Sale 1291 — United States Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 25-26 July, 2023
Category — New Mexico and Arizona
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
132
1856 December--Civilian Way Mail from Tubac to Santa Fe by Military Express, Hall-Hockaday Contract Mail to Independence, Missouri. Addressed in the hand of Charles D. Poston (known as the “Father of Arizona”) to his wife in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, on 10c Pale Green on Buff Nesbitt entire (U18a), boldly struck “Santa Fe N.M. Jan. 1” (1857) balloon-style circular datestamp, Poston wrote the origin as “Tubac” at upper left, indicating this civilian letter was carried as way mail from Tubac--Poston, superintendent of Sonora Exploring & Mining Co., was near the Presidio of Tubac at this time--pencil docketing “December 1st 1856”, opened at right and left, some wear and small edge faults, otherwise Fine, reported to be the earliest example of civilian mail from the Gadsden Purchase area, carried in a military express pouch to Santa Fe via Fort Thorn and entered the regular mails there
E. 1,000-1,500
0
133
1857 March--Calabasas (near Camp Moore) to Santa Fe by Military Express, Hall-Hockaday Contract Mail to Independence, Missouri. 3c Red on Buff Nesbitt entire (U10) addressed by Elias Brevoort to his father Major Henry B. Brevoort (died January 30, 1858), in Detroit, Michigan, clearly struck “Santa Fe N.M. Apr. 1” (1857) circular datestamp, bold receipt docketing “Recd. 2d May 1857 from Elias, Colabazos, New Mexico”, slightly reduced at right and trivial crease at upper right through embossed stamp, Very Fine, an extremely rare cover from the Camp Moore sutler at Calabasas
E. 1,000-1,500
0
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1857 August--Fort Buchanan, New Mexico Territory, to Santa Fe by Express, Hall-Hockaday Contract Mail to Independence, Missouri. 3c Red on Buff Nesbitt entire (U10) addressed to Mrs. Romania Anderson (Anastasia Romania Wilson Anderson), Hollow Square, Alabama, from Private Joseph Anderson who served under Captain Richard S. Ewell on detached service, “Santa Fe N.M. Sep. 1” (1857) circular datestamp and sharp strike of grid cancel, pencil note on back interpreted by John Birkinbine as “Biojo & Garnen,” the names of the private expressmen who carried the letters, Very Fine, Romania was probably Anderson’s sister-in-law
E. 500-750
0
Back to Top135
1857 September--Fort Buchanan, New Mexico Territory, to Santa Fe by Express, Hall-Hockaday Contract Mail to Independence, Missouri. 3c Red on Buff Nesbitt entire (U10) addressed to Mrs. Romania Anderson (Anastasia Romania Wilson Anderson), Hollow Square, Alabama, from Private Joseph Anderson who served under Captain Richard S. Ewell on detached service, “Santa Fe N.M. Oct. 1” (1857) circular datestamp, Very Fine, Romania was probably Anderson’s sister-in-law, John Birkinbine classifies this as a private express cover
E. 500-750
0
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“Socorro 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 3c 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
E. 500-750
0
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“Pimos Vills N.M. Aug. 23” (1859) Circular Datestamp. Partly legible “dry” strike ties 3c Rose, Ty. I (25) on yellow cover addressed to “Theo Jones Esq. Down Coach Coming East”--meaning the addressee was on a previous eastbound stagecoach, the driver inquired at each Butterfield station until it was delivered (in Texas), slightly reduced at left, stamp has small perf flaw, Fine, an extremely rare example of the Pima Villages handstamped postmark, Pima Villages comprised the Akimel O’odham (Pima) and Pee-Posh (Maricopa) villages in what is now the Gila River Indian Community in Pinal County, Arizona; the mail was handled by Silas St. John, who was appointed postmaster on June 21, 1859
E. 750-1,000
0
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Apache Pass. Pair of 3c Rose (65), part of margin missing at bottom right, tied by target cancels, “Mesilla N.M. Nov. 26” (1866) circular datestamp on yellow cover addressed in red manuscript (indicating official military use) to Mr. D. Marrow in Paterson N.J., route directive “Apache Pass, Arizona”, carried by military express to Mesilla (Apache Pass post office not opened until Dec. 11, 1866), then by Santa Fe Stage Co. to Santa Fe and on to Kansas City, Mo., Very Fine and a great rarity with the directive, ex Dr. Dike
E. 400-500
0
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Camp Tubac. 3c Rose (65) with “X” pen cancel applied by new postmaster Thomas M. Yerkes on yellow cover addressed in blue to Gertrude Cranston, Lima, N.Y., with directive “Via Santa Fe” (Route 17203 to Prescott, then Santa Fe), reduced at right, Very Fine, postmaster did not follow procedure and failed to apply a postmark (circa Aug. 5, 1867)
E. 200-300
0
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“Fort Union N. Mex. Nov. 17” (1863)--Journey of Territorial Officials to Arizona. Blurry strike of territorial circular datestamp on 3c Pink on White entire (U58) addressed to Charles City, Iowa, original letter enclosure written by Tisdale Hand and datelined “Ft. Union New Mexico Nov. 8, 1863”, letter is addressed to home and discusses the severe challenges of his group’s journey through snow and mountains, his recent health scare and the great prospects for gold in Arizona Territory, including “if the accounts are half true, the mines are richer than those of California in 1848”, letter with fold splits and cover with edge nicks and tears, Fine and historic letter and cover, Tisdale Hand was a printer (including publisher of the Arizona Miner in Prescott beginning in 1864) and a member of the group of territorial officers appointed by President Lincoln, he wrote this letter as the group was traveling to Arizona Territory--ex Farndell
