Fine, one of three reported Fort Fillmore postmarks and notable with an address to another territorial fort--Fort Fillmore was established in September 1851, it was occupied by the Confederate army in 1861, then occupied briefly by the California Volunteers before U.S. officials closed it in 1862--Fort Stanton was established in 1855 and named for Capt. Henry W. Stanton, who was killed in January 1855 during a campaign against Apaches--ex Everett (Image)

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 E. 2,000-3,000

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction
1038 c ImageFort Fillmore N.M. June 5th 1858” Manuscript Postmark--Fort Fillmore to Albuquerque by Military Express, then by Stage to Santa Fe, and by Hall-Hockaday Contract Mail to Independence, Missouri. Pen X” cancel on 3¢ Dull Red, Ty. III (26), a few short perfs, on yellow cover to Philadelphia, slightly reduced and small tear at left, a bit soiled, otherwise Fine, one of three reported postmarks from Fort Fillmore, located in the Arizona portion of New Mexico Territory from 1851 to 1862, in June 1858 the Butterfield Route had not yet started operations, so this was sent north to Santa Fe for the Hall-Hockaday stage to Independence (Image)

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 E. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $1,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
1039 c ImageSocorro NM June 3” (1859)--Socorro to Albuquerque by Military Express, then by Stage to Santa Fe, and by Hall-Porter Contract Mail to Independence, Missouri. Pen cancel on 3¢ Dull Red, Ty. III (26), corner crease, on cover addressed in the hand of Harriet L. Shaw--the wife of Rev. John Milton Shaw, a Baptist schoolteacher who served as military chaplain at Fort Defiance from 1853 to 1856--to Miss Cornelia A. Bidwell, Wolcott, N.Y., pencil receipt docketing with 1859 yeardate, John Birkinbine states that this was picked up by a military express rider en route from Fort Craig to Albuquerque, then by stage to Santa Fe and further on to Independence, slightly reduced at right and edge tears, otherwise Fine, after Shaw resigned as chaplain at Fort Defiance, the family moved to Socorro in 1857, this is an extremely rare early Socorro postmark (Vincente St. Vrain was postmaster from Nov. 2, 1855, to Nov. 8, 1860)--ex Everett and Shipley (Image)

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 E. 1,000-1,500

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction
1040 c ImageFort Defiance N.M. Sept. 12” (1857) Manuscript Postmark--Fort Defiance to Albuquerque by Military Express, then by Stage to Santa Fe, and by Hall-Hockaday Contract Mail to Independence, Missouri. Neat pen strokes on 3¢ Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), slightly cut in, corner creases and tiny tear, on buff cover addressed to Mrs. Eliza G. Ridgway, care of Child, Shepherd & Ridgway, 15 Tremont Street, Boston (this firm practiced dentistry and advertised half-price service to clergymen), small notation Beads” (Indian beads?)

VERY FINE. THIS IS REPORTED TO BE THE EARLIEST OF THE FEW KNOWN MANUSCRIPT POSTMARKS FROM FORT DEFIANCE, USED BEFORE THE CIRCULAR DATESTAMP WAS IMPLEMENTED.

Fort Defiance, the first military post in present-day Arizona (then part of New Mexico Territory), was established on September 18, 1851, by Col. Edwin V. Sumner during his campaign against the Navajo. The conflicts with Navajo, generally over use of land for grazing and theft of livestock, escalated into two major attacks—one in 1856 and another in 1860. In 1861, with the start of the Civil War, the U.S. Army abandoned Fort Defiance. It was reestablished as Fort Canby in 1863. The fort did not have a U.S. post office until the appointment of John E. Weber as postmaster on April 9, 1856. The post office was discontinued on October 21, 1863. There was no mail contract for service to and from the fort, so military couriers were used to bring mail to Albuquerque, where it was carried by stage to Santa Fe and from there by the Hall-Hockaday contract mail stage to Independence.

This and the covers in lots 1043 and 1044 are from the same sender and are dated in September 1857 and June-July 1858, which corresponds to the periods in which members of the Beale Expedition were located at Fort Defiance. This expedition was tasked with exploring the roads from Fort Defiance west to the Colorado River, which resulted in the construction of Beale’s Wagon Road. Camels imported from the Middle East were tested for the first time on this expedition. We have not been able to establish a connection between the name Ridgway and the Beale Expedition.

