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Quick Navigation by Category  The Dr. James Milgram Collection of Western Postal (204)   |  United States (550)   | 
 

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Schuyler J. Rumsey Philatelic Auctions Sale - 129

The Dr. James Milgram Collection of Western Postal History

Western Trail and Historic Letters - California
LotNo. Symbol CatNo. Lot Description
501       imageBrig Funchal off the coast of California, 27th Jany 1830. Datelined on folded letter addressed "Messrs Fredk Huth & Co., London" [England], written by Scottish trader Stephen Anderson, writing about a shipment of 16,400 hides he was sending to London on the Brig Funchal to obtain insurance for the shipment, the ship's captain John Hart, added a note on the interior upon his June 4 arrival at Rio de Janeiro, "I have to inform you that the "Funchal" putting into this port after a fine passage of 121 days from California. The highs are in excellent condition as far as can be seen under the deck where they have been settled. We should leave this in eight days for London and hope to have a quick passage", carried privately, docketed on reverse "1830, Stephen Anderson, California 27 Jany, John Hart, Rio Jano 4 June, rec'd 9 Augt, Answd", light toning, especially at folds, still, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $1,500 - 2,000.

A VERY RARE EARLY LETTER WHICH ORIGINATED OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA IN 1830.

As discussed in "Mails of the Westward Expansion" by Frajola & Walske on page 58, this letter is yet another "duplicate" to the one discussed in that book, sent to ensure communication. (Image1)

Est. $1,500-2,000
Selling for...$750.00
Will close during Public Auction
502       imageChilian Camp, Tuolumne County, California, Tuesday, 3d Mo [Mar] 23 [1850]. Dateline on four-page bluish paper letter (no cover) from a gold miner writing to his sisters, in part, "…I suppose there is letters in Stockton Post Office for me, which I should recd. ere this but for the mismanagement of the Express which brought our letters. I have taken my name from their books & shall send for my letters this week by private conveyance…your appeals that I must start immediately for my Home in New England, and leave these beautiful, sequestered shades of California, these beautiful green vales with their flowers of a thousand different hues, these elevated mountains whose tops are so romanticly capt with snow these swift majestic Rivers whose deep waters bound swiftly, forming and dashing towards the broad, blue & placid Pacific…wild independent life of a miner who has no cares to assail him no troubles to grim him & no girls to plague him, or steal his heart away; think you I can leave this beautiful land without a feeling of regret. No Dear Sisters be assured I cannot without feeling deep regreat when I shall take leave of these familiar scenes where I have spent in peace & tranquility eleven months of my life undisturbed and unmolested by any human being& in a land too reported by you as so famous for murders & Robbers & crimes of the deepest die…The past week I dug out fifty seven dollars. After realizing such wages it must appear hard when we get home to work for four & sixpence per day yet I hope there are enjoyments to make up for this dificiently." signed Charles [H. Church] and dated to 1850 as it is from the correspondence of the Curtis Creek, Upper California letter also offered in this sale, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (16MB). (Image1)

Est. $200-300
Selling for...$170.00
Will close during Public Auction
503       imageContra Costa County Letters. Two letters (no covers) with detailed contents regarding farming & life in Contra Costa County, the first is datelined "Alamon Valley, Contra Costa. Cal., Nov. 20th, 1856" and the second datelined "San Ramone Valley, Contra Costa Co. [California] Oct 18th/ 57" with interesting contents, in part, "…It is a mountainous country, filled with valleys of all sizes and of the most productive kind. The timber is only sufficient for fire wood. The whole country looks like an Oat field. The soil on the Mountains is as same as the valleys…We have no cold and tedious winters here. our winters will compare with Sept. in the States. For months in the summer we have a clear sky. The days are warm the nights are cool and fine for sleeping and no Mosketoes to sing you to sleep…As to land, Most all the valley land is settled by squatters most the whole country is claimed under Spanish Grants said to have been given by the Mexican government but the most of them are forgeries and are being contested by the settlers…This whole country has by some convulsion of nature been I hoisted up out of the Pacific ocean…We live about 6 miles from Mount Diablo one of the highest peaks in Cal. there is a few Grisley Bear on the Mount that occasionally catch the farmers hogs. There is what is called here Kiota they are like the grey fox that catch pigs and hens.", F.-V.F.
Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1)

Est. $150-200
Selling for...$160.00
Will close during Public Auction
504       imageCurtis Creek, Upper California June 1850. Dateline on four-page letter only (no cover) from a gold miner writing to his sisters, in part, "…I am not disappointed in any respects as many are in regard to this Golden land as it is termed; in fact it far exceended my expectations in regard to everything except the Gold the climate is more healthfull, and agreeable the appearance of the country is beautiful, romantic and sublime, but the Gold is not so easily obtained as many people imagine or so speedily; in fact there are thousands in California who labor dilligently and do not more than earn suficient to pay their board; and from what I can see and learn people do not average more than 4 or 5 dollars per day. I mean to include the whole mumber of people at work in the mines. I think the old mines average proberbly 12 or 16 dollars per day, I know old miners who have made 500 dollars per month since I have been in the mines, yet this is very rare, much depends upon luck, more than upon hard labor, in fact it appears that those who work the least obtain the most, and I have often heard it remarked in the mines that those who spend\ this time and all their money in drinking and gambling rarely fail of meeting with good luck in the mines, but I think I shall not resort to this method in order to procure Gold. Drinking & Gambling is carried on to a great extent here in the mines and thousands of young men are ruined in consequence of these vices, but I intend to shun these vices (as I would a Rattlesnake)…The extent of the mines is some 4 or 500 miles in length and the Lord only knows their width…brother truly, C.H. Church", Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
Selling for...$100.00
Will close during Public Auction
505       imageFormans Ranch, San Joaquin Co. [California] September the 26 1857. Dateline on three-page bluish paper letter only (no cover) relating first-hand graphic account of an Indian massacre, in part, "…I arrived in heare on the 20th the trip across the plains was not as hard as I expected to find it…the Indians comenced depridations in thousand spring valy and hot spring valy that is stealing and runing off stock…down on hurnbolt about one hundred and fifty miles above the sink I saw one of the most horrable hart rending seens I ever witness or hope I ever will again…the next morning the Indians about thirty in number made a charge one them killed three men, two children and one baby and wonded another man and skelped Mrs. Holloway and left her alive. There was two men made there excape. They striped the cloths off the dead and robbed the wagons of everything…the two little children laying close togather, the girls head was split open with a tommahawk, the rest of them their bodys were mangeled shot and cut all to pieces, Mrs. Holoway was standing over the dead body of her husband with the blood streeming down her face and eyes. We berried them all in one grave and then about sixty of us followed the murders…James Ferguson", F.-V.F.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

AN UNBELIEVABLE WESTERN LETTER WITH INCREDIBLE CONTENTS.

Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (13MB). (Image1)

Est. $500-750
Selling for...$750.00
Will close during Public Auction
506       imageIowa Hill, Placer Co., California August 3rd / 56. Dateline on bluish four-page letter only (no cover) with excellent contents discussing vigilante justice, in part, "…We have had very exciting times in Cala for the last 4 months the citizens of San Francisco have been compelled to take the law into their own hands on account of the unjustice of the execution of the law by the officers of San Francisco & in fact the whole of Cala. there is hardly a criminal in the State that ever has received his just punishments this is the cause of the organization of the Vigilance Committee which I presume you have heard of by this time. There was a man by the name of King shot dead by a man named Casey, the people then rose up & formed a vigilance Committee, this Committee has taken the law into their own hands and are still holding it, they hung Casey & a man by the name of Cora in May & last week they hung two more murderers by the names of Hetherington & Brace, they have driven a great many blacklegs out of the State…", the letter goes on to discuss politics, the nomination of Buchanan, etc., slight oxidation (whitening) of the bluish paper in corners, Very Fine.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

AN IMPORTANT CALIFORNIA LETTER WITH HISTORIC CONTENTS REGARDING THE VIGILANTE COMMITTEE.

