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Sale 100: Gems of Philately

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Trail Letters

Lots 2026-2033

Lot 2026    

(Santa Fe Trail - Batemen Correspondence) "Santa Fee, New Mexico, Aug 26th 1848", datelined on folded letter endorsed "Urbanity Mr. Cutler to States" to Jacksonville Ill., entered mails with "Independence, Mo. Sep 28" cds and matching "10" rating handstamp, letter reads "I have only time to write a few lines before a part of men leave for the States & by who I send this. I rec'd your kind letter dated June 19th on the 19th of the present month, sixty days after its date & was very glad to hear from you once more. I thot you were in tolerable health. The letter was highly cheering to me in several respects for all the kind sentiments of which please accept my sincere thanks. I felt sure you were praying for me I had often thought of you in that capacity & it has seemed to me in other respects that you was - as for us I can judge I have found favor with the officers & people of this place. My term of service expired in the Army by virtue of the Treaty of peace, having enlisted for (during the war) & I accordingly recd my discharge on the 23'd just. Having concluded, to remain here until spring I have commenced. The practice of my profession in the city under tolerably favorable auspices & hope to do well I have in common with all the other Noncommissioned Officers not recd any extra pay in this however I am not disappointed The last of the Volunteer Troops left for the states a few days since. Genl Price & staff leave tomorrow. Price is well liked here esteemed among officer & good man, sets a praiseworthy example to the men. We are of course under Military Government & will be until the arrival of Coln Washington & the Organization of a civil one. There are a few praying Americans here but no other organized church than the Catholic. We received no reliable information of Peace until arrived here, tho all began to expect it, and the majority I believe are glad of it…", Very Fine.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

Realized: $1,250

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Lot 2027    

(Santa Fe Trail - Batemen Correspondence) "Santa Fee, New Mexico, Oct. 16th 1848", dateline on folded letter entering mails with red "St. Louis Mo. '5' Nov 26" integral-rate cds to Jacksonville Ill., some good content "…I fear since the war is closer, letters directed to me may be stoped for the want of pre-payment of the postage to the original Boundaries of the States. Congress not having yet established a regular mail line to this country. Letters detained to this place would be treated as those bound to a foreign country in this respect…Last Evening I attended a select Tea party, at which Governor Washington & several of the chief officers of the Territory were present. All passed off well. I am boarding in a Spanish Family in whose house I keep my office - at 15$ per month…A Gentleman who wished to see what be could do, left here a short time since for the States by way of Independence to which letter place he intended to go in six days from here. - When last heard from he had reached a point nearly half way in two days & four hours. Wo be to the poor Mules if not to him…"; light fold toning, Very Fine and scarce use from Santa Fe.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

Realized: $1,250

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Lot 2028    

(Santa Fe Trail - Batemen Correspondence) "Santafe, March 15, 1849", blue folded letter from E.B. Batemen to his brother at St. Charles Mo., entered mails with partial "Independence Mo., May 23" cds and manuscript "5" rating, letter reads "Since last I wrote nothing of much interest has transpired in this ends of the earth. The weather is cold here & we have had a long cold winter, but are not much troubled with mud as you are in Mo. This is the dullest time of the year for our city & at present extremely dull, the American population are more sparse than at any other time many having gone to the States & other South on business. I had hoped to have some money ere this to have sent you & father lot on account of a Speculation into which I entered some three months since involving about 1500$ & which appears likely to result unfavorably. I am at present in straightened circumstances & disappointed in that hope. My present calculation is to start in course of a month for California, with a company of citizen now raising for that purpose. If I do go it will be as Surgeon to the Company; its main object I understand to be the exploration of the country & to locate a Colony it is an enterprise solely of the citizens & will be in no way connected with the Military establishment. Would it not be well for you to acquaint yourself with the Spanish Language as you may wish some day to visit this country. I have made some progress so that in common intercourse can get along tolerably well…"; light bleach spotting, Fine and interesting letter.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

Realized: $1,700

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Lot 2029    

(Santa Fe Trail - Batemen Correspondence) "Stockton, Aug. 12, 1849", dateline on folded letter entering mails with "San Francisco Cal., Sep 1" cds and manuscript "40" cent rating to St. Charles Mo., letter reads "I hardly know what to write I arrived at this place yesterday after a journey of unprecedented toil of 130 days. I would have been here some sooner but for having taken off on some two hundred and fifty miles below with a detachment of Dragoons who struck for the mountains at point where Indians a short time since committed murder on Americans who attempted to penetrate their country for gold at which going it was represented to be very rich and I thought it a good opportunity to get where no body else could but owing to it taking more time than was anticipated the animals broke down, we got out of grub and were-forced to return to this place after getting (with) in about two days of the point in view, this place has sprung up almost in a Day, fourteen ships are now lying in the harbor & trade in every thing is very high numbers of crowds of people are every where though this region of country. Gold continues to be found in average quantities, but it is now as ever much of a lottery, some make none while others get a fortune in a short time. San Francisco do expect boats the world about this time is 125 miles from this place by land. I-leave here today for point a point in the mines 75 miles D -- distant, what my success will be only time can tell. Please write to me at Stockton, Upper California as yet I have heard nothing from any of you…", Very Fine and choice letter from California.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

