United States Postal History

**Historic Documents**
LotNo.	Symbol	CatNo.	Lot Description
1			(Mexican - American War) Major Archive of Military Life in Mexican War. Archive consists of 9 long letters from Members of the Anson County, North Carolina Volunteers covering the critical period of March 1847 to March 1848, totaling 23 pages and approximately. 6,000 words, seven are dated and postmarked with varying types of "Brazos" straightlines; one has a light New Orleans cds, and one was hand carried, the 8 postmarked letters have matching "10" rate markers, seven of the letters are from William Ross Allen Jr., one from John Ballard, and one from Alexander Birmingham, all three men were members of Company c of the Anson County Vols. under the command of Captain Martin Shine, written to their friends and relatives back in Wadesboro or in the care of the Beverly Post Office in North Carolina, the letters are in nice condition, complete with primitive spelling and grammar, the Anson County Volunteers of Company C were primarily assigned to escorting supply wagon trains, but these letters give a vivid account of camp life during several important battles including Buena Vista and Cerro Gordo, disease and contaminated water took their toll on the troops, and discontent with the lack of pay created tensions in the camps, Very Fine and interesting. Estimate; $7,500 - 10,000. An example of the archive, the first letter March 16th 1847 from William R. Allen reports on his 17 day ocean voyage from Smithville to Brazos, Santiago, stating that "…they was one man that died on the water one of Yancy Company by the name of Currer. He was buryed in the ocean and on the day we landed they was one of the men kild by a rod of iron that broke on top of mast and struck him on the head and split his open - he died in short time…" He goes on to describe the perils of the trip, the bad water on board, and the mistreatment of the volunteers. He then suddenly talks about the first major battle of the War, known as the Battle of Buena Vista. On February 22, 1847, Santa Anna with 20,000 men, marched north to fight General Zachary Taylor. Entrenched in the Buena Vista Pass with but 4,600 men, Taylor was attacked by a force of about 15,000 men after refusing to surrender. Allen describes the events, "…Now I must tell you some thing about the great battle that took place at Santilio (Saltillo was a city southwest to Monterrey that Talor had occupied). They was about 7 thousand marines killed and one thousand americans killed. The Mexicans force was double the amount of americans. I have thought I have seen a great many waggons in Ceraw but that was nothing. They is one thousand and fifty at this place and five mules to a wagon. You can make a calkerlation and tell the amount and about five hundred yokes of oxens - it is amazing to see them all…". A full description of the archive has been made and is available on our website. (Image1)	Est. $7,500-10,000 CLOSED Will close during Public Auction
2			(George Washington) Last Letter Dictated by George Washington in the Hand of His Secretary, Tobias Lear. Autograph Letter, one page with George Washington's watermark, unsigned to John Halsey datelined "Mount Vernon, Decr. 13th: 1799" ordering Madeira win for Washington one day before his death, in the letter Lear tells Halsey, a New York merchant, that a Mr. J.M. Pintard had offered to sell George Washington "one or two pipes" of Madeira wine "at three dollars per gallon." The wine was in the custody of Halsey in New York and Lear had written Pintard to take him up on the offer. But, worrying that Pintard may have already left the country, he asks the merchant "to send to the General one pipe of the wine mentioned, upon the terms expressed…", in an unintentionally poignant postscript he adds: "You will be pleased to address your answer to His Excellancy General Washington.", the next day however Washington was dead, Very Fine. Estimate; $15,000 - 20,000. It was a stunningly fast moving tragedy. Washington seemed in good health on the morning of 13 December - certainly the fact that his secretary could make such casual plans about wine shows there was no dire sense of urgency, no deathbed vigil-taking place in the Washington household. The General made a horseback inspection of his plantation in wet and wintry weather and returned complaining of a cough and hoarseness. Thinking he was suffering from nothing worse than the cold Martha Washington had recently experienced, he