See also lots 560 & 575. (Image1)

Est. $500-750
Selling for...$250.00
Will close during Public Auction
507       imageLongs Bar, Feather River (California) Feby 22rd 1850. Dateline on folded cover with light red-orange cds "San Francisco 27 Feb" with "40" integral rate within cds addressed to Lancaster, Ohio, contents read, in part, "…I have made several thousand dollars and think I will have enough to cum home in the fall…I have put some gold in the (wax) seal…Edward P. Jenner"; numerous spots of ink discoloration, two vertical file folds, F.-V.F., Very early Feather River mining letter with the miner affixing gold in the wax seal (which has been pried loose).
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (5.9MB). (Image1)

Est. $300-400
Selling for...$150.00
Will close during Public Auction
508       imageNappa, California Feb 23d 1850. Two folded covers from Nappa, California to Fayette, Missouri, first is datelined "Nappa, California Feb 23d 1850" on four-page folded letter mailed with red "New Orleans La. Apr 11 10" integral rate (10¢) datestamp, letter reads, in part, "…I task myself this morning with the pleasure of writing in reply to yours of 19th October '49, which I received yesterday - the only letter since I left the border…The dreams & hardships that gold hunters undergo is lost to the Mindelheim & Kirchheim until a return home…write if you have sent any to Sacramento so that my hand got them, we all have made some money & now could spare you one hundred & fifty dollars were there an opportunity to send it to you…F.D. Willis"; second folded cover with similar dateline of April 10th 1850 and is postmarked with red "New York 10¢ts" integral rate cds, some cover faults, Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (20MB). (Image1)

Est. $300-400
Selling for...$150.00
Will close during Public Auction
509       imageOroville (California), March the 2, 1862. Dateline on letter with great contents which read, in part, "…Sacramento has three times been flooded the Legislature & Governor have gone to San Francisco to finish the session. Oroville at the head of steam navigation on Feather River had her share of water no serious damage done, but few small wooden buildings went down stream…You seem to have the idea that California is so far away that news is stale before its arrival. News was first transmitted by the regular mail steamers, in these days a lightning steamers are snails. Next the overland mail was established which brought letters in eighteen days this at last proved a slow coach. Then come the Pony express bringing letters in ten days the people of California then thought they had reached the night of speed, great celebrations took place on the arrival of the first Pony & rider but, a length the Pony became crablike in its movements & the people become dissatisfied. Now comes the telegraph in the space of three hours in favour of Californians & they are satisfied, we get the war news the following day of every battle…", included is original 1853-55 10¢ Nesbitt entire (U9) uprated with 1861 10¢ green cancelled by waffle grid & postmarked Oroville, Cal. Mar 4 cds to Pennsylvania, cover with edge wear and tears, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

A WONDERFUL LETTER DESCRIBING THE EVOLUTION OF NEWS AND MAIL DELIVERY FROM THE EAST TO CALIFORNIA.

Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (16MB). (Image1)

Est. $300-400
Selling for...$150.00
Will close during Public Auction
510       imagePlacerville, Eldorado County [California] May 6, 1851. Dateline on four-page letter only (no cover) with interesting contents written by a semi-literate gold miner, in part, "…I Arived in san francisco on the I8th of sept after a long and tedious voyage of 8 months on the raging billows. We past through 7 different temperature of wether by crosing the tropicks on the Atlantick, we had to induear intencely hot wether and also on the Pasifick wen we were off Cape horn we had some hard and trying times for 3 weeks we had head winds we war beating against the wind for 10 days and lost 15 miles during the time the wind as blowing a gail our ship became almost unmanageable the rudder post got rect we lost our third mate over board he fell from the yard arm at night he was ingaige in takeing in sail we had a sevear storm the win was chainging and the sails struck him and knock him off. The wether was very cold off cape horn it snowed, we some times had 6 inches of snow on deck, some of the passengers froze their feet we got so far south that some imagined they see the south pole. we were as far as letitude 67.30 we could see the sun north of us about 3 hours and ½ a day it rose just above the horizon…I have become reconsild to Calliforny working moderitly every day digging the precious mettle waiting for luck. The mineers are makeing on and average about $6.00 per day here. I average $I3 per day last week. Wages is from $6 to 8 per day. The rivers and reveans are preaty well dug out all over and they are now searching the hills and mountains they have found new digins 2 miles from this place in a side hille they have to dig from 30 to 35 feet deep and then drifting under ground the is all taking and claime some are doing very well some of the claims are paying $200 per day…Cornelius DeWitt", Very Fine, a nice early miner's letter.
Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
Selling for...$100.00
Will close during Public Auction
511       imageSan Francisco October 29 / 49. Datelined on letter only (no cover) with excellent content which reads, in part, "…As the steamer is about to sail I improve the opportunity by writing you a few lines…We were told that it was a perfect gardain & that the climate of Italy was far in the rear of California. That is a mistake as far as my experiences goes in San Francisco the climate is of the most unpleasant kind…A.P. Sherman from Charlotte was drowned in the Merced River verry soon after we arrived at that place. He had been somewhat out of health for a flew days was I think some what discouraged. He was drowned while bathing allone on the 10 of July…While I worked I averaged about one ounce of gold which is worth 16$ here but it cost a good deal to live…We have had no mail since July which makes three due by this steamer so you see I expect a pile of them…The Panama arrived this afternoon with the mails but is not in time for us to get letters before the Calafornia sails…Servetus Neisham", Very Fine, an excellent early San Francisco letter.
Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1)

