Lot
1077 
Tahlequah, Ark, