Lot
3019 
"Spanish Flat, Cal Jan 13", manuscript postmark and matching "Paid 6¢" rating on buff cover to Milan Oh. with illustrated "Mining Scene" design depicting Miner Panning for Gold with Long Tom in Background with imprint "J.M. Hutchings' California Envelope" at left and "Anthony & Baker SC" engraver's imprint at bottom right of design, original letter with matching "How the California Mines are Worked" (Baird 104) finely executed wood engraved letterhead on a folded 10.75x17" white double sheet, shows placer miners using the pan, rocker, long tom, and sluice, Anthony & Baker engravers and The San Francisco Wide West newspaper publisher, with lengthy three-page letter datelined "American Flat, Jany 4th 1855" from miner reading in part, "…Willie is mining away now, although he has been to school four months through the Summer and is as tough as a "grissly"…and thinks California is ahead of the World…there has not been one single death here since I came out. With the exception of an old Spaniard and 2 differ Indians who were killed in a fight with a hostile tribe that came through here…the American Indians burnt the bodies of their dead on the top of the hill opposite our house. the whites never interfere in any of their quarrels, and all the inconvenience we were put to was by the squaws running into our yards, to keep out of the way till the battle was over…Willie is nearly half Indian himself now, and talks with them and trades for bows and arrows until all the tribe knows him…when they come to the Bakery to trade the must always see the "Wheelans" before they will sell their gold dust or buy anything. Upon teh whole they are a harmful race of mortals…"; small cover edge flaws and wear at top, slight stain, Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A REMARKABLE MATCHED PAIR OF MINING SCENE COVER AND LETTERSHEET FROM CALIFORNIA TO BACK EAST.
Realized: $1,450