Est. $150-200
Selling for...$80.00
Will close during Public Auction
512       imageSan Francisco, Cal. Dec 1 (1849). Bold black cds with matching boxed "40" rate handstamp on folded letter to New York; datelined "San Francisco Nov 28th 1849" the four page letter reads, in part, "were it not for the fact I can't say what I should do in this god forsaken gold concealing, mule-begetting country. It is the damndest hole for a sociable laughter-loving being, that can be found on the globe - and San Francisco is one of the dirtiest spots in that hole…we remained here two weeks and then took passage in the Schr. Eclipse for Sacramento City…When we reach Sacramento City, these gentlemen and ourselves purchased in partnership a seven mule team and a wagon to haul our goods and provisions into the neighborhood of the mines, a distance of some 80 miles. We reached our destination in four or five days, having determined, on the road, to make an entire union of our separate interests to open a store and combine trading with mining…after working three or four days on Bear River, we started for Deer Creek…after three months' absence I scarcely recognized San Francisco when I got here…two houses out of every three are 'hells' in which from morning to night and night to morning the tables are constantly surrounded by ragged miners with purses full of dust endeavoring to double at monte what they have made at mining. Women are more frequently seen in the streets, than formerly, and yoiu can get a pretty good 'snap' now for three ounces who, three months ago, turned up her nose at any less than six…'life in California' is beyond my descriptive powers…Phil W. Keyser", and much more, stain at left, light edge and fold wear, otherwise Very Fine, a great early letter from a true '49er.
Estimate; $300 - 400. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
Selling for...$150.00
Will close during Public Auction
513       imageSan Francisco 10 Feb 40. Light red-orange integral rate (40¢) datestamp on stampless cover to New York with original enclosure datelined "San Francisco February 10th 1850" and reads, in part, "…we arrived in California after a long and tedious journey of one hundred and two days from the States…the Cholera set in wich proved fatal to many…Buffalo wer plenty and nothing is so exciting as a chase after them. we killed several on the road and had fresh meat most of the way…the vast amount of property thrown away by the road side consisting of evry artical Manufactured in the States…Indians wer plenty but peacable until we struch the Humbolt or Marys River a place long to be remembered by the California Emegration as thair was little or no grass for 200 miles…we lost 1/2 of our team thair others faird the same…We arived at Sutters Mills on the 14 of Augst and sent our oxen and wagon to Sakremento…we struck on to Midle Fork of the American River called the Spanish Bar…we evrage from $12 to $16 dollars per day…O Lunington," with much more detail on the mining areas in California; cover with light wear, Very Fine and a wonderful Western Letter.
Estimate; $300 - 400. (Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. $300-400
Selling for...$375.00
Will close during Public Auction
514       imageSan Francisco, Oct 31, 1853. Dateline on three-page letter from the Appraiser General's Office in San Francisco to the postmaster in Boston describing in detail the difficulty in receiving and handling the massive amount of mail, in part…I believe the mails were left on the Isthmus of Panama caused by the accident to the Railroad Bridge…The number of letters passing tho the California mails is perfectly increditable [sic] between 5 & 6 millions annually. And it would be quite impossible to describe the scene which in sues on the arrival of an Atlantic Mail. The whole people turn out in a body and rush for the Post Office. Long lines are formed to every delivery some five or ten and $5 is frequently paid to a man near the window for his chance, he taking his place in the rear. How delicious it is in this far distant part of our land to receive letters from esteemed friends at home., with original newspaper clipping glued to letter "The number of letters passing through the mail last year, from California to the United States, was about 4,400,000 while this year, it will not be less than 5,500,000.", Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (5.6MB). (Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. $200-300
Selling for...$100.00
Will close during Public Auction
515       imageCity of San Francisco, State of Eureka, May 29th, 1850. Dateline on bluish four-page letter only (no cover) contents describing the voyage, etc, in part, "…In the first place I will begin as General Taylor began by saying I have no friends to reward or enemys to punish if I had I would say to the first if you come to California by all means cross the Isthmus, and to the latter be sure to come by way of Cape Hom and if they only have as rough and bad time of the Cape as we had, it would be Punishment enough for them…about-fifty miles-from Valpairaso where intended-to stop and they was the first Land we saw after leaving Cape Cod we arived in Valpairaso the 13th of March 120 Days from Plymouth…the citty contains about 35000 the worst looking and dirtyst Devils I ever saw they are blacker that our Indians their features about the same, those I was told were a mixture of natives and Indians and the most the better sort live back at Santiago…I do not think there is one in fifty among the femails that is good looking and they are as bad as they look (do not let our women see this)…I can give you but a poor account of this place [San Francisco] as I have only been on shore twice since we arived and then for a short time and then it was all most imposible to get through the streets for teams and people of all sizes and colors They say the Fire burned 600 buildings…Wm Bartlett," light toning and fading along folds of the bluish paper, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
Selling for...$160.00
Will close during Public Auction
516       image(Dakota) In camp 10 miles below Ft. Pierre, Sept. 17th '63. Dateline on excellent letter with description of Indian Battle, which reads in part, "We were then about 250 miles north of Fort Pierre, the 29th Gen. Sully sent a detachment of men out scouting, they came in on the day after traveling about 120 miles and reported that they found where Sibley had camped and had a fight with the Indians. The camp was called "Camp Slaughter". On the third our Battalion was sent out scouting and along in the evening we came on to a camp of them. I should think there was 2 to 300 lodges of them. The guides told us there was about 2000 warriors, so our Maj. sent after reinforcements. We received them about sundown. The Indians had packed up their things and most of them had left, but as soon as the rest of our troops arrived we put spurs to our horses and overtook them after about a 6 mile ride, over hills and vales. We brought them back and carelled (corralled) them and had a little fight with them, but I can't give no description of the fight for it was so dark we could not hardly see one another. All I know is that I come out safe our company had one man killed and one wounded.", Very Fine, an important and rare letter describing this Indian Battle.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

The Battle of Whitestone Hill, referred to by the Dakota as the "Whitestone Hill Massacre", took place in 1863 in the Dakota Territory as punishment against the Sioux in the aftermath of the Dakota War of 1862. From September 3 to 5, U.S. Army forces commanded by Brigadier General Alfred Sully attacked a village occupied by Yanktonai, Santee, and Teton (Lakota) Sioux. Accounts of the engagement vary, but estimates suggest that between 150 and 300 Sioux were killed, and approximately 150 to 250 - many of them women and children - were captured. U.S. Army losses were reported at roughly 22 killed and 38 wounded. (Image1)

Est. $500-750
Selling for...$250.00
Will close during Public Auction
517       imageFort Dearborn, Chicago, July 3, 1829. Dateline on four-page folded letter entered the mails with black manuscript "Pogwatigue, M.T. July 7, 1829" postmark and matching "25" rate to Ashby, Mass; letter reads, in part, "…I left St. Louis the 2 of April, & was till the 20 of June in getting all the way down here, to the foot of lake Michigan…I came up the Miss in a steam boat from the mouth of the Wisconsin to the portage between it and the Fox, 200 miles in a log canoe, from thence down the Fox in a Dushern boat, thence to this place in a schooner. I, another of my classmates & a Frenchman occupied the canoe for 8 successive days & were (as we Yankees would say) a little uncomfortably situated the whole time…The passage of this place is called somewhat dangerous especially for loaded boats & an Indian is generally employed as pilot, we came over without harm but not without some danger of it…S.B. Foster," small tear at bottom & minor corner wear, still Very Fine, Likely unique Michigan Territorial manuscript postmark., This cover is the subject of an article by Harvey Karlen in the Feb. 1983 issue of Illinois Postal Historian.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

Fort Dearborn was a United States fort, first built in 1803 beside the Chicago River, in what is now Chicago, Illinois. It was constructed by U.S. troops under Captain John Whistler and named in honor of Henry Dearborn, then United States Secretary of War. The original fort was destroyed following the Battle of Fort Dearborn during the War of 1812, and a replacement Fort Dearborn was constructed on the same site in 1816 and decommissioned by 1837.