took to his bed, but woke up at 2am with fever and severe shortness of breath. Martha called for Tobias Lear, who summoned Washington's physician, Dr. James Craik and the plantation overseer, George Rawlins, an "expert" in bleeding. Lear would be a witness and chronicler of the tragedy that unfolded over the next 20 hours, as Craik and a sequence of other physicians administered a disastrous and painful regimens of bleeding and blisters. They extracted an astonishing 80 ounces of blood - 40% of his body's supply - in a 12-hour period. At about 10pm, with Lear and Martha at his side, George Washington died. Undoubtedly, this letter was the last dictated by Washington prior to his death. (Image1)	Est. $15,000-20,000 SOLD for $13,000.00 Will close during Public Auction

**Western Express Covers**
LotNo.	Symbol	CatNo.	Lot Description
3			A.J. Oliver & Co.'s Bannock and Salt Lake City Express (Thomas BAN-101). Sharp bold strike on light yellow Stuart correspondence cover bearing 3¢ rose (65), trivial light corner crease, tied by four-ring target, matching "West Liberty Ioa. Dec 5" cds to Virginia City, Idaho Territory, endorsed "via Salt Lake City", Very Fine and choice, with 2016 P.F. certificate. Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000. ONE OF THE FINEST STRIKES OF THE A.J. OLIVER & CO'S BANNOCK AND SALT LAKE CITY EXPRESS OVAL HANDSTAMP ON COVER, AN OUTSTANDING USAGE IN THIS QUALITY. In 1862, from a base in Bannack City, Montana Territory, partners A.J. Oliver, E.A. Conover and Ed House began running tri-weekly stage and mail services between Salt Lake City, Utah Territory and Bannack City, and Virginia City, Montana Territory. From Virginia City this service extended into the mining areas around Helena and Mountain City, Montana Territory. In 1864, they changed their center of operation to Virginia City. The partnership operated under a variety of names. Due to cutthroat business pressures the partners were forces to sell the operation to Ben Holladay's Overland Express in 1867. The example offered here, not recorded by Oscar, is one of three covers addressed to Stuart (Stewart) at Bannack City or Virginia City I.T. The three are the only examples recorded cancelled solely by BAM-101. (Image1)	Est. $2,000-3,000 SOLD for $3,500.00 Will close during Public Auction
4			Beekman's Express, Jacksonville, O.T. Red oval handstamp (Thomas BEE-100) on 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Scottsburg, O., canceled by blue "Wells Fargo & Co. Express, S.Frco., Feb 22" origin cds with black printed franked at top, placed the U.S. mails by Beekman's with "Jacksonville, Ogn., Mar 6" cds, forwarded to Roseburg with "Scottsburg, Or." cds and pencil due "3cts" below printed frank, manuscript "1860" docketing at left, Very Fine and choice. Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500. A WONDERFUL BEEKMAN'S EXPRESS EXPRESS AND U.S. MAILS COMBINATION USAGE. Near the end of 1855, Corneluis Beekman started his express operating from Jacksonville, O.T. with routes running to Crescent City, Roseburg, O. and Yreka where he connected with Wells, Fargo & Co. (Image1)	Est. $1,000-1,500 SOLD for $2,600.00 Will close during Public Auction
5			"C. O. C. and P.P. Express". Central Overland California and Pikes Peak express company endorsement and matching "Paid" on 3¢ red on buff (U27) star die entire to Spring Gulch, Colorado Territory, "Sumner, Kansas, Jul 29, 1861" origin cds backstamp and partial strike cancelling indicia, additional express endorsement "Paid Murphy 10¢" at left paying for the letter's final destination in Western Colorado Territory; edge faults, Fine. Estimate; $2,500 - 3,500. A RARE USAGE CARRIED BY TWO EXPRESS COMPANIES IN COLORADO TERRITORY. Accompanied by the Oct. 17th 2016 Linn's article written by Labron Harris about this fascinating Colorado express usage. This letter reached Denver and was sent on to Spring Gulch in Western Colorado. There was no internal organized mail system in Colorado at this time and mail was carried privately. It has been determined that there was an express running this route, the likely candidate being John T. Murphy, who left Platte Mo. in 1859 and went to Nevada City Colo., which is near Spring Gulch. There he became involved in the mercantile business and needed transportation to get his goods from Denver to his store. Seeing the need, he probably started an express company to carry foods for himself and others, charging 10¢ for letters as shown by this cover. (Image1)	Est. $2,500-3,500 CLOSED Will close during Public Auction