AN EXCELLENT GOLD RUSH FROM THE BATEMEN CORRESPONDENCE, HIS FIRST SINCE ARRIVING IN CALIFORNIA.

This was E.B. Letter carried by the Pacific Steam Ship Co. "Panama" sailing to Panama on the ship's second trip that departed San Francisco on September 2nd 1849 carrying $350,000 in gold.

Realized: $1,900

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Lot 2030    

(Santa Fe Trail - Batemen Correspondence) The E.B. Batemen Correspondence, 1848-1852, the important group of 8 folded letters with integral address leaves written between January 4th, 1848 and February 14th, 1852 by E.B. Bateman, a surgeon in the U.S. Army who served in the Mexican War at Santa Fe and then got "Gold Fever" and traveled 135 days overland from there to California, to his father in Jacksonville, Illinois and his brother in St. Charles, Missouri, first January 4th 1848 from Lawrenceville Ill. while traveling, then April 22nd from St. Louis stating "I now belong to the Army of the U.S. and start to day for Mexico where I expect to be attached to the Medical Department of the Army…We go from here to Fort Leavenworth by water - thence across the Plains through Santa Fee & with troops about 700 strong"; May 18th from Fort Leavenworth sent via steamboat with St. Louis red "STEAM 10" straightline, June 13th datelined "Plains - Council Grove, one hundred & fifty miles from Ft. Leavenworth" reading "We left the Fort on the 20th of May & arrived as above on the first of this month having been out twelve days…The country between here & fort is without exception the most beautiful I have ever seen…I was appointed "Assistant Surgeon" to Detachment of one Battalion & two Regiment in all numbering about 300 men…It is 650 miles from here to Santa Fee & much include both the hot & dry season. This has been a pleasant encampment, good water & bathing, plenty of fine Mulberries & Strawberries & surrounded by Indians (Kansas) whose character I have had a good opportunity of studying. They gave their "War Dance" a few days since at which there was a large assembledge."; Sept. 6th 1848 Santa Fee N.M. letter via "Mr. Bullard to States" to Lexington Mo. requesting things to be sent from home; Oct. 2nd 1848 Santa Fee, N.M. letter sent via St. Louis Mo.; Dec. 25th 1849 Stockton Cal. gold rush letter with blue manuscript "Stockton Cal. Dec 28. 1849" postmark and "40" cent rating to his brother reading "…It appears strong to me that a young, enterprising man like your self; who could come here be immensely useful and make a princely fortune in a few years. You'bottom left perish in remaining where you are, no matter what (affairs of the heart) you may or may not be enjoying in, let them be consummated, deferred or dissolved & not prevent you from coming to this "Land of Promise"."; and final Feb. 14th 1852 Stockton Cal. letter with blue "Stockton Cal. Feb 24" cds and matching "Paid" "6" rating handstamps reading "…I send this by the Express, which will probably reach you soon, or perhaps two or three days sooner than they will reach St. Charles…", F.-V.F. and wonderful correspondence.
Estimate    $5,000 - 7,500.

Ebenezer Bower Bateman was born on July 4th 1820 at Fairfield, Cumberland County, New Jersey. His father and family were in the second wave of settlers to arrive in Morgan County, Illinois, in 1833. At the age of 27 on April 15th 1848 he enlisted in the Army of the West joining the 1st Infantry Battalion of the 1st Regiment at St Louis, Missouri. He enlisted for one year or the duration of the war. On April 20th 1848, he was mustered into military service at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, and assigned to Lt A. Allen's Detachment. He served in the Army of the West, until he was discharged from military service at Santa Fe, New Mexico, August 20th 1848.

The word spread rapidly of a large gold discovery had been made in California in 1848. This created much excitement in Santa Fe, and Mr. Bateman like many others caught the 'Gold Fever' and decided to go to California in the spring of 1849. He joined a small group of 60 travelers and took the southern route to California. They traveled south to Socorro, and then west traveling down the Gila River crossing the Colorado River just above present day Yuma, Arizona. This was the main route to California at that time. He resided in California until his death in 1890.

