Lot
52 
Paid Murphy 10¢, and "C. O. C. and P. P. Express, Paid" manuscript notations on 1860, 3¢ Star Die entire to "Spring Gulch, Mountain City, Colorado Territory", "Sumner, Kansas, Jul 29, 1861" origin postmark on the back perhaps applied as a courtesy plus partial strike canceling indicia, evidently picked up as a stagecoach way letter by the Central Overland California & Pike's Peak Express company and carried to Denver City then delivered by Murphy to the addressee; light stains, small corner and edge faults, F.-V.F., a copy of a 2016 Linn's Stamp News article announcing the discovery this cover accompanies. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
THE ONLY KNOWN MURPHY EXPRESS COVER.
When this cover was sent, Sumner in the new state of Kansas was a fairly large town 20 miles northwest of Leavenworth City. While Sumner along with Denver City and Mountain City in the newly created Colorado Territory all had Post Offices, Spring Gulch was a mining location beyond Mountain City that did not. The recipient of this letter likely prepaid Murphy to call for his letters at Denver City and perhaps Mountain City. Murphy is believed to have been John T. Murphy who was a merchant based in Nevada City, which was near Mountain City.
Realized: $1,200