Lot
1052 
Bon Homme, Dak. Sep 29 [1874], bold black cds with large "Z" killer tying 3¢ green banknote on cover to New York, original enclosure datelined "Bon Homme Dakota Territory Sep 28th 1874" contents tell of sender's husband dying from wounds received at his Battle of Griswoldville, Ga. during the Civil War and interesting local news, Extremely Fine, One of only a couple known examples of this fancy "Z" killer.Estimate $300 - 400.
Alois Zienert was postmaster of the Bon Homme, Dakota Territory post office from Aug 3, 1874 until Apr 9, 1875. He carved this killer as a way of displaying his last name.
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
1053
Chamberlain, Dakota. Aug 18, 1882, sharp strike of black double circle datestamp with matching shaded star killer on legal size Department of Interior, Lower Brule Indian Agency, Lower Brule Agency, Dak. Penalty envelope to Mr. Valentine Sherman [Indian Agent] Crow Creek Agency, D.T., receipt docketing on back August 22nd, 1882, Very Fine and choice.Estimate $150 - 200.
In the spring of 1868, the Lower Brule Agency was established on the west bank of the Missouri River. Originally called Lower Brule Agency, the name was changed on Dec 30, 1878 to Fort Hale, in honor of Captain Owen Hale, 7th U.S. Cavalry, killed on Sep 30, 1877, in a skirmish with Nez Perce' Indians. The name of the Indian Agency, however, remained as Lower Brule Agency. Fort Hale was abandoned on May 20, 1884, except for a small detachment which remained to close the affairs of the post. The buildings were turned over to the Indian Agent on July 7, 1884 and the military detachment was withdrawn the following day.
Current Opening Bid: $80
Lot
1054
Cheyenne, D.T., Oct. 27, bold manuscript on cover with Washington, D.C. franked with manuscript cancelled 1861 3¢ rose (65, straight edge at left), cover with minor soiling at bottom left, Extremely Fine.Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $100
Lot
1055
Cheyenne, Dak. Jul 23, blue cds (1868, based on other known Cheyenne, Dak. postmarks) with matching fancy 5-bar US shield killer tying two 1867 3¢ Grilled issue on "Official Business" cover to Madison, Ind.; slightly reduced at right including second "s" of "Business", Very Fine and rare, One of only a couple of examples of this shield killer known from Cheyenne.Estimate $400 - 600.
Cheyenne was established on the Union Pacific Railroad as it was being built westward in late 1867. The area was part of Dakota Territory until formation of Wyoming Territory on July 29, 1868. The postmaster at Cheyenne used many different killers with this cds from February through July of 1868, akin to the more famous ones from Waterbury, Connecticut. This fancy shield killer is perhaps the most desirable variety.
Current Opening Bid: $475
Lot
1056
Dakota correspondence, two covers from the same correspondence, the first is manuscript "Bonhomme D.T. July 26" postmark tying 1861 3¢ rose on small cover with original enclosure letter datelined "Burleigh Ranch Dakotah Ty, 25 July 1867" with personal contents, the second cover postmarked black cds "Yanc(k)ton Daka Jan 26" with target killer tying 1861 3¢ rose with personal enclosure datelined "Burleigh's Ranch D.T. Jan 28th 1867"; a third letter (no cover) accompanies from same correspondence datelined "Home, Dakota Ty April 9 / 67"; first cover with long tear through manuscript, second cover with edge wear and nibbled corner, Fine an rare early Dakota postmarks.Estimate $300 - 400.
W.A. Burleigh was an important political figure in the Dakota Territory, serving as an Indian agent from 1861 to 1865 and as a U.S. Congressman from the territory between 1865 and 1869. As Yankton was the territorial capital at this time, it is quite likely the "Burleigh's Ranch" being referred to in the datelines of these letters was that of the congressman.
Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (7.7MB).
