Lot
1067 
Beaties Prairie, Ark. Sept 1st, manuscript postmark (1846) with matching "10" rate on light blue folded letter to Pennsylvania; lengthy letter datelined "Canaan Aug 27th 1846" with contents from David Z. Smith informing his parents of their daughter's (his sister's) death, going into great detail on the event; some edge wear, vertical file fold with small tear at top, Very Fine.Estimate $200 - 300.
Beattie's Prairie, in Benton County, Arkansas, is known for being a place where Cherokee parties disembarked during the Trail of Tears in 1839 to set up their new community and where the Battle of Old Fort Wayne (also called the Battle of Beattie's Prairie) took place in 1862 during the Civil War.
Current Opening Bid: $100
Lot
1068
Civil War Soldier's Letter from Fort Gibson, buff cover with manuscript endorsement "Soldier's Letter, John Chess Adjt., 1st Reg. I.F.G., Fort Gibson, C.N." addressed to Doniphan, Kans., carried by military courier and place in U.S. Mails with Le Roy, Kans, Feb. 1 cds and "Due 3" handstamp, docket at left "Jan. 21st 1864", Very Fine and rare, a very rare identifiable Military Letter from Fort Gibson during the Civil War.Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $240
Lot
1069
Dwight, Ark. Ter. 24 Nov 1825, black manuscript postmark with matching "Free C. Washburn P.M." on folded letter to Philadelphia datelined "Dwight Mission, Cherokee Nation, Arkansas Territory Nov 21, 1825" and regarding missionary activities, the mission school's Constitution, a list of its officers, etc. and is signed by "C. Washburn", who was also the postmaster; some separations at folds with tape re-enforcement not visible from front, Very Fine, this is part of an article written by Dr. Milgram in the Aug. 2001 issue of the Chronicle, titled Indian-Related Postmarks Prior to "The Trail of Tears".Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Dwight Presbyterian Mission was one of the first American missions to the Native Americans. It was established near present-day Russellville, Arkansas in 1820 to serve the Arkansas Cherokees. After the Cherokee were required to move to Indian Territory in 1828, the mission was reestablished in 1829 near present-day Marble City.
Current Opening Bid: $375
Lot
1070
Flint C.N. 4t Augt/54, black manuscript postmark with matching "3¢" rate on cover to Tallequah, C.N. mended corner nick at bottom left, part of backflap missing, F.-V.F. and a rare postmark, ex-Kramer.Estimate $300 - 400.
The Cherokee Nation was divided into nine districts named Canadian, Cooweescoowee, Delaware, Flint, Goingsnake, Illinois, Saline, Sequoyah, and Tahlequah (capital).
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
1071
Fort Gibson, Ark. [Jul 31, 1852, Cherokee Nation], partly legible black cds with "PAID" handstamp and manuscript "Paid 3" rate markings on folded letter from soldier to his wife in New York lamenting his life in the service, inner lettersheet datelined "Fort Gibson, C. N. July 30th, 1852" which reads, in part, "…As soon as I enlisted I was sent on to join the Regiment in Fort Leavenworth and from thence to Santa Fee En route for California. On the plains I could not write to you. After marching 700 miles on the Wild Prairie among the Indians we were turned back and sent to Jefferson Barracks, and from thence here a distance of 2000 miles…you can get me out of the army any time you like if you take the proper steps by going to a Lawyer and I will give you every assistance in my power for when I enlisted I enlisted as a married man and had 3 children so you can ata claim, Your unworthy husband, Jas Johnson E. Co. 7th Infy."; inner lettersheet with paper missing at upper right just into writing, overall aging, Fine.Estimate $300 - 400.
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Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
1072
James Mills, Cherokee N.C., light blue folded letter addressed to "James Whitaker, James Mills, Cherokee N.C.", letter originated with manuscript postmark "Lone Star Tx Nov 21" (1852) with matching "5" rate notation; mailed a second time with manuscript "Vernon Mills Ga Feb 8" with additional "5" notation and totaling to "10"; letter datelined "Texas, Titus County Nov 12 - 1852" with 3½ pages of contents from David Elder informing his brother (who apparently had a different surname) of the death of several family members due to Typhus Fever, pneumonia, and whooping cough; plus lots of religious content, Very Fine.Estimate $300 - 400.
Twice-mailed cover into the Cherokee, North Carolina which was the capital of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and part of the traditional homelands of the Cherokee people.
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
1073
New Echota C.N. Octo 15 [1828], black manuscript postmark with matching "25" rate on folded letter to Rev J. C. Brigham in New York, datelined "Haweis Oct 1st 1828" the missionary letter reads, in part, "…we frequently have two to three clergymen present, and from fifty to two hundred cherokees. We now have thirty two members, twenty seven are cherokees and ten or twelve more cherokees are proposed members…I live on a public road I have occasional opportunities to five away bibles and tracts…Elizar Butler.", Extremely Fine, this is part of an article written by Dr. Milgram in the Aug. 2001 issue of the Chronicle, titled Indian-Related Postmarks Prior to "The Trail of Tears".Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF RECORDED COVERS FROM CHEROKEE NATION (OF WHICH NEW ECHOTA WAS THE CAPITAL) IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA BEFORE THE CHEROKEES WERE MOVED WEST - AN EXTREME RARITY.
During the time the Cherokees were still in Georgia before their eventual removal to the Indian Territory over the "The Trail of Tears".
Current Opening Bid: $500
Lot
1074
Park Hill, C.N. May 30th/46, black manuscript postmark with "Paid 12" manuscript rate on folded letter addressed to England, enclosed letter datelined "Grand Saline, Cherokee Nation May 18th, 1846" from Saml J. Nurse to his mother reads, in part, "…Our whole country is in a bad state, they are Divided in to three parties which makes it dangerous to travel. I am forty miles from the post office. Politics has got so high that they are murdering every week, they have been carrying on this Bloody work for 18 months. United States has taken it in hand…this afternoon I start for Park Hill Post Office but I shall have the best horse in the nation under me…"; with appropriate "America Liverpool Jy 14 1846" backstamp; small mended tear in bottom margin, Very Fine.Estimate $500 - 750.
RARE EARLY USE FROM THIS CHEROKEE NATION POST OFFICE, ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH INTERESTING CONTENTS AND ADDRESSED TO "OLD ENGLAND."
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Current Opening Bid: $250
Lot
1075
Prairie City, I.T. Nov 29/79, manuscript postmark on cover addressed to "James Bushyhead, Chief of Cherokees, C.N." with light "Tahlequah" at lower left (routing?), franked with 3¢ green banknote with manuscript cancel, slight trimming at right, with some remaining irregularity due to opening, Very Fine.Scott No. 147 Estimate $150 - 200.
Current Opening Bid: $80
Lot
1076
Rossville Cherokee March 23rd, light black manuscript postmark with matching "25" rate marking on folded letter to "Widdow Phileta Kingsbury, Altstead, New Hampshire" with letter datelined "Chickamaugah, March 13, 1818" and reads, in part, "…Now our family consists of three missionaries besides myself, two school masters, and five pious femailes. But it is expected that a part of us will soon be sent to form a mission in the Choctaw Nation…One man, one married woman, & one girl have professed their faith in Christ. They all speak our Language & give us great satisfaction…I have just received a Letter from the Secretary of the Board, in which they have expressed their wish that I should go to the Choctaw Nation for the purpose of commencing an establishment in that tribe. The Mission is to be established on the Yazoo River, about 450 miles South West of this place…You had probably better direct your next Letter to me to the Choctaw Agency care of Col. McKee…Your affectionate son & Br. C Kingsbury,"; some light edge wear with some fold separation at top edge, Very Fine, accompanied by article written about this cover by Dr. James Milgram in the June, 2023 issue of Western Express.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
RARE AND EARLY CHEROKEE NATION LETTER FROM WHAT IS NOW GEORGIA.
John Ross had a Scottish father from whom he got his name Ross and a mixed race mother from the McDonald family. However, the Cherokees are a matriarchal society, so he was considered a member of the tribe even though he only had part Indian blood. In 1818, he was a business man who ran a trading warehouse which was named after his business, Ross' s Landing, dating from 1816, which was situated on the Tennessee River above Chattanooga Creek on the northern border of land that was then part of the Cherokee Nation.
Current Opening Bid: $500