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

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The Dr. James Milgram Collection of Western Postal History continued...

Transcontinental Railroad continued...
LotNo. Symbol CatNo. Lot Description
1001       imageWells, Fargo & Co. C.P.R.R. Jul 18. Nice strike of blue oval on 3¢ pink (U58) entire to Marysville with Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank; Wells Fargo's agent on the Central Pacific Railroad would have handstamped this letter on the westbound train to Sacramento, where it entered their system for delivery to Marysville (which was not on the rail line); small defect at bottom, Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1)

Est. $150-200
Selling for...$80.00
Will close during Public Auction
1002       image[Wells, Fargo & Co.] Salt Lake U. Dec 19, 1868. Black double circle datestamp without "Wells, Fargo & Co." at top (unlisted in Leutzinger) on 1864-65 3¢ pink on buff entire (U59) with Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank addressed to LaFayette, Indiana; Wells, Fargo & Co. carried this letter from Salt Lake City to the rail terminus where it entered the mails with light black "Union Pacific R.R." cds at lower right; docketed "Dec 28th, 1868" at left showing a transit time of only 9 days, small sealed tear at top, F.-V.F., a rare and unusual Wells, Fargo & Co. handstamp from Utah.
Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1)

Est. $150-200
Selling for...$80.00
Will close during Public Auction
1003       imageWells, Fargo & Co's Overland Express, From "California R.R." . Black on blue label with manuscript origin designation, some creases and flaws, affixed on legal-size cover bearing two 1861 3¢ rose (65) singles, tied by sharp "Austin Nev, May 28" duplex with target cancel to Nashville Ill., remarkable strike of bold "Registered" framed handstamp at left, some light staining, reduced slightly at left, Fine and rare, because of the label this is the only known cover that illustrates that Wells, Fargo & Co. carried mail between the two termini of the railroads, ex-Dale-Lichtenstein.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE WELLS FARGO & CO. OVERLAND EXPRESS LABEL.

After buying out Ben Holladay in 1866, Wells Fargo ran the Overland Express over the same route as the earlier Pony Express. In 1867 the Central Pacific was building the transcontinental railroad across the Sierras. Wells Fargo carried this envelope by stagecoach from the Central Pacific railroad to Austin in central Nevada where they posted it by registered mail to Illinois. (Image1)

Est. $1,000-1,500
Selling for...$500.00
Will close during Public Auction
1004       imageWest to East First Railroad Trip. Sharp black San Francisco, Cal. May 6, [1869] cds with fancy circle of wedges tying 3¢ 1861 issue (65) on cover to New York, with docketing "Recd May 15th 1869, By 1st through train from San Francisco to New York, May 6, 1869"; reduced at left, minor toning/wear, Very Fine appearance, possible first train through from San Francisco to New York, with 1997 P.F. Cert. states that "it is genuinely used on cover, but decline opinion as to the docketing", sold AS IS.
Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1)

Est. $150-200
Selling for...$80.00
Will close during Public Auction
1005       imageBalance of Railroad Consignment. Five covers, including: 1.) partial "[O. To C.]U. Pacific [R.R.] Dec 22" black cds with bullseye killer on 3¢ 1869 issue ultramarine (114), side flap missing, 2.) partial black cds "Dutch Flat Cal. May 11" with "Union Pacific R.R." and bullseye tying 3¢ 1861 on orange cover to Spanish Flat, Cal., 3.) "San Francisco, Cal May 18" black cds with two 3¢ 1861's tied by cut cork on cover to Montreal showing 11 day transit time based on backstamp, 4.) indistinct blue Utah postmark tying 3¢ 1869 issue (114) on damaged at right cover to Ohio with nice corner card "Union Pacific Railroad, Office J.S. & C.T. Casement, Echo City, Utah", 5.) "Saint Louis Mo. May 4 1860" weak cds tying 3¢ 1857 issue (26) on small cover to San Francisco with manuscript directive "Overland"; condition mixed, generally Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
Selling for...$100.00
Will close during Public Auction
Town Postmarks - Arizona
LotNo. Symbol CatNo. Lot Description
1006       imageArizona Postmark Group. Lot of three covers and two postal entires from the 1870-80's with various postmarks including Camp Grant. Casa Grande, Fort Grant, Globe, Tempe, cover faults, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (6.9MB). (Image1)