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
1057
Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dak. Rec'd Nov 1 4PM 1888, black cds with matching target killer on 2¢ green banknote (213) cover to Minneapolis; reduced slightly at right up to stamp, Very Fine, unusual use of a Received handstamp as a sending postmark from this seldom seen Dakota Territorial fort.Estimate $150 - 200.
Fort Abraham Lincoln was the home post of Custer's expedition when they left 12 years prior to this cover being mailed and met their demise at the Battle of Little Big Horn in the summer of 1876.
Current Opening Bid: $80
Lot
1058
Fort Berthold [Dakota Territory] New Position, June 17th, 1867, dateline on four-page letter enclosed within orange envelope mailed "Omaha Neb. Jun 23" black cds with cork killer tying 1861 3¢ rose (65) to Mystic Bridge, Connecticut; interesting Dakota frontier letter reads, in part, "…am now Post Surgeon of Fort Berthold & have two Assst. Surg. under me & am expecting one or two more in a few days. We arrived at this Point yesterday morning. The old Fort being abandoned we are to build anew immediately…This morning one of the men of one of our Regt (crossed out) Co. accidentally shot his hand the ball passing through his hand destroying the bone extending from the middle finger to the wrist. I amputated cutting the bone about 2/3 the way from the finger to the wrist…I have got a buffalo robe & an Indian pipe the latter being considered worth a pony…My pipe is made of the stone from The Red Pipe Stone Quarry… We are very well situated to enjoy ourselves but the officers are not what I would ask as they get drunk before breakfast & that lasts till next morning then they commence again & because I will not join I presume they do not like it. They are all very civil as they are obliged to be, but one cannot enjoy their society at all. Just now the officer of the day, while very drunk ordered my steward under arrest which I suppose will cause quite an amt. of trouble…Direct Dr. E. H. Congdon, Fort Berthold D.T.", Very Fine and choice, Anything from Fort Berthold, Dakota Territory is scarce, if not rare.Estimate $500 - 750.
The first Fort Berthold was founded in 1845 on the upper Missouri River by the American Fur Company (controlled until 1830 by John Jacob Astor). It was originally called Fort James, but was renamed in 1846 for the late Berthold. As a consequence of the hostilities with the United States of the Dakota War of 1862, the Sioux burned this fort. Fort Atkinson was an independent fur trade post built in 1858 by Charles Larpenteur on the Missouri River, south of what is now White Shield, North Dakota (within the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation). The American Fur Company had purchased this fort after theirs was burned in 1862. They renamed it as Fort Berthold. The Army took over the property, stationing a garrison here. They also established a log camp outside the stockade to supply the fort during the winter of 1864-1865. This fort was used as an army post until 1867, when the military garrison removed to Fort Stevenson. Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (17MB).
Current Opening Bid: $250
Lot
1059
Fort Laramie, Daka Mar 11, [1866], partial strike of cds with target killer on 1861 3¢ rose (65) on yellow cover to Big Thompson, Colorado Tery, original enclosure datelined "Fort Laramie D. Ty March the 10th 1866" reads, in part, "…I have no news to write only the Sue [Sioux] tribe is coming in every day at this place tha have all made a treety I think we will soon have peace with all the indians at least I hope so.Wm L. Wilson", reduced a bit irregularly at right, ink spot on cds, F.-V.F.Estimate $300 - 400.
The Fort Laramie Post Office was transferred from the original Idaho Territory to a revised Dakota Territory when Montana Territory was created in 1864.
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
1060
Fort Sanders, Dakota, light strike of blue postmark on yellow cover to Iowa, franked with 1861 3¢ rose (65) with matching target cancel, slightly reduced at right, Fine, a rare Fort postmark which is as nice as they come.Estimate $300 - 400.
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
1061
Sissiton Agency, Dak. Oct 3, blue cds with matching target killer on this circa 1875 3¢ green banknote (147) cover to Worcester, Mass; neatly reduced at left, Very Fine and scarce, One of only a handful of covers known from this Indian Agency post office, especially scarce given the misspelling of "Sisseton" as "Sissiton" in the postmark.Scott No. 147 Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $100