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Sale 52: The Westpex Sale

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Colorado Territory - Alma to Byers

Lots 635-644 Lots 645-654 Lots 655-661

Lot 635    

Alma, Col., Jun 22, cds with matching target handstamp tying 1874, 3¢ green on cover to the U.S.S. Manhattan in Key West, Fla., forwarded to Frederick, Md. with Warrington, Fla cds, with original1874 enclosure with interesting content regarding Alma and nearby Fairplay…Alma is but a short distance from Fairplay not more than six miles at the farthest. It is a little more centrally located and considerably nearer to the important mines. It has become the center of business for the region and will probably continue to do so. Fairplay is to all intents and purposes dead and the present prospects for its future revival are very gloomy indeed.; cover edge nick and tears, F.-V.F., this is the only example of the Alma territorial date stamp.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $150

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Lot 636    

Alpine, Colo., Jul 5, blue cds and matching cork handstamp tying 1874, 3 ¢green entire on cover to South Arkansas; stamp with some facial scuffing, Fine, the only recorded territorial postmark from Alpine.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

South Arkansas was re-named Poncho Springs in March 1877, therefore the date on this cover should be either 1875 or 1876.

Realized: $100

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Lot 637    

American Ranch, C.T., Aug 1st, 1865, manuscript postmark tying 1861, 3¢ rose (few nibbed and toned perfs) on cover to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, stamp additionally canceled by quartered cork handstamp, Very Fine and rare, the earliest recorded usage of a manuscript postmark from American Ranch.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

The Indian uprisings of 1864 and 1865 interrupted transportation and mail services in old Weld County. The Post Office at American Ranch was closed from December 1864 to the first of May in 1865 due to these uprisings. The stage station and the Post Office were housed in an adobe structure, as were many of the town's other buildings. Many of these buildings had walls two to three feet thick which served as effective fortresses during the Indian raids.

Realized: $1,600

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Lot 638    

Aminas Forks, Colo., manuscript postmark at top of 1873, 3¢ green entire to Yarmouth, Me., with sender's docketing "July 10, '75" at left, interesting recipient docketing noting return from Silverton and Lake City prospects, Very Fine, the only recorded territorial postmark from this town.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $375

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Lot 639    

Bald Mountain, Colo., Apr 10, cds with matching target handstamp tying 1870, 3¢ green on small cover to Denver, manuscript "April 73" docketing at left, Very Fine, the only known territorial postmark from Bald Mountain which was the preceding post office name for Nevada.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

The Post Office Department had its own ideas about post office names. In this case, confusion with Nevada City, California, was the stated reason for a name change. However the residents after refused to accept the change as applying to the town.

Realized: $260

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Lot 640    

Bear Canon, Colo., Jan 3d, 1871, manuscript postmark on cover to Washington D.C., franked with manuscript canceled 1870, 2¢ red brown, pair, Very Fine and choice, this being the only recorded postmark from Bear Canon.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $800

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Lot 641    

Bents Ft., C.T., April 30, ca. 1865 manuscript postmark on "Paymaster Office, Denver, C.T." corner card cover with "Denver C.T." crossed out, addressed to Denver C.T., franked with manuscript canceled 1861, 3¢ rose (s.e. at left) applied over "Official Business" imprint; cover reduced at right, Very Fine, a rare manuscript postmark from Bents Fort with only a few known, illustrated in Jarrett's Colorado book.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

The first gold seekers to reach the junction of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River came by the Santa Fe Trail to Bent's Fort, up the Arkansas River Valley, then north over the divide to Cherry Creek. Although the trading post of Bent's Fort was established in 1834, it was nearly thirty years before it obtained official postal service.

Realized: $1,600

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Lot 642    

Bent's Fort, Col., Apr 18, bold double circle date stamp on cover to Middlefield, N.Y., franked with 1867, 3¢ rose, F. grill canceled by matching cork handstamp; cover slightly reduced at left, Very Fine and choice, a wonderful example of the Bent's Fort handstamp postmark, one of three examples recorded.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Until 1873, Bent's Fort remained an important junction point for trails to Denver and Santa Fe. Then the approaching Santa Fe Railroad began to change travel patterns in the Arkansas Valley.

Realized: $1,600

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Lot 643    

Big Thompson C.T., Mar 4, 1865, manuscript postmark on cover to Decatur, Mich, manuscript canceled 1861, 3¢ rose which appears to have been added to cover, Very Fine appearance.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

Realized: $190

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Lot 644    

Big Thompson Col., Sep 4, bold double circle cds with matching grid handstamp tying 1870, 3¢ green on Arkansas court corner card cover to Little Rock, Ark., with original 1871 enclosure; cover with lower right corner nick from opening, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

Realized: $100

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Lots 635-644 Lots 645-654 Lots 655-661

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