Stockton-Kansas City Route, Santa Fe Contract Mail (1859). "Dutch Flat Cal. (Jan.) 21" (1859) circular datestamp with bold "10" and "Paid" in circle handstamps on cover to Albany Wis., neat manuscript directive "Overland via Stocton" and carried on the Stockton-Kansas City contract route, some edge and corner wear, couple inconsequential small stains

THE ONLY RECORDED COVER CARRIED ON THE STOCKTON-KANSAS CITY OVERLAND MAIL ROUTE. A GREAT RARITY OF WESTERN MAILS.

According to Mails of the Westward Expansion, the Post Office Department signed a four-year contract for Route 15050 with Jacob Hall on May 28, 1858, calling for monthly service between Kansas City, Missouri, and Stockton, California, via Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Ft. Mohave. Hall transferred his contract to Barrow, Porter & Crenshaw they had been partners on another Santa Fe mail contract). Westbound service began on October 1, 1858, from Kansas City, arriving without incident in Stockton on November 24. The first eastbound trip was not so lucky. After departing Stockton with 50-60 letters on November 1, they encountered hostile Indians and were forced to return home. In total only six successful trips were completed under the contract. The cover offered here was carried on the fourth successful eastbound trip, which left on February 1, 1859, and arrived in Kansas City around March 29. This is the only surviving cover from any of the Stockton-Kansas City contract trips. The contract was terminated as of July 1, 1860.

Illustrated in Mails of the Westward Expansion on p. 183. Ex Risvold and Walske

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