6			Dodge & Co.'s Express (Forwarded by). Red oval handstamp (Thomas DOD-300) on cover to Saint Louis, Mo., with manuscript "Paid, to N.O." (New Orleans) endorsement at upper right, given to a contract steamer from New Orleans for New York where it entered the mails with red "New - York, 10cts., Apr 20" cds, Very Fine, the only west to east coast usage of the Dodge & Co. forwarder handstamp. Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500. ONE OF FOUR EXAMPLES OF THE RARE DODGE & CO.'S EXPRESS FORWARDER HANDSTAMP. Dodge and Co. formed in 1850 to handle gold dust and mail between San Francisco and the East. In 1851 they extended their line to Portland, Oregon however there are no known usages going in or out of Oregon. By summer 1851 their advertisements disappeared. Advertisement from Daily Alta California March 7, 1851 indicates probable service to New Orleans. (Image1)	Est. $1,000-1,500 SOLD for $1,450.00 Will close during Public Auction
7		26A	Tracy & Co.'s Express, Portland. Blue oval handstamp (TRA-101) on legal size cover John Owen and addressed to Genl. J.W. Denver in Sacramento, Cal. and endorsed "Care Wells, Fargo & Co. Express line Portland, Oregon", franked with 1857, 3¢ dull red, type IV tied by "Vancouver, W.T., Sep 21" cds, Tracy connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co. in Portland with blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Portland, Sep 24" oval date stamp and "Wells, Fargo & Co., Yreka, Sep 28" oval transit date stamp, with original enclosure from John Owen datelined "Office Flathead Agency, Fort Owen, Bitter Root Valley, W.T., September 6, 1860"; cover tear in top left corner, Very Fine, a rare usage from Vancouver, W.T. via the Post Office and both Tracy & Co. and Wells, Fargo & Co. expresses. Scott No. 26A; Estimate $750 - 1,000. (Image1)	Est. $750-1,000 SOLD for $800.00 Will close during Public Auction
8			Tracy & Co.'s Express., Paid. Ornate box frank (Thomas TRA-005) on 3¢ Nesbitt entire addressed to Roseburg, O., canceled by blue "Tracy & Co. Express, Portland" oval handstamp, printed "From, H. Rosenfeld & Co., Wholesale & Retail Dealers…Portland, Oregon" corner card with manuscript re-addressing and "Dec 30/60" date, Very Fine and choice, ex-Barkhausen, Haas and Kramer. Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000. A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF THIS TRACY & CO.'S EXPRESS ORNATE BOXED FRANK - WITH ONLY THREE EXAMPLES RECORDED. There are two slightly different styles of this frank. One with and one without a period after "Paid". This being the later of the two. (Image1)	Est. $2,000-3,000 SOLD for $1,600.00 Will close during Public Auction
9			Paid Over Tracy & Co's Oregon Express. Three-line printed frank in conjunction with Wells, Fargo & Co. frank, printed over 3¢ indicia (Thomas TRA-002)) at top right on 3¢ Nesbitt entire (U10) addressed to "Walla Walla (Village) near New Fort Walla Walla W.T." in Washington Territory, bold clear strike of blue "Tracy & Cos. Express, Portland" oval handstamp; lightly soiled & most of flap missing, Very Fine, ex-Dale-Lichtenstein, with 2004 P.F. certificate. Estimate; $1,500 - 2,000. THIS COMBINATION FRANK IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE TRACY & CO. OREGON EXPRESS FRANKS WITH ONLY TWO EXAMPLES RECORDED. Only one example was available to collectors until the Dale-Lichtenstein dispersal. This cover was carried by Tracy & Co. from Portland about 250 miles inland to Walla Walla in Washington Territory (circa 1859-60). (Image1)	Est. $1,500-2,000 SOLD for $2,200.00 Will close during Public Auction
10		143LP9	Wells Fargo & Co., 1883-88, Blue Newspaper Stamp. Tied by purple "Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express, San Francisco Cal. Sep 22 1888" oval date stamp on cover to local street address, Very Fine. Scott No. 143LP9; $2,400; Estimate $1,000 - 1,500. A VERY RARE USE OF THIS WELLS FARGO & CO. NEWSPAPER ISSUE ON COVER - WITH ONLY A FEW EXAMPLES KNOWN. This is one of the finest known usages of this rare newspaper issue, fault free and the only dated example we have seen. (Image1)	Scott $2,400 Est. $1,000-1,500 SOLD for $2,100.00 Will close during Public Auction
11			Wells, Fargo & Co. Printed "Paid Over Our Mexican and California Express - - 35 Cts." frank on 3¢ green entire to Paris, France bearing Mexico 25c Hidalgo, "Ures" (109) cancelled by manuscript, partial strike of "Franco En Banamichi" oval postmark, indicia cancelled by black "New York, Dec 31" exchange cds, black "50" handstamp, blue Cherbourg (1.13.75) entry cds and matching "12" decimes due handstamp, Paris Poste Restante (1.13) arrival backstamp and additional script "Non Réclaime" handstamp, Very Fine. Estimate; $500 - 750. (Image1)	Est. $500-750 SOLD for $525.00 Will close during Public Auction

**Postal Markings Arranged by State**
LotNo.	Symbol	CatNo.	Lot Description
12			(Arkansas) "Arkansas 29 April". Manuscript territorial postmark on 1828 folded letter to Bangor Me., interesting letter to writer's brother, mentioning bad weather including hurricanes, going to the lead mines in Missouri and "matrimonial affairs… still unsettled,", Very Fine and rare. Estimate; $750 - 1,000. (Image1)	Est. $750-1,000 SOLD for $750.00 Will close during Public Auction
13			(California) Monterey, Cal. Folded letter datelined "U.S. Ship Warren, Monterey, December 28th. 1848" and with Monterey "Ship 8" manuscript rating to Doct. Robert F. Maccom, U.S. Ship Ohio, Mazatlan, Mexico, manuscript endorsement "Per brig Euphemia", interesting content, Extremely Fine. Estimate; $1,500 - 2,000. A FASCINATING EARLY NAVAL CALIFORNIA COVER FROM MONTEREY SENT JUST AFTER THE MEXICAN WAR. (Image1)	Est. $1,500-2,000 SOLD for $3,250.00 Will close during Public Auction
14			(Colorado) Denver Colo. May 12. Territorial cds duplexed with grid cancel ties 10¢ brown, 12¢ blackish violet (Scott 161, 162) on 1874 cover to Bombay, India, red "Chicago Ill. Am. Pkt. '18' " credit exchange postmark, red London (6.1.74) transit and matching "1d" colonial credit handstamp also ties stamps, Sea Post Office (6.19) backstamp, Very Fine and rare use from Colorado Territory to India, signed by Ashbrook on reverse. Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000. THE ONLY RECORDED COLORADO TERRITORIAL USAGE TO INDIA. This cover was prepaid for the 22¢ British mail rate via Southampton. Colorado was a Territory until August 1, 1876. (Image1)	Est. $2,000-3,000 SOLD for $3,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
15			(Colorado) Fort Garland Colo Apr 15. Partial clear strike of cds with matching quartered corks on 2¢ brown (157) pair and 6¢ dull pink (159) on Col. James Bassel correspondence cover to Hong Kong, China at the 10¢ trans-pacific rate, endorsed "Via San Francisco" at lower left, Hong Kong (6.5.75) arrival backstamp, top part of letter only with "Fort Garland C.T., April 15/75" dateline accompanies; small opening tear lower left, Very Fine and rare use, ex-Beals, with 2016 P.F. certificate. Estimate; $5,000 - 7,500. THE ONLY RECORDED COLORADO TERRITORY USE TO HONG KONG, CHINA. Col. James Bassel was a West Point graduate (class of 1867) who had served at Fort Garland and went to Egypt in 1874 as part of a contingent of American Soldiers and Veterans recruited by Khedive Isma'il in an effort to improve Egypt's army. Apart from their role in training the Egyptian army, the Americans supervised engineering projects and conducted important mapping expeditions in the Nile River region. Bassel was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of Engineers, but served less than a year because "his unfitness for Egyptian service was apparent from the day of his arrival."After leaving Egypt he was employed in China and Japan by an American ship builder. Lieutenant-Colonel Bassel returned to the United States and ran unsuccessfully for congress in 1878. (see Trepel's article: "The Bassel Correspondence: An American Soldier in Egypt", Chronicle 230, May 2011, pp. 139-145). (Image1) (Image2)	Est. $5,000-7,500 CLOSED Will close during Public Auction
16			(Illinois - Chicago) Washn. City, Mar 23. Cds with matching free handstamp "*H. Dearborn" free frank signature on folded War Department cover to Philadelphia Pa., original letter (separated) datelined "War Department, March 23d. 1805" and reads "Your letter of the 19th inst. is received. Orders will be sent to Mr Ingels to deliver the white cotton cloths for printing. The Factory at* Chikago will be substituted for that now at Detroit and the latter discontinued. I am Sir. very respectfully Your. Ob. Hum. Servt. H Dearborn". Estimate; $4,000 - 6,000. A RARE HENRY DEARBORN ALS LETTER WITH "CHIKAGO" SPELLED WITH A "K" AS IT WAS KNOWN AT THIS TIME. Henry Dearborn was Secretary of War under President Thomas Jefferson, 1801-1809. Fort Dearborn was named after him and important in Chicago's history. (Image1) (Image2)	Est. $4,000-6,000 CLOSED Will close during Public Auction