Est. $150-200
Selling for...$80.00
Will close during Public Auction
1007       imageMail Station between Holbrook and Keam's Canon, Santa Fe Route (Arizona Territory). Caption on circa 1880 cabinet card photo 5¼" x 8½" showing a rough looking bunch of characters and their horses, guns, etc. in a rocky canyon; lower right corner chipped off, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Keam's Canyon and Holbrook are both within what is now the state of Arizona, about 70 miles apart with State Highway 77 separating the two locales. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
Selling for...$475.00
Will close during Public Auction
1008       imageMaricopa Wells A.T. Oct [x], [1867}. Beautiful strike of small blue cds with "Wells" horizontally beneath date (Type 2, Rarity 6) tying 1861 3¢ rose (65) on yellow cover to N.Y., included is original enclosure datelined "Camp McDowell Oct 6th, 1867" and reads, in part, "…Recd several papers from you by this morning's mail. Would have preferred a letter but was glad to get the papers. We have three mails a week now…Major Mills with his own and F. Co. is ordered to establish Camp Reno on Verde Creek. They will probably march about the tenth…W.B. Hancock," light toning at top center, missing backflap, Very Fine and choice, possibly the finest strike of this scarce marking.
Estimate; $300 - 400. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
Selling for...$150.00
Will close during Public Auction
1009       imagePrescott, A.T. June 9. Straightline postmark (Meyer 5, rarity 8) on 1861 3¢ rose (65, small flaws) on cover to Ohio; pencil notations on verso "Fort Whipple Arizona Territory, June 2 '67" may refer to former contents (not included), minor edge wear at lower right, Very Fine and scarce.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

A RARE ARIZONA TERRITORY USE AND ONLY 7 RECORDED EXAMPLES. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
Selling for...$100.00
Will close during Public Auction
Town Postmarks - Colorado
LotNo. Symbol CatNo. Lot Description
1010       imageAuraria, K.T. July 11th/59. Two line manuscript postmark ties 1857 3¢ adhesive (tiny perf faults) on neat cover to Illinois; this cover realized $9500 in our Sale #28 (Feb, 2008), Lot #4, cover with trivial small corner repair at bottom left


this cover was carried by the first contract trip of the United States Express Company which carried mail from July 11 until August 26, 1859; the following year Auraria was unified with Denver City on April 5, 1860, Very Fine and rare, ex-Persson & Chow.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

ONE OF ONLY 5 RECORDED AURARIA, KANSAS TERRITORY MANUSCRIPT POSTMARK USES.

On October 3, 1858, a group of prospectors arrived from Georgia led by. Green Russell. They soon established the town site of Auraria located on the south bank of Cherry Creek. Henry Allen surveyed the Auraria town site and was elected the first president. Just one month later a group arrived from Kansas led by William Larimer established Denver City located on higher ground above the river, and became the trading center of the area later merging with Auraria. The Auraria post office was established on January 18, 1859, but the first contract mails were not carried until June 18, 1859. The United States Express Company carried the eastbound mail, however, the company failed after a short time discontinuing service on August 26, 1859.

This cover was sold by us for $9,500 as part of the Len Persson collection of Colorado (Sale 28, Lot 4). (Image1)

Get Market Data for [United States Collection] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census

Est. $2,000-3,000
Selling for...$1,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
1011       imageAuraria K.T., July 25, 1859. Clear two line handstamp showing some inking of cliché binding the lettering together, on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire (U10) to Manhattan, Kansas Ter., with manuscript "Received Aug 21st" reflecting the slow mail delivery to/from fledgling Colorado in 1859; 7mm of right edge repaired/replaced up to indicium, F.-V.F., a nice strike of this rare short-lived handstamp marking known used between July 25 and August 26, 1859, this being the earliest recorded.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

The Auraria post office was established on January 18, 1859. Contract mail service to Auraria was begun on July 11, 1859 and was carried by the United States Express Company until they failed after their August 26, 1859 trip. Auraria was eventually moved and the name changed to Denver City on February 11, 1860. (Image1)

Est. $750-1,000
Selling for...$375.00
Will close during Public Auction
1012       imageBlack Hawk Point, C.T., July 29, 1863. Unusual "custom made" cds with matching circular grid handstamp canceling 1861 3¢ rose (65, faulty) on cover to Iowa, with original enclosure datelined "Black Hawk Point Aug 9th 1863" (unclear why the date of letter and that of the cover are so different), light edge wear, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
Selling for...$180.00
Will close during Public Auction
1013       imageBlack Hawk Point, Col. Jul 19 '64. Double circle date stamp and target duplex tying 1861 30¢ orange (71, natural straight edge) on buff cover to Altenburg, Sachsen (Germany) with red "N.York Paid 24 Hamb. Pkt. Aug 6" exchange cds, black straight-line "Franco" on front and several appropriate transit/received markings on verso, Very Fine, a scarce use from Colorado Territory to Germany.
Estimate; $500 - 750. (Image1)