Ex Dr. Dike and Everett (Image)

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 E. 3,000-4,000

SOLD for $5,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
1041 c ImageFt Defiance N.M. Dec 28th” (1857) Manuscript Postmark--Fort Defiance to Albuquerque by Military Express, then by Stage to Santa Fe, and by Hall-Hockaday Contract Mail to Independence, Missouri. Postmark and wavy line ties 3¢ Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), ample margins to slightly in, on blue folded letter datelined Fort Defiance NM Dec. 27, 1857” from 1st Lieut. John P. Hatch (awarded Medal of Honor in Civil War) to Hon. M. P. Hatch, Oswego, New York, receipt docketing (with 1858” yeardate error), file crease through stamp

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MANUSCRIPT FORT DEFIANCE POSTMARK.

Fort Defiance, the first military post in present-day Arizona (then part of New Mexico Territory), was established on September 18, 1851, by Col. Edwin V. Sumner during his campaign against the Navajo. The conflicts with Navajo, generally over use of land for grazing and theft of livestock, escalated into two major attacks—one in 1856 and another in 1860. In 1861, with the start of the Civil War, the U.S. Army abandoned Fort Defiance. It was reestablished as Fort Canby in 1863. The fort did not have a U.S. post office until the appointment of John E. Weber as postmaster on April 9, 1856. The post office was discontinued on October 21, 1863. There was no mail contract for service to and from the fort, so military couriers were used to bring mail to Albuquerque, where it was carried by stage to Santa Fe and from there by the Hall-Hockaday contract mail stage to Independence.

This letter contains an interesting report on postal arrangements: After this we expect our mail with more regularity as Major Brooks has established a semi-monthly mail to Albuquerque...”

Ex Rubel and Longfellow (Image)

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 E. 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $2,200.00
Will close during Public Auction
1042 c ImageSanta Fe N.M. 1 Feb.” (1853). Circular datestamp ties 3¢ Orange Red, Ty. II (11A), ample margins, on folded letter from Harriet L. Shaw, wife of Rev. John Milton Shaw, datelined Santa Fe Jan. 28th 52”--which must be 1853, based on her mention of her infant son Georgie,” who was born in 1852--to her mother Lusanna Bidwell in North Clarendon, Vermont, carried on Waldo-Hall contract mail stage to Independence, Missouri, at the time of writing the Shaw family preparing to depart for Fort Defiance, where Rev. Shaw was appointed military chaplain, she mentions We leave tomorrow for our distant Navajo home,” Very Fine, ex Shipley (Image)

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 E. 1,000-1,500

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction
1043 c ImageFort Defiance N.M. Jun. 3” (1858) Circular Datestamp--Fort Defiance to Albuquerque by Military Express, then by Stage to Santa Fe, and by Hall-Hockaday Contract Mail to Independence, Missouri. 3¢ Dull Red, Ty. III (26), tied by circular datestamp on buff cover addressed to Mrs. Eliza G. Ridgway, care of Child, Shepherd & Ridgway, 15 Tremont Street, Boston (this firm practiced dentistry and advertised half-price service to clergymen), same correspondence as lot 1040--possibly connected to the Beale Expedition

VERY FINE. ONE OF FIVE REPORTED COVERS WITH THE FORT DEFIANCE DATESTAMP.

Fort Defiance, the first military post in present-day Arizona (then part of New Mexico Territory), was established on September 18, 1851, by Col. Edwin V. Sumner during his campaign against the Navajo. The conflicts with Navajo, generally over use of land for grazing and theft of livestock, escalated into two major attacks—one in 1856 and another in 1860. In 1861, with the start of the Civil War, the U.S. Army abandoned Fort Defiance. It was reestablished as Fort Canby in 1863. The fort did not have a U.S. post office until the appointment of John E. Weber as postmaster on April 9, 1856. The post office was discontinued on October 21, 1863. There was no mail contract for service to and from the fort, so military couriers were used to bring mail to Albuquerque, where it was carried by stage to Santa Fe and from there by the Hall-Hockaday contract mail stage to Independence.

Ex Dr. Dike and Shipley (Image)

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 E. 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $2,100.00
Will close during Public Auction
1044 c ImageFort Defiance N.M. Jul. 16” (1858) Circular Datestamp--Fort Defiance to Albuquerque by Military Express, then by Stage to Santa Fe, and by Hall-Porter Contract Mail to Independence, Missouri. 3¢ Red on Buff Nesbitt entire (U10) with clear strike of datestamp, addressed to Dr. James Shepherd, care of Child, Shepherd & Ridgway, 15 Tremont Street, Boston (this firm practiced dentistry and advertised half-price service to clergymen), correspondence related to lots 1040 and 1043--possibly connected to the Beale Expedition

EXTREMELY FINE. THE FINEST KNOWN STRIKE OF THE RARE FORT DEFIANCE DATESTAMP.

