Lot
1151 
Good Hope, N. Mex. May 28, 1886, clear strike of cds with matching cork cancel on cover to South Omaha, Nebr., Very Fine, only recorded use from Good Hope. Estimate $200 - 300.
Good Hope (9/8/84-9/1/87) with Eugart H. Hutchinson was the only postmaster.
Realized: $240
Lot
1152
"Ocate N.M. Dec 30" (Mora), manuscript postmark with matching "X" cancel on 3¢ red (94), small flaws, on circa 1868 cover to Andelusia College Pa.; reduced slightly at left, F.-V.F., only two recorded uses from the first period. Estimate $200 - 300.
Ocate is presently located at the junction of NM 442 and NM 120, 23 miles northwest of Wagon Mound. It was settled by sheepmen from the vicinity of Taos in the 1840s. The name probably derives from the Spanish word "ocote", a type of pine tree. The town itself is mostly a semi-ghost town with most of the buildings abandoned, though the post office remains. The post office was in operation from August 2nd 1866 to August 9th 1869, then Jan. 10th 1870 to Mar. 4th 1878 and finally May 9th 1878 to current.
Realized: $270
Lot
1153
"Pinos Altos N. Mex, July 15. 1868", manuscript postmark at top with matching "X" cancels on 3¢ rose (65) block of three on legal-size yellow cover to Chihuahua, Mexico, Mexican "7" reales due handstamp; reduced at right and some edge faults, Fine and rare (Type 1, Rarity 10), only three recorded. Estimate $300 - 400.
Pinos Altos (Grant County) was originally called Birchville for one of the three prospectors who found gold there in 1860, the town died a couple of times because of Apache raids. When it was resettled in 1865, it took the present name. It was the first county seat of Grant County, but Silver City took that over in 1871. The mines were never big-paying operations and the town is mostly a summer community now.
Realized: $220
Lot
1154
"Pyramid N.M., 6/7/83" (Hidalgo), manuscript postmark ties 3¢ green (207) on cover to Sandy Hill N.Y., original "The Pyramid Gold and Silvery Mining and Reduction Company" letterhead enclosure from company lawyer John Teller to his mother; slight cover toning, reduced slightly at right, a Very Fine postmark (Type A) The only recorded Pyramid N.M. manuscript postmark use. Estimate $150 - 200.
Pyramid was a mining settlement nine miles south of Lordsburg in the Pyramid Mountains. Only prospects and mine shafts are left of what was never a very profitable area.
Realized: $425
Lot
1155
Ryado, N. Mex. Mar 16, 1879, partial cds strike (Type 1) duplexed with fancy circled star cancel ties 3¢ green (207) on yellow cover to Taos N.M.; reduced slightly at right, fresh and Very Fine, Only recorded use from Rayado. Estimate $300 - 400.
Rayado was a settlement, the location of which is now on NM Hwy 21, 12 miles south of Cimarron. The post office was called Rayado by.
Realized: $230
Lot
1156
San Juan N.M., Dec 26, 1880, clear strike of double-circle datestamp (Type 2, Rarity 8) with four-ring target cancel on 3¢ green entire to Fernando de Taos, N.M.; reduced at left, a Very Fine strike, only three recorded. Estimate $150 - 200.
San Juan (2/25/1870-1/27/1881) was the original Post Office for San Juan Pueblo that is seven miles north of Espanola on the east bank of the Rio Grande. The name was later changed to Chamita.
Realized: $130
Lot
1157
Seven Rivers, N.M. Apr 7, 1880, bold purple cds (Type A, Rarity 8) with matching Maltese cross fancy cancel on 1¢ postal card (UX5) to New Albany Ind., interesting message "The command arrived here a few minutes ago and camp tonight at Gartner's Rancho seven miles distant. The march up the Pecos has been very dusty and tedious. From this point, the route will be through the mountains…", Very Fine and choice, Earliest Recorded use from Seven Rivers, and the only type A example. Estimate $200 - 300.
Trading posts were established in the area in 1867. The name Seven Rivers was first applied in 1877. Other settlements sprang up several miles away, one called Henpeck and another White City. By 1900, the original location was a ghost town and what was called White City is now Seven Rivers.
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Realized: $190
Lot
1158
"Socorro, N.Mex Aug 4", manuscript postmark (Type 1, Rarity 9) on legal-size cover endorsed "Official Business" at top right to Hon. John W. Denver, Member of Congress, Washington D.C., this cover originally contained a Fort Craig Aug. 2nd 1856 datelined letter that no longer accompanies; some edge wear and small tears, Fine and scarce, the Earliest Recorded Use from Socorro. Estimate $300 - 400.
Socorro was an Indian pueblo originally. The inhabitants went south during the 1680 Pueblo Rebellion. By about 1815, a Mexican settlement was in the area and had a land grant from the Spanish crown. It was a stopping place on the Camino Real to Santa Fe from Mexico City. The post office was established September 28, 1852.
Lot
1159
"Socorro, N.M. Aug 2", manuscript postmark (Type 1, Rarity 9) with matching pen canceled 3¢ dull red (26) on flap of orange homemade cover to Hannibalville N.Y., "Via Texas" routing at lower left, envelope was turned to readdress causing some faults, F.-V.F. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $425
Lot
1160
Three Rivers, N.M., Aug 25 (Lincoln), cds duplexed with segmented cork cancel on 3¢ green entire to Warsaw, Indiana; some creasing and reduced at right, F.-V.F., (Type 1, Rarity 8). Estimate $200 - 300.
THE ONLY RECORDED USE FROM THREE RIVERS.
In the late 1870s, Patrick Coghbau of Tularosa established his ranch on the Three Rivers two miles east of where the railroad was to be in Lincoln County. The Three Rivers post office was established April 2, 1883 operating for only two months to July 3, 1883 with postmaster Charles H. Armijo. This entire was sent on August 25th, 1½ months after the office was officially discontinued.
Realized: $350