Lot
2060 
Arapahoe, K.T., Dec 5th 1859, dateline on letter (no cover) from miner, interesting contents about mining camp life, letter concludes with a request to respond "Direct to Denver, Kansas Territory", Very Fine.Estimate $300 - 400.
Arapahoe's post office did not open until the following month so this letter presumably carried by express and entered the mails elsewhere. The letter reads in large part:nn"I take this opportunity to drop a few lines informing you of my whereabouts and the prospect in this place. My home in the mountains and the prospect is good for getting gold, but in consequences of our getting here later in the season and being greenhorns to mining, we have not done very well. But I think we have become pretty well initiated. There is plenty of gold here that is true and we meant to have our share if hard labor will procure it we have some good claims they are in the mountains both quartz and gulch claims.nnThe weather is very pleasant in the valley. There is some snow in the mountains, but not enough to hinder working quartz claims. The calculation is that we should be able to work pretty much all winter, which will set us pretty well ahead in the Spring. I should like to send a amount do you if I could see it safe through but there is a great risk. If you will risk on half, I will send it, otherwise as soon as there is a United States mail established I will send it through…"nn
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Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
2061
Auraria K.T. Aug. 2 1859, bold strike of two line postmark on cover to Pennsylvania with manuscript "Paid 3" rate, cover forwarded to Trenton, N.J. with Williamsport, Pa. cds and manuscript "Ford 3", docketed at left, "Wants me to come to the Mining Region", couple mended flap tears on reverse, Extremely Fine and rare.Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
AN OUTSTANDING STRIKE OF THIS RARE EARLY COLORADO MARKING, WHICH MAY WELL BE THE FINEST RECORDED.
On October 3, 1858, a group of prospectors arrived from Georgia led by. Green Russell. They soon established the town site of Auraria located on the south bank of Cherry Creek. Henry Allen surveyed the Auraria town site and was elected the first president. Just one month later a group arrived from Kansas led by William Larimer established Denver City located on higher ground above the river, and became the trading center of the area later merging with Auraria.nn
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Current Opening Bid: $1,500
Lot
2062
Auraria K.T. June 21st 59, manuscript postmark on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Nashua, New Hampshire, light toning, Very Fine and rare.Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
This cover was carried on the second eastbound contract trip by the Leavenworth & Pikes Peak Company which departed June 22 and is the only cover known from that trip, an important item of Colorado postal history.nn
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Current Opening Bid: $750
Lot
2063
Boulder, N.T. Oct. 3, 1860, manuscript postmark with matching "Paid" at right on cover to Illinois, "Answered, Jan. 18th, 1861" docketing; cover slightly reduced at right with small opening tear in bottom right corner, otherwise Very Fine.Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
THE EARLIEST OF FOUR RECORDED MANUSCRIPT POSTMARKS FROM BOULDER, NEBRASKA TERRITORY (SEE THE CENSUS IN CHARLES W. WINTER'S NEBRASKA POSTAL HISTORY).
Twenty five miles to the northwest of Auraria and barely across line into Nebraska Territory, Boulder came into existence as an entry point to the mountains and the newly discovered gold mines. Of the seven post offices that where authorized in the portion of Nebraska Territory that eventually became a part of Colorado, postmarks are only known from Boulder. For administrative purposes the Boulder Post Office appears as being part of Kansas Territory.nn
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Current Opening Bid: $1,000
Lot
2064
Canon City, Col., Jan 28/68, manuscript postmark on cover to Springfield, Mass., franked with 1867, 3¢ red, F. grill (94) just tied by manuscript; cover slightly reduced at left, Very Fine, an unusual late manuscript postmark usage from Canon City.Estimate $100 - 150.
Current Opening Bid: $50
Lot
2065
Denver City K.T., Sep 6 1860 "Tombstone" Postmark, with Roman style (serifed) type postmark on cover to New York, handstamped straight line "Paid" shows payment in cash, flap tear which just extends onto front, Very Fine and attractive, illustrated in Jarrett's Colorado book, ex-Chase.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
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Current Opening Bid: $375
Lot
2066
"Fort Garland, New Mexico, Sept 14 1860", docketing of recipient on fresh cover to Bristol, R.I., franked with 1857, 3¢ dull red, two singles slightly overlapping and tied by "Fernando de Taos, N.M., Sep 19" cds, Very Fine.Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
A portion of New Mexico Territory was included in the new Colorado Territory with the first four post offices (Conejos, Fort Garland, Huerfano and San Luis) all established on February 25, 1862. In 1860, with no official United States post offices and mail service at Fort Garland, mailed was carried by Military Courier. This letter was taken to and entered the U.S. Mail at Fernando de Taos, N.M.nn
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Current Opening Bid: $750
Lot
2067 ()
To Fort Massachusetts (later Colorado Territory), much traveled 1856 cover front from Canada, addressed to "Captain Andrew M. Bowman, 3rd Infantry, Fort Stanton New Mexico or elsewhere", nearly four months in transit to Albuquerque (the post office serving Fort Stanton) where it was remailed March 24, 1857 to Capt. Bowman's new duty station at Fort Massachusetts, some minor edge wear and soiling, Very Fine and rare.Estimate $500 - 750.
Originally marked as paid at Montreal, the paid markings were obliterated by target cancels and the cover re-rated unpaid "6" (pence = 10¢ U.S., the under 3000 mile rate). As Fort Massachusetts had no post office, the letter was carried by military courier for the last part of its journey.nn
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Current Opening Bid: $325
Lot
2068
Golden Gate, Dec. 9th, manuscript postmark on 1861 cover to Michigan franked with 1861 3¢ rose with matching manuscript cancel, included is a wonderful original enclosure which gives details of an early prize fight and a horse thief and his subsequent hanging, along with the usual economics, weather and health data, cover with slight corner wear, Very Fine, One of the most important Colorado covers.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
This small post office opened in Kansas Territory in 1860 and closed in August 1863. Only five covers are known, all from the same correspondence.nn
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Current Opening Bid: $375
Lot
2069
Mountain City K.T., Sept. 22, 1860 manuscript postmark on uncancelled 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire addressed to Kensington, Conn., indicia showing second albino impression; cover with slight rough opening at right, otherwise Very Fine.Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
By 1860, prospectors had proven the existence of profitable deposits of gold and settlement was rapidly fanning out westward into the mountains. Thirty miles to the west of Denver City, placer and lode mining on the headwaters of Clear Creek led to the establishment of post offices at Mountain City and Missouri City. This mining camp was established in Gregory Diggings in 1859. The post office opened January 17, 1860.nn
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Current Opening Bid: $750