17			(New Mexico) Cimarron, New Mexico, Aug 17 1867. Bold strike of blue double-circle datestamp with manuscript "Paid 3¢" rating on orange cover to Delaware Oh., original enclosed letter datelined "Cimarron New Mexico Aug 17th/67" with farmer telling of problems in harvesting hay for government; reduced slightly at right, upper right corner repair, Fine and rare, with 2015 P.F. certificate. Estimate; $750 - 1,000. THIS IS AN EXCEEDINGLY SCARCE USE AND THE STAMPLESS LISTING EXAMPLE BY CHASE. (Image1)	Est. $750-1,000 SOLD for $725.00 Will close during Public Auction
18			(Wyoming) Ft. Laramie, O.R., June 15. Complete sharp strike of cds with manuscript date on folded letter to New York City, manuscript "5" rate at top, with three-page letter datelined "Encampment opposite Fort Laramie, June 9th, 1852", letter with interesting content regarding the trip out west…We helped to shoot a Buffalo and one of our young men an Antelope so they had fresh meat plenty. The Indians keep away from us for fear of the Cholera and small pox which they are told we bring with us. mentions women dying of the former…they dug the grave before she ceased to breathe!, mention of eventual arrival in Sacramento, etc., Very Fine and choice. Estimate; $3,000 - 4,000. BELIEVED TO BE THE FINEST STRIKE OF THE RARE FT. LARAMIE OREGON ROUTE CIRCULAR POSTMARK. A Post Office at Fort Laramie on the Oregon Route or Oregon Trail across the plains was established in 1850. The Post Office was located in unorganized territory but attached to Oregon Territory for administrative purposes and was the last Post Office on the Oregon Trail going west. (Image1)	Est. $3,000-4,000 SOLD for $4,500.00 Will close during Public Auction

**Foreign Mail**
LotNo.	Symbol	CatNo.	Lot Description
19			1814 (Nov. 20) Canton, China to Boston, Mass. via Saybrook Ct. Dateline on folded letter with "Canton Novr 20th. 1814" to Boston Mass., endorsed "Favd. by Capt. Wm Cook", entered mails after 9 months at sea with manuscript "*SayBrook Sept 9" 1815 postmark and matching "Sh 20¾" war surcharge rating for 18¾¢ inland postage (12½¢ plus 50% war surcharge) plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine.* Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500. AN EXCEPTIONALLY EARLY AND RARE INCOMING LETTER FROM CHINA TO THE UNITED STATES DURING THE WAR OF 1812 DESCRIBING THE TROUBLES OF WAR AFFECTING THE FAR EAST TRADE. Interesting letter from Canton showing the difficulties of Far East mail conveyance and multiple copies needing to be sent, "I was much gratified in receiving your Letters per Jacob Jones & Rambler… I wrote you per Tamaahmach, Russell and Sphinx the 24th June, & per Jacob Jones 1st July last, those vessels are loaded lying in the River blockaded by the Grampus & two Frigates. Copies of the above Letters I sent over to manilla by Mr Paine if any opportunity has occurred they are on the road. I also wrote you in April by a Portuguese Schooner from Macao on which Vessel Capt Rogers of late of the Ship Hunter of Boston took passage by that conveyance informed you of the Condemnation of the Ship Katherine, a Survey was called & she was pronounced unfit to repair being totaly rotten… In case of peace, the only Vessel in this River on which I could ship your property was the Meridian late Capt. Woodward. But that vessel, only four years old, two of which she has been on this river, is completely rotten & will certainly be condemned…I hope that peace will soon visit our deplorable County, or my spririts will be broken down…have on hand about forty thousand dollars in Silks & Nankeens mostly purchased before news of War reached us. have purchased no Teas except 200 quarters of Bohea before the War…I write you now particularly - as this letter goes in a Portugese Ship & may never reach you… Wm. Blanchard". (Image1) (Image2)	Est. $1,000-1,500 SOLD for $1,450.00 Will close during Public Auction
20			1820 (Aug. 5) New York N.Y. to London, England. Datelined folded letter with bold strike of red "*Ship.Atlantic W. Matlock * Sailed Octo. 6." fancy oval handstamp, "Liverpool / Ship Letter" framed handstamp and manuscript "3/2" 3s2d due rating for double rate letter (2x 8d ship letter, 2x 11d inland), reverse with London (11.3.1820) arrival backstamp and London Penny Post datestamp; some edge wear, Very Fine and choice strike of this rare ship handstamp. Estimate; $500 - 750. (Image1)**	Est. $500-750 SOLD for $550.00 Will close during Public Auction