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Sale 85: The Westpex Sale

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State Postmarks - Missouri (Missouri Statehood)

Lots 995-1004 Lots 1005-1014 Lots 1015-1024 Lots 1025-1034

Lot 995    

"Fayette Mo, March 20th", manuscript postmark and "6" cent rating on folded letter datelined "Old Franklin, Mar 19 1830" to Columbia Mo., letter from Edward Simpson "…I arrived safe at home the day after I left you and found able as I expected as times are partly brisk…The Duncan's will leave here on Sunday as the river is sufficiently high for any kind of Boat and is rising very fast. There is a good many going to Santa Fe from here and I think goods will Command a good price this season…"; light fold toning, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

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Lot 996    

Fort Leavenworth, Mo., June 14, cds and matching "X" rating handstamp on blue 1849 folded letter datelined "May 27th, 1849 near Fort Kearney" to Petersville Md., content includes "…We have arrived at the Platt River & will get to Fort Kearney four miles up on Grand Island tomorrow. We will then be about three hundred miles up on Grand Island tomorrow…" and May 28th post script "…I came ahead of the company some few miles and am now at the Fort. This fort was called Fort Childs once but it has been renamed since old Fort Kearny was destroyed…"; some edge wear, F.-V.F. with interesting trail contents.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $850

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Lot 997    

"Franklin Mo, March 1", manuscript postmark with matching "18" cent rating on 1822 folded letter to St. Louis from Dabney Carr to Mssrs. Sith & Ferguson Merchants; separation and faults, Fine, The earliest recorded statehood postmark.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

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Lot 998    

Franklin Mo., two 1823 letters with both types of two-line postmarks from same correspondence from Alphonso Wetmore to Nathan Towson, Paymaster, Washington D.C., 1823 with "FRANKLIN. / MO." two-line Roman-type postmark and matching "FREE" italicized rating handstamp, faults and separated contents; and "FRANKLIN. / MO." two-line italicized-type postmark with manuscript "June 12" dating and matching "FREE" rating handstamp; each with folded toning, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

TWO OF THE FIVE RECORDED FRANKLIN MO. STRAIGHTLINE POSTMARKS.

Straightline postmarks were used at Franklin only in 1823 in two known varieties shown here: Roman and italic type. These were probably produced with type used at
The Missouri Intelligencer, a newspaper printed at Franklin. Each of these letters is from the War of 1812 veteran Alphonso Wetmore after he had been appointed Army Paymaster for the central frontier. Headquartered at Franklin, Wetmore's duties included delivery and accounting for the pay of troops in the district, as well as the delivery of annuities to Indian tribes. Specie for these payments came from the sale of government lands to new settlers and the huge influx of Mexican silver coming over the Santa Fe Trail. The bottom letter describes one of his duties: "I …shall take my departure for Fort Atkinson so soon as the guards arrive from that post with pack horses for the transportation of the Specie, with which the Treasurer's draft was paid…".

Realized: $325

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Lot 999    

"Ft Osage Mo - Decr 4", red manuscript postmark with matching "25" rating on 1821 folded letter to Philadelphia Pa., datelined "Union, Arks Ter. Sep 30, 1821" and written by William F. Vail who was missionary to the Osage Indians at Union Mission in Arkansas Territory (present day Oklahoma), carried privately to Fort Osage and deposited in the mails there, letter thanks the recipient for clothing and other supplies for the mission and says that a school is under construction, even though they have been able to obtain only three children because of an ongoing Indian war. He concludes by saying: "Be not alarmed for our safety…though the Indians prowl around the forest in quest of each others blood, we dwell securely", Very Fine and rare, ex-Alexander.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

THIS IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED LETTER POSTED AT FORT OSAGE, AND THE ONLY LETTER THAT ENTERED THE MAILS THERE DURING THE TIME THE FORT WAS OPERATING AS A GOVERNMENT INDIAN FACTORY.

