Lot
1010 
Auraria, K.T. July 11th/59, two line manuscript postmark ties 1857 3¢ adhesive (tiny perf faults) on neat cover to Illinois; this cover realized $9500 in our Sale #28 (Feb, 2008), Lot #4, cover with trivial small corner repair at bottom leftthis cover was carried by the first contract trip of the United States Express Company which carried mail from July 11 until August 26, 1859; the following year Auraria was unified with Denver City on April 5, 1860, Very Fine and rare, ex-Persson & Chow.
Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
ONE OF ONLY 5 RECORDED AURARIA, KANSAS TERRITORY MANUSCRIPT POSTMARK USES.
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. The Auraria post office was established on January 18, 1859, but the first contract mails were not carried until June 18, 1859. The United States Express Company carried the eastbound mail, however, the company failed after a short time discontinuing service on August 26, 1859.
This cover was sold by us for $9,500 as part of the Len Persson collection of Colorado (Sale 28, Lot 4).
Current Opening Bid: $1,000
Lot
1011
Auraria K.T., July 25, 1859, clear two line handstamp showing some inking of cliché binding the lettering together, on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire (U10) to Manhattan, Kansas Ter., with manuscript "Received Aug 21st" reflecting the slow mail delivery to/from fledgling Colorado in 1859; 7mm of right edge repaired/replaced up to indicium, F.-V.F., a nice strike of this rare short-lived handstamp marking known used between July 25 and August 26, 1859, this being the earliest recorded.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
The Auraria post office was established on January 18, 1859. Contract mail service to Auraria was begun on July 11, 1859 and was carried by the United States Express Company until they failed after their August 26, 1859 trip. Auraria was eventually moved and the name changed to Denver City on February 11, 1860.
Current Opening Bid: $375
Lot
1012
Black Hawk Point, C.T., July 29, 1863, unusual "custom made" cds with matching circular grid handstamp canceling 1861 3¢ rose (65, faulty) on cover to Iowa, with original enclosure datelined "Black Hawk Point Aug 9th 1863" (unclear why the date of letter and that of the cover are so different), light edge wear, F.-V.F.Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $100
Lot
1013
Black Hawk Point, Col. Jul 19 '64, double circle date stamp and target duplex tying 1861 30¢ orange (71, natural straight edge) on buff cover to Altenburg, Sachsen (Germany) with red "N.York Paid 24 Hamb. Pkt. Aug 6" exchange cds, black straight-line "Franco" on front and several appropriate transit/received markings on verso, Very Fine, a scarce use from Colorado Territory to Germany.Estimate $500 - 750.
Current Opening Bid: $250
Lot
1014
Black Hawk Point, Col. Oct. 4, '66, double circle postmark on drop rate cover franked with 1861 1¢ blue (63, defective) tied by target cancel, F.-V.F. and scarce Colorado Territorial Drop use, ex-Pacetti.Estimate $100 - 150.
Current Opening Bid: $50
Lot
1015
Boulder, C.T., very oily red strike of cds with matching target tying 1857, 3¢ dull red single on illustrated corner card showing the Rocky Mountain News Building, addressed to Oquawka, Ill., Very Fine and attractive, a rare illustrated corner card from Colorado Territory, with a similar example (from the same correspondence) realizing $2500 in our Sale #52, Lot #681., ex-Risvold and Haub.Scott No. 26 Estimate $500 - 750.
The Rocky Mountain News was established by William N. Byers in April 1859, when present-day Denver was part of Kansas Territory, the building depicted in this design was reportedly destroyed in 1864.
Current Opening Bid: $250
Lot
1016
California Gulch, two letters datelined "California Gulch", one "May 20, 1860" and second datelined "Aug. 7, 1861", second with original stampless cover postmarked faint "Hamilton, C.T." cds with handstamped "Paid" and target, letters with interesting mining contents, "I am now 170 miles from Denver on the Arkansas River…have bought a claim on this gulch and shall stay here to work…I saw six hands wash out in one day in this gulch $140.50, so you see there is gold here…Claims are selling for from 300 to 1500", F.-V.F.Estimate $300 - 400.
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
1017
Camp Wardell, Junction, Col., manuscript on 1865 cover to Illinois franked with 1861 3¢ rose tied by target cancel, additionally postmarked with "Kearney City, Neb, April 9"; slightly reduced at left, Very Fine and rare, this cover realized $1800 hammer in our Sale #28 (Feb, 2008), Lot #56; illustrated in Jarrett's Colorado book.Estimate $500 - 750.
Camp Tyler, on the South Platte River, was renamed Fort Wardwell (sic) in 1865, then yet again renamed Fort Morgan in 1866. The stamp was apparently affixed at the fort, but not canceled until the military courier placed it in the U.S. mail at Kearney City.
Current Opening Bid: $250
Lot
1018
Camp Weld, February the 23rd, 1863, manuscript dateline on letter from Indiana Civil War Soldier, included is original 1861 3¢ entire with "Denver City, C.T., Feb. 25 1863" double circle postmark to Indiana, letter with excellent contents which reads in part, "We are quartered at old Camp Weld near Denver City, nine companies of our regiment, two companies started to the river last week as an escort for six Ute Indian Chiefs that are on the road to Washington on the purpose of making a treaty concerning their lands in Utah Territory", entire reduced into indicia at right, Very Fine letter.Estimate $300 - 400.
Fort Weld, also known as Camp Weld was established in September 1861 as a military post on 30 acres east of the Platte River, in what is now Denver's La Alma-Lincoln Park neighborhood. At its center was a large square used for troop drills, surrounded by soldiers' quarters, officers' headquarters, mess halls, a hospital, and a guardhouse. The fort remained in use until it was abandoned in 1865. Governor William Gilpin ordered the construction of Fort Weld in 1861 to defend the territory from potential Confederate attacks during the Civil War. Following the Battle of Fort Sumter, rising tensions between Union and Confederate sympathizers led to frequent fights in Denver's streets and saloons, along with rumors that a Texas brigade was advancing toward Colorado.
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Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
1019
Canon City, Col. Feb. 26/64, manuscript postmark on cover to New York franked with manuscript cancelled 1861 3¢ rose (65, perf flaws), reduced at left, Very Fine.Estimate $100 - 150.
Current Opening Bid: $50