Michigan Territory was formed July 1, 1805 and became the state of Michigan on Jan 26, 1837. Pogwatigue post office was established as Carey Station Dec 4, 1828, the name was changed to Pogwatigue Feb 27, 1829 until closure Aug 21, 1841. (Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. $500-750
Selling for...$750.00
Will close during Public Auction
518       imageKearny signed letters, Pair of folded letters signed "S.W. Kearny". Both addressed to Lieut Col E.A. Hitchcock, 3d Regt Infy, Fort Jessup, Louisiana and apparently carried by private military courier under cover; both datelined St. Louis but one year apart; first Nov 18, 1844 and reads, in part, "…Hurrah for Polk & Dallas - for Texas and Oregon. The election is over Thank God & as far as the army is concerned, I think we may return our thanks for the result. Mr. Clay never was a friend to us…Rumor & reports…that you are about marching to the Texian frontier to protect the inhabitants of that country from attacks from Indians…some of the Sissiton Sioux in August killed a white man on the waters of the North Red River (100 miles or so from Lake Traverse). I sent Lieut. Col. Wilson with the Infy from Fort Snelling and Sumner's Dragoons from Fort Atkinson into their country-about about 30 miles North of the Lake, the Col. fell in with the chiefs &c and they delivered up to him 4 of their men charged with being concerned in the murder. He was taking the prisoners to Fort Snelling without any kind of interruption from the Indians, when they one night made their escape from the Guard, & thus saved themselves from confinement, and living on Pork & Beans…S.W. Kearny", letter goes on to describe a battle with Indians north in Minnesota; second letter datelined April 10, 1845, also with military contents and also neatly signed S.W. Kearny, Very Fine.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

TWO WONDERFUL LETTERS WRITTEN AND SIGNED BY STEPHEN KEARNY.

Stephen Watts Kearny was a Brigadier General in the Mexican War, conquered New Mexico, occupied Los Angeles (1847), and arrested John C. Fremont for refusing to carry out his orders. Fort Kearny in Nebraska was named in his honor. (Image1)

Est. $750-1,000
Selling for...$525.00
Will close during Public Auction
519       imageRelative to Runaway Slave. Manuscript endorsement on 1853 folded cover to New Orleans with "Woodville, Ms Oct" partial red-orange cds and "5" rate handstamp, addressed to "Green Davis Esq or Dr. Copes, New Orleans, La", with blue "N.O.U.S. City Post Oct 13" snow-shovel datestamp with matching "Car.2" in oval handstamp for 2¢ carrier fee, letter datelined "State of Mississippi, Wilkinson County, Woodville Oct 4, 1853" and reads, "…A negro man calling his name Tom, or Tom Davis and say he belongs to you, was committed to the jail of this county as a Runaway on the 28th ult. Said negro is black 6 feet high, raw bone, about 30 years old and badly marked with the whip. Should he belong to you, you will please comply with the law and take him away. I would have written you immediately, but there has been no mail leaving here since his commitment in consequence of the yellow Fever prevailing here at this time, Respectfully, M. Crist, Jailor.", mended tear at bottom, Fine, A graphic reminder of the injustices of the 19th century.
Estimate; $400 - 600. (Image1)

Est. $400-600
Selling for...$200.00
Will close during Public Auction
Western Trail and Historic Letters - Michigan & Mi
LotNo. Symbol CatNo. Lot Description
520       imageDetroit [Michigan Territory] August 30th 1816. Dateline on four-page folded letter that entered the mails with red manuscript "Detroit 31 Augt" postmark and matching "25" rate to Harrisburg, Penna.; enclosed letter from James Thomas to Jacob Haldeman reads, in part, "…I have been about 24 days to the Island of Mackinac. The troops destined for Green Bay have established themselves at that place and arrangements have been made for supplying them. All matters and things have gone on smoothly this season and something will be made by the contract…"; vertical file fold, minor corner wear, Very Fine and rare early Detroit Territorial letter.
Estimate; $400 - 600. (Image1)

Est. $400-600
Selling for...$200.00
Will close during Public Auction

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