Fort Defiance, the first military post in present-day Arizona (then part of New Mexico Territory), was established on September 18, 1851, by Col. Edwin V. Sumner during his campaign against the Navajo. The conflicts with Navajo, generally over use of land for grazing and theft of livestock, escalated into two major attacks—one in 1856 and another in 1860. In 1861, with the start of the Civil War, the U.S. Army abandoned Fort Defiance. It was reestablished as Fort Canby in 1863. The fort did not have a U.S. post office until the appointment of John E. Weber as postmaster on April 9, 1856. The post office was discontinued on October 21, 1863. There was no mail contract for service to and from the fort, so military couriers were used to bring mail to Albuquerque, where it was carried by stage to Santa Fe and from there by the Hall-Hockaday contract mail stage to Independence. (Image)

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 E. 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $1,100.00
Will close during Public Auction
1045 c Image12¢ Black (17). Horizontal pair, large to huge margins except at upper left, tied by Fort Defiance N.M. Aug. 18” (1858) circular datestamp on buff cover to Sessenheim, France--carried from Fort Defiance to Albuquerque by military express, then by stage to Santa Fe, and by Hall-Porter contract mail to Independence--red New York Paid 6 Sep. 25” 6¢ credit datestamp, ET-UNIS SERV. AM. A.C. D 2 OCT 58” arrival datestamp, Paris and Paris-to-Strasbourg transit and receiving backstamps (all dated Oct. 12, 1858), left stamp has diagonal scoring line, backflap reattached

VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING AND EXTREMELY RARE COVER TO EUROPE FROM FORT DEFIANCE IN NEW MEXICO TERRITORY.

Fort Defiance, the first military post in present-day Arizona (then part of New Mexico Territory), was established on September 18, 1851, by Col. Edwin V. Sumner during his campaign against the Navajo. The conflicts with Navajo, generally over use of land for grazing and theft of livestock, escalated into two major attacks—one in 1856 and another in 1860. In 1861, with the start of the Civil War, the U.S. Army abandoned Fort Defiance. It was reestablished as Fort Canby in 1863. The fort did not have a U.S. post office until the appointment of John E. Weber as postmaster on April 9, 1856. The post office was discontinued on October 21, 1863. There was no mail contract for service to and from the fort, so military couriers were used to bring mail to Albuquerque, where it was carried by stage to Santa Fe and from there by the Hall-Hockaday contract mail stage to Independence.

The 12¢ pair overpays the 15¢ treaty rate to France. The sender might have been confused about the applicable rate and incorrectly applied the postage for a letter to England. (Image)

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 E. 5,000-7,500

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction
1046 c Image10¢ Green, Ty. III/II/III (33/32/33). Vertical strip of three, bottom stamp reperfed at bottom and faulty, tied by Fort Defiance N.M. Jan. 14” (1859) circular datestamp on cover to Sessenheim, France--carried from Fort Defiance to Albuquerque by military express, then by stage to Santa Fe, and by Hall-Porter contract mail to Independence--red New York Paid 12 Feb. 19” 12¢ credit datestamp, ET-UNIS SERV. AM. A.C. C 2 MAR 59” arrival datestamp, transit and receiving backstamps (blurry strikes), cleaned to remove some soiling

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE COVER TO EUROPE FROM FORT DEFIANCE IN NEW MEXICO TERRITORY.

Fort Defiance, the first military post in present-day Arizona (then part of New Mexico Territory), was established on September 18, 1851, by Col. Edwin V. Sumner during his campaign against the Navajo. The conflicts with Navajo, generally over use of land for grazing and theft of livestock, escalated into two major attacks—one in 1856 and another in 1860. In 1861, with the start of the Civil War, the U.S. Army abandoned Fort Defiance. It was reestablished as Fort Canby in 1863. The fort did not have a U.S. post office until the appointment of John E. Weber as postmaster on April 9, 1856. The post office was discontinued on October 21, 1863. There was no mail contract for service to and from the fort, so military couriers were used to bring mail to Albuquerque, where it was carried by stage to Santa Fe and from there by the Hall-Hockaday contract mail stage to Independence.

Illustrated in Brookman, Vol. I (p. 225) (Image)

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 E. 5,000-7,500

SOLD for $4,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

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