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Sale 108: The Westpex Sale

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Town Postmarks by State - New Mexico to Wisconson

Lots 1141-1150 Lots 1151-1160 Lots 1161-1167

Lot 1141    

Azotea, N. Mex., Feb 11, 1888 (Rio Arriba), Type 1 cds on light buff cover bearing 2¢ red brown (210) tied by matching four-ring cancel to Washington D.C. forwarded with "Washington D.C. Feb 15, 88" cds to Greencastle Pa., interesting original 1888 letter from A.C. Winger to his brother relaying his travels across the west, cattle ranching, etc; opened at top and right, gum staining around stamp, Fine, the only recorded use (Rarity 8).
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Azotea (1887-1892) was a settlement in the northern part of the country just southwest of Chama. It was primarily a logging camp. The name is Spanish for "flat roof", characteristic of Mexican architecture. The postmasters were Alexander T. Sullenberger, appointed 6/11/87, and Edgar M. Biggs appointed 4/15/93.

Realized: $170

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Lot 1142    

Chance City, New Mexico, Apr 28, 1886 (Grant), sharp bold strike of duplex with four-ring cancel on 2¢ red brown (210) on cover to Randhes of Taos, N.M.; reduced slightly at left, Very Fine, Only Four Recorded Examples.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Chance City was about 25 miles west of Deming at the site of the Last Chance Mine owned by William Randolph Hearst. Soloman Davidson was the only postmaster.

Realized: $180

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Lot 1143    

"Cimarron NM, July 8th" (Colfax), manuscript postmark with matching pen cancel on cover bearing 3¢ rose (65), tiny tear, to Barnard, Vermont; cover with some lightened ms. and reduced slightly at right just affecting 3c, F.-V.F (Type 1, Rarity 9).
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Cimarron was the center and headquarters of the Maxwell Land Grant. Lucien B. Maxwell came to New Mexico from Illinois in 1849. A hunter and trapper, he married Luz Beaubein, one of the heirs of the Beaubein-Miranda Grant. After Carlos Beaubein died in 1864, Maxwell bought out the rest of the heirs. The grant included parts of southern Colorado and much of Northwestern New Mexico, totalling 1,714,765 acres, the largest personal landholding in the Western Hemisphere. Maxwell was postmaster of Cimarron from opening Sept. 3rd 1861 to Set. 18th 1870, and of Fort Sumner from Jan. 17th 1873 until his death on July 25th 1875.

Realized: $280

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Lot 1144    

Clifton N.M., Apr 7, double-circle datestamp (Type 2, Rarity 8) with matching circled open star cancel on 1¢ postal card (UX5) to Baltimore Md., Fine and rare, only two recorded strikes.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $150

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Lot 1145    

Fort Union, N.Mex, Feb 9 (Mora), intense bold strike and partial adjacent tie 3¢ rose (65) single and pair on cover to Portsmouth N.H.; right 3¢ couple perf flaws, reduced at left, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Fort Union was eight miles north of Watrous and the ruins are a National Monument on NM 161. It was built in 1851 to protect traffic on the Santa Fe trail. At one time it was the largest fort in the Southwest with a peak strength of about 3000. The coming of the railroad in 1880 and the shifting of the Indian problems to the south led to its abandonment.

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Lot 1146    

Fort Union, New Mexico, military address, originally franked with 1¢ Proprietary 1st issue perforated revenues (one partially removed), 1861 3¢ rose applied correctly (apparently applied at mailing) over the revenues and tied by target, Wallingford, Ct. 5/27 cds, Very Fine and unusual cover.
Scott Nos. 65    Estimate $300 - 400.

Realized: $1,150

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Lot 1147 ()   

"Frontera P.O., Jany 20th/52, Texas", beautiful magenta manuscript postmark with two 3¢ orange brown (10) singles, both with nice margins and rich color, on fresh cover to Col. C. K. Gardner in Washington D.C., letter sent from his Lt. George C. Gardner; reduced slightly, Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

ONE OF ONLY FIVE RECORDED COVERS FROM FRONTERA, NEW MEXICO.

The outpost of Frontera was established as a New Mexico territorial post office (spelled "Frontero") on April 17, 1851, but was discontinued March 12, 1852. Some say it was destroyed by Apaches; others say it was abandoned due to flooding by the Rio Grande River. Frontera was located northwest of El Paso, Texas, about eight miles on the east side of the Rio Grande, which places it within the Texas boundary. It was an astronomical observatory used by the Boundary Commission during its operations in this district. Lt. Gardner, who sent this letter and cover, was a clerk for Major Emory's survey of the Rio Grande in August 1851.

Realized: $700

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Lot 1148    

"Ft. Fillmore N.M., July 7/61", manuscript docketing on orange cover bearing 3¢ dull red (26) tied by circular grid cancel, matching sharp "Santa Fe, N.M. Jul 15" cds to Bristol R.I.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

According to government records, the Dr. Alden referred to was assistant post surgeon at the time. He was captured by the C.S.A. troops on July 27, 1861 at San Augustine Springs in the Organ Mountains, the day after the Federal troops destroyed Fort Fillmore and retreated toward Fort Stanton. Together with the other Federal officers and men, he was paroled and went to Fort Craig and then back east. He stayed in the Army after the Civil War and rose to serve as Assistant Surgeon General of the Army until his retirement in 1900.

Realized: $525

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Lot 1149    

Ft. Selden, N.M. Jul 1, 1882, bold purple cds as forwarding postmark on cover bearing 5¢ blue (179) canceled by cork duplexed with "Ripon Wis. Jun 27" cds to Hermosilla, Mexico, endorsed "Via Tucson Arizona" at bottom left, ms. "Missent" marking at left and "Minas Prietas" added to address; reduced slightly at right, Very Fine, The Earliest of Only Two Recorded Examples.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Fort Seldon (Dona Ana County) operated from May 16, 1881 to May 2, 1891 when name changed to Leasburg. The La Junta & Deming Route Agent would normally have carried this letter, but it was apparently transferred to the Albuquerque & El Paso RPO at Albuquerque or Rincon and the error found upon reaching Selden. Postmaster Elon G. Smith (1881-1883) would have sent it back the 16 miles to Rincon to take the next train to Deming and further where it would have gone to Nogales and transfered to the Sonora Railway for transport to Hermosillo and Minas Prietas.

Realized: $130

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Lot 1150    

"Gallinas Springs, Jany 20/76", manuscript postmark with matching pen cross-hatch canceling 3¢ green entire to Friendship N.Y., return address of first postmaster James E. Whitemore at left; reduced a bit at right, otherwise Very Fine (Type 1, Rarity 8), the only recorded type 1 and the earliest postmark of Gallinas Springs.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

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Lots 1141-1150 Lots 1151-1160 Lots 1161-1167

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