E. 400-500
0
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1864 April 9--Military Express from Camp Clark to Tucson, Vedette Mail to Las Cruces, New Mexico Territory, U.S. Mail to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Cover with albino embossed “United States District Court Arizona 1st District” seal and printed address from Jonathan Richmond (clerk of court) to Wm. A. Richmond in Grand Rapids, Michigan, manuscript “Las Cruces N.M. April 16/64” postmark (written by substitute postmaster) with “#” cancelling two 3c Rose (65), pencil docketing (Apr. 8 letter date), left stamp with creases and missing most of backflap, still Very Fine and rare cover from Camp Clark, this and another cover offered in our sale of the Birkinbine collection (Sale 1189, lot 1131) are the only Camp Clark covers reported--this cover originated at Camp Clark on April 9, 1864, the same day Governor Goodwin established three judicial districts in Arizona, therefore making this a First Day official use of the 1st District embossed judicial seal on this cover
E. 400-500
0
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1864 April 12--Military Express from Fort Whipple to Tucson, Vedette Mail to Las Cruces, New Mexico Territory, U.S. Mail to Charles City, Iowa. Manuscript “Las Cruces N.M. Apr. 30/ 64” postmark (applied before mail stage departure to Santa Fe) ties straddle-pane pair of 3c Rose (65), also cancelled by pen “#” on “Territory of Arizona, Governor’s Office” imprint cover to Miss Mary D. Cheney in Charles City, Iowa, from her future husband Tisdale Hand, original 4-page letter no longer accompanies, but included the April 12 dateline and “We have no mail facilities and... have to send out an express”, margins of stamps with small faults from placement near edge which has some wear, slightly reduced at right, Fine appearance and rare use from Fort Whipple, ex Dr. Dike
E. 300-400
0
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Gila Bend, Arizona Territory, Jan. 24, 1869. 3c Pink on White entire (U58) to Auburn Cal., Slade correspondence, originated in Gila Bend (based on contents at the University of Arizona Library), carried by military express to Fort Yuma, entered mails with blue “Yuma A.T. Feb. 1” circular datestamp with target cancel, small tape stain at left and minor soiling, Fine and scarce pre-post office use, the post office at Gila Bend was not established until May 1, 1871 (with Albert Decker as postmaster)
E. 200-300
0
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1867 November--Wells, Fargo & Co. Way Mail to Tucson. 3c Pink on White entire (U58) to Mr. L. M. Jacobs in Tucson, blue “Wells, Fargo & Co. Express San Bernardino” oval handstamp struck over embossed stamp, this way cover was picked up by Wells Fargo between Los Angeles and San Bernardino, it was handstamped at the express office in San Bernardino and put into the post office there (because there was no receiving office in Tucson) and carried on Route 17212 Hardy Toll Road to Prescott, then Route 17203 to Tucson, “San Bernardino Cal. Nov. 19” circular datestamp and target cancel, minor edgewear and sealed flap separation at bottom, Very Fine, Tucson became the capital of Arizona Territory only 18 days before this was mailed
E. 300-400
0
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3c Ultramarine (114). Tied by blue cork cancel, matching “Tucson Ari. May 5” (1869) circular datestamp on small cover to West Chester Pa., stamp with light diagonal creases, cover barely reduced at left, still Very Fine and scarce use of the 3¢ 1869 Pictorial from Tucson, reportedly the postmaster refused to order this stamp (similar to the postmaster of Prescott and other Arizona towns), which he felt promoted the new railroad through Utah, to the detriment of the stagecoach business through Arizona Territory
E. 300-400
0
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3c Ultramarine (114). Cancelled by pen and tied by cork cancel, manuscript “Berkley Mass. Dec. 16” (1869) postmark on small cover to Dr. Reuben A. Wilbur, care of Lord & Williams in Tucson, Arizona Territory, Postmaster Charles H. Lord was an associate and friend of Dr. Wilbur and forwarded the cover to Altar, Mexico, this is confirmed by other covers in the correspondence and by the manuscript “2” due marking (2 reales Mexican postage), original letter enclosure dated Dec. 10 with some interesting content, slightly rough opening at right, still Very Fine and rare, illustrated and discussed by John Birkinbine in the 1869 Pictorial Research Associates 1978 Register
E. 300-400
0
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3c Ultramarine (114). Tied by target cancel and “East Taunton Mass. May 24” (1870) circular datestamp on cover to Dr. Reuben A. Wilbur in Tucson, Arizona Territory, Postmaster Charles H. Lord was an associate and friend of Dr. Wilbur and forwarded the cover to Altar, Mexico, this is confirmed by other covers in the correspondence and by the manuscript “2” due marking (2 reales Mexican postage), Lord also struck the cover with “Tucson Ari.” dateless circular handstamp as a forwarding marking, original letter enclosures, long repaired tear from top center to right edge, Fine appearance and rare, illustrated and discussed by John Birkinbine in the 1869 Pictorial Research Associates 1978 Register
E. 200-300
0
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