Est. $500-750
Selling for...$250.00
Will close during Public Auction
1014       imageBlack Hawk Point, Col. Oct. 4, '66. Double circle postmark on drop rate cover franked with 1861 1¢ blue (63, defective) tied by target cancel, F.-V.F. and scarce Colorado Territorial Drop use, ex-Pacetti.
Estimate; $100 - 150. (Image1)

Est. $100-150
Selling for...$60.00
Will close during Public Auction
1015     26 image1857, 3¢ dull red, type III. Very oily red strike of cds with matching target tying 1857, 3¢ dull red single on illustrated corner card showing the Rocky Mountain News Building, addressed to Oquawka, Ill., Very Fine and attractive, a rare illustrated corner card from Colorado Territory, with a similar example (from the same correspondence) realizing $2500 in our Sale #52, Lot #681., ex-Risvold and Haub.
Scott No. 26; Estimate $500 - 750.

The Rocky Mountain News was established by William N. Byers in April 1859, when present-day Denver was part of Kansas Territory, the building depicted in this design was reportedly destroyed in 1864. (Image1)

Get Market Data for [United States 26] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census

Est. $500-750
Selling for...$250.00
Will close during Public Auction
1016       imageCalifornia Gulch. Two letters datelined "California Gulch", one "May 20, 1860" and second datelined "Aug. 7, 1861", second with original stampless cover postmarked faint "Hamilton, C.T." cds with handstamped "Paid" and target, letters with interesting mining contents, "I am now 170 miles from Denver on the Arkansas River…have bought a claim on this gulch and shall stay here to work…I saw six hands wash out in one day in this gulch $140.50, so you see there is gold here…Claims are selling for from 300 to 1500", F.-V.F.
Estimate; $300 - 400. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
Selling for...$150.00
Will close during Public Auction
1017       imageCamp Wardell, Junction, Col. Manuscript on 1865 cover to Illinois franked with 1861 3¢ rose tied by target cancel, additionally postmarked with "Kearney City, Neb, April 9"; slightly reduced at left, Very Fine and rare, this cover realized $1800 hammer in our Sale #28 (Feb, 2008), Lot #56; illustrated in Jarrett's Colorado book.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

Camp Tyler, on the South Platte River, was renamed Fort Wardwell (sic) in 1865, then yet again renamed Fort Morgan in 1866. The stamp was apparently affixed at the fort, but not canceled until the military courier placed it in the U.S. mail at Kearney City. (Image1)

Est. $500-750
Selling for...$250.00
Will close during Public Auction
1018       imageCamp Weld, February the 23rd, 1863. Manuscript dateline on letter from Indiana Civil War Soldier, included is original 1861 3¢ entire with "Denver City, C.T., Feb. 25 1863" double circle postmark to Indiana, letter with excellent contents which reads in part, "We are quartered at old Camp Weld near Denver City, nine companies of our regiment, two companies started to the river last week as an escort for six Ute Indian Chiefs that are on the road to Washington on the purpose of making a treaty concerning their lands in Utah Territory", entire reduced into indicia at right, Very Fine letter.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Fort Weld, also known as Camp Weld was established in September 1861 as a military post on 30 acres east of the Platte River, in what is now Denver's La Alma-Lincoln Park neighborhood. At its center was a large square used for troop drills, surrounded by soldiers' quarters, officers' headquarters, mess halls, a hospital, and a guardhouse. The fort remained in use until it was abandoned in 1865. Governor William Gilpin ordered the construction of Fort Weld in 1861 to defend the territory from potential Confederate attacks during the Civil War. Following the Battle of Fort Sumter, rising tensions between Union and Confederate sympathizers led to frequent fights in Denver's streets and saloons, along with rumors that a Texas brigade was advancing toward Colorado.

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

Est. $300-400
Selling for...$150.00
Will close during Public Auction
1019       imageCanon City, Col. Feb. 26/64. Manuscript postmark on cover to New York franked with manuscript cancelled 1861 3¢ rose (65, perf flaws), reduced at left, Very Fine.
Estimate; $100 - 150. (Image1)

Est. $100-150
Selling for...$50.00
Will close during Public Auction
1020     65 image1861, 3¢ rose. Black cds on neat cover to Boston franked with 1861 3¢ rose tied by target cancel; slight reduction at left, small tear at lower left corner, otherwise Very Fine, Oddly, Colorado City had never had a handstamped postmark until late 1867. Note that "C.T" has no period after the "T" - a construction also found in other territorial postmarks.
Scott No. 65; Estimate $100 - 150. (Image1)

Get Market Data for [United States 65] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census

Est. $100-150
Selling for...$50.00
Will close during Public Auction

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