Fort Osage was the first outpost built by the United States in the Louisiana Territory. In 1803, Captain William Clark selected the site on the south bank of the Missouri River. In 1808, the fort was built by the 1st Regiment, U.S. Infantry who came up the Missouri River in six keelboats under command of Captain Eli Demon. The fort soon became a trading center. A post office was established at Fort Osage in 1820.

Realized: $800

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Lot 1000    

"Fulton Mo, Nov 28", manuscript postmark with matching "25" cent rating on folded letter datelined "Fulton, Calloway, Missouri Nov. 26th, 1832" to City Washington Mo., transcript of letter with subscription request to the editor at the Globe, plus some political commentary, Very Fine.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $130

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Lot 1001    

"Gentry C.H. Mo, Mar 28", manuscript postmark and matching "Paid 10c." rating on gray 1849 folded letter addressed to Capt. J.W. Denver, U.S. Army at Wilmington Oh., long letter from Elijah P. Howell concerning pay for the father of two deceased soldiers killed while serving in the Mexican-American War, he also writes "…I am truly sorrow to hear of your bad health, but hope in this year you may have recovered. We looked thru all the innumerable confused accounts, from the line from Vera Cruz to the Capitol, with great anxiety for your Company…" and "…My brother William who was living with me when you was here, joined Simonds Company for Sante Fe and died on the plains in August (1847) of Typhoid Fever. You have no doubt heard that Capt. Simonds died on his way to Sante Fe…", Very Fine, ex-Risvold.
Estimate    $250 - 350.

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Lot 1002    

(Incoming Mail) 1839 (c., Aug. 2) Shawneetown Ill. to Liberty Mo., folded letter datelined "A Ground at Shawneetown Ills." with partial red "Shawneetown, Ill., Aug 2" cds and manuscript "H Coleman, P.M., Liberty, Mo." free frank endorsement, addressed to his wife in Liberty Mo.; light stain at left, F.-V.F., ex-Alexander.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

In the letter, Postmaster Coleman tells his wife to inform William Hayes, editor of the Far West newspaper in Caldwell County, that he "has purchased his paper and type". The town of Far West had been established by the Mormon in 1838 as their capital after being expelled from both Missouri's Jackson and Clay Counties. The paper was official Mormon organ. In 1839 violence flared between the Mormons and the locals. The State Militia was called out, destroying the town and seizing the Mormon leaders for trial. Joseph Smith escaped and fled to Illinois. He apparently sold the paper to Coleman while he was in that State. The steamboat Coleman was taking home had run aground on the Ohio River on account of low water.

Realized: $450

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Lot 1003    

(Incoming Mail) 1851 (Jan. 31) Sacramento Cal. to Independence Mo., sharp strike of red "Sacramento City, Cal. Jan 31" cds with matching "80" cent rating handstamp for double the 40¢ rate on blue 1851 folded letter to Independence Mo., carried by PMSS Panama from San Francisco Feb. 1st to Panama, then overland to Chagres and per Crescent City Feb. 25th to New York arriving Mar. 8th, back overland to Independence, some interesting content: "…The 11 per cent is a mere nothing as money is worth so much more here - California is still rich in gold & I predict that great discoveries will be made this season but Oh! I do long to be at home & can't stay away much longer. Farewell my beloved wife"; some edge wear, Very Fine, Very Fine and choice Sacramento "80" use.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

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Lot 1004    

Independence Mo. Aug 16, clear strike of blue cds and manuscript "25" rating on folded letter datelined "Linnland Jackson Cty August 12th 1839" to Winchester Ky., the writer comments briefly on the sale of Mormon Lands after their expulsion from Jackson County: "…I have bought 70 acres of land joining one of the tracts I told you I had bought of the Mormons.", he also comments on having to sell a slave in Kentucky to raise cash: "…he did push me and both told the people there was no money coming to me in Ky. and almost every one to whom any thing was due pushed me in my absence, and sold a negro girl that cost me $414 for $291…"; file fold flaw, F.-V.F., ex-Alexander.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $170

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Lots 995-1004 Lots 1005-1014 Lots 1015-1024 Lots 1025-1034

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