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

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