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Realized: $4,500

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Lot 2031    

(Santa Fe Trail) "Galisteo, August 16th, 49", dateline on provisional government period stampless folded letter from a drifter to his sister in Uniontown, Alabama, carried up the Santa Fe Trail by military courier to Missouri and mailed with green "Independence, Mo., Nov. 6" cds and matching green "X" rating handstamp; some minor splitting and toning at the folds, Very Fine.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

Especially derogatory letter reads in part "You will be surprised to hear from me at this place, and particularly at this time. You must now believe me in or near California. I must acknowledge that I expected being there again this time when I left you… This is a small town twenty-five miles south of Santa Fe. It contains about eighty houses. The streets are dirty, crooked and without pavements as all the little towns in this part of the world. These Mexicans are the most contemptible wretches that you can possibly conceive of. I have not seen a good looking woman among them yet. I do not believe they ever comb their heads or wash themselves." and, omitting a digression into the subject of sucking on goats for milk, "I visited Santa Fe, the Capital of New Mexico… The place contains about six thousand inhabitants (such as they are). The houses are all one story high and built in the Mexican style of adobe or mud, with flat roofs and narrow doors… As for the morality of the place… Vice is a business. I might add, almost the only one. Persons coming here seem to think that they have a right to do the worst things that they ever imagined. All go armed with bowie knives and revolving pistols. There are more Americans than Mexicans. The most desperate characters that can be found. Starting to California they have come here and lost all of their money by gambling… The gambling tables are never unoccupied day or night and the rooms are so full that it is almost suffocating. Taking Santa Fe altogether it degrades human nature."
.

Realized: $1,600

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Lot 2032    

(Santa Fe Trail) "Santa Fe New Mexico, October 11th 1847", dateline on folded letter endorsed "Politeness of Capt. Turner" to Belleville Ill. reading "I send you by Capt. Turner and Lieut. Roper of our Regiment, a Puebla bow and with it sixteen arrows. The Puebla Indians are the descendants so Montezuma's old subjects, and are much finer and braver race of people than the Spaniards, at the battle of Taos, which was fought last winter they stood till they were bayoneted while Mexicans ran a that sight of
a gun. They use the bow and lance pretty generally. The whites now not being willing to sell them guns though this bow and arrows have been used a little they are yet good…I have a great many other things to send, but the express wishing to have as slight a load as possible…I also send you, the Doubloons…" and signed Wm. H. Snyder, fresh and Very Fine.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

Lt. William H. Snyder is a collector sending home native items from the Pueblo Indians.

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Lot 2033    

(Trail Letter) "San Diego, January 1, 1850", dateline on folded letter to Edwards Pierrpont, New York City entering mails as drop letter with red "New-York, 2 cts, Feb 7" integral-due cds, reading in part, "I wish you and Fayeweather a happy new year but hope you have not wasted your sympathy by uttering any such wishing for me for they would be of not benefit to me who are sitting on the beach of this miserable place like a poor exile of ruin looking towards home & waiting for a steamer which I expect to continue for one month to come. Ten months since I left New York & am still seven hundred miles this side of "El Dorado". The overland journey has proved a "smashery", It has not only smashed all our wagons and half our mules, but has annihilated nearly a whole year of my life…I wrote to you from Pecos, near Santa Fe, saying that I should probably work through to the Pacific & return by sea to New York and reach there next spring or summer. I then expected to return by the Horn, but so much time has since run out that I now intend to return, after going to San Francisco, by way of Panama & hope to be at home about the first of May…But what has left me so long on the route? Don't ask me. "O Regina jubes, remorse doldrem" You will probably see in the newspapers many details of the route down the Gila & across the desert. Read the worst and think of me. But aside from the positive griefs of this journey there is one fact which I will mention for your benefit when you shall set forth to enjoy your wealth in traveling, that is, that traveling through an uninhabited territory is nonsense of the most tedious kind…For weeks & month we would have been glad of an encounter with the Comanches or Apaches as a relief to the solitude of our journey…We reached here on the second day of December, we cannot go on by land at this season on account of the mud & we are therefore waiting for a steamer. One has already been here but would not take us, being full & another is not expected under a month then may have us as the other did; said report rarely come here & thus you will see we are in a bad fix…", Very Fine.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

AN EXCELLENT LETTER FROM A "GOLD SEEKER" WHO TRAVELED THE DANGEROUS SOUTHERN ROUTE VIA THE GILA RIVER.

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Realized: $1,700

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Lots 2026-2033

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