Lot
623 
(El Dorado) Aurum City Cala. Aug 6, manuscript postmark (ELD-70) with "Paid 6" on cover to Illinois, couple minor wrinkles, Very Fine and rare, Only four reported in 16 months operation of this office (July, 1852 to Nov, 1853).Estimate $300 - 400.
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
624
(El Dorado) Culloma, Alta Cal. Apr 28/80, integral rate postmark in red plus "Paid" red arc handstamp on cover to Nantucket, Massachusetts, double 40¢ transcontinental rate prepaid, corner wear at top, surface scrape affecting one letter of the address, still Very Fine, a lovely cover and very rare postmark, illustrated in Coburn's Letters of Gold (page 305).Estimate $400 - 600.
Current Opening Bid: $200
Lot
625
(El Dorado) Culloma, Alta Cal. Apr 26 [1850], red-orange cds with "40" integral to datestamp (Williams ELD-420, known used from Feb 26, 1850 to Nov 13, 1850) on blue folded letter to New York; datelined "Coloma, Upper Cal April 18, 1850" and reads, in part, "…I heard from you by the last steam pr Mr. David Cole Sr. they all got through safe and well and are at work in the mines but have not got filly started…shall not work the mines this summer think of going to San Francisco…I am now with a merchant doing heavy business at a very good salary…the reports you often see in your newespapers of hard times & c in this country is all moonshine. They are written by poor worthless creatures who come to play up Gentleman,and get shipped upon it. If a man lives here he has got to work or go under…Peter B. Caywood."; file fold at left, Very Fine and a scarce California 40¢ postmark.Estimate $300 - 400.
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Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
626
(El Dorado) Culloma, Alta Cal. "Mar 26" (ELD-400) red double-ring datestamp with magenta manuscript date and red "40" handstamped rating on 1850 orange cover to Boston Mass., cover with original miner's enclosure included describing the town of Culloma and mining in the area, "…We started up on the fifth of February and stopped at Weaver's Creek three weeks where we made expenses in the intervals of fair weather; but the constant rains swelled the Creek and drove us out, which induced us to come up here - This is the place where the gold was first discovered, formerly called Sutter's Mills; it is a place of some five hundred inhabitants and is the general depot for the supply of the adjacent mining region…we intent to strike tent and leave for better "diggings"…", Very Fine and choice, possibly the finest known strike of the very rare marking.Estimate $400 - 600.
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Current Opening Bid: $200
Lot
627
(El Dorado) Culloma, Alta Cal. Apr. 25, 12½ (ELD-430 Var.) rare integral-rate cds in red with "Alta" removed on 1850 blue folded letter to San Francisco, miner's letter which mentions, "We have done much better so far this month, than last, one hole we sunk, and got out considerable of the article, including one lump worth 33 Dollars…", transcription accompanies, Very Fine and choice, ex-Kutz, Newton, Tatham.Estimate $200 - 300.
THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS UNLISTED CULLOMA INTEGRAL-RATE ALTERED CDS WITH "ALTA" REMOVED.
Current Opening Bid: $100
Lot
628
(El Dorado) Culloma, Alta Cal. Jun 5, postmark in red (Williams ELD-410) on blue 1851 folded letter to Auburn, Cal. with matching "12½" rate marking in red, manuscript notation "Missent", however there is no indication as to where it was missent, letter regarding the schedule of the Court, two light vertical file folds (one through cds), Very Fine, very scarce with rate outside of postmark, ex-Newton & Tatham.Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $100
Lot
629
(El Dorado) Culloma, Alta Cal, Jan 28/40, red cds on stampless folded letter to Poland, Ohio, interesting letter datelined "Kelsier Jan. 17, 1851" and reads in part, "…it is so here now that a man cannot find good society if he wanted to for the leading society is that of a gambler or a drunkard or murderer. You may think that my writing is like Satan reproving sin, but I cannot help it for I write my mind in regard to these matters for I have seen young men led of here become drunkards and gamblers ruined forever…I can get plenty of venison by killing it and it is the best meat that ever man ate, it appears so hard to think of leaving this, they may talk of being homesick but it is the other way here with me…I could take my gun and go to the mountains and kill game and live if there was no gold in California, you may think this strange, it is with me here, as it is with the old Mountaineers, the first thing they value most is their gun and next is a good horse and third is their wife and children…", cover with some edge wear, F.-V.F.Estimate $200 - 300.
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Current Opening Bid: $100
Lot
630
(El Dorado) Culloma, Alta Cal, Jan 28/40, red cds on stampless folded letter to Lansingburgh, New York, letter from a miner is headed "Rocky Chucky Jany 26th 1851" and reports that money drafts are unavailable there "as John T. Little + Co. have failed", bleach spots at top, F.-V.F.Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $100
Lot
631
(El Dorado) Georgetown, Cal., Jan 12, cds (Williams ELD-1400, R5) on ca. 1854 cover to West Point, O., matching "Paid 6 Cents" in circle at right; some wear and small repaired lower right corner, F.-V.F., a rare town and rate handstamps.Estimate $150 - 200.
Current Opening Bid: $80
Lot
632
(El Dorado) Greenwood, Cal. June 28, fancy bluish arced postmark (Williams ELD-1700) with manuscript date "June 28" on ladies cover to Maine, franked with 1851 1¢ type IV + 3¢ strip of three (light creases), all with manuscript cancel, Fine, a rare California fancy postmark, ex-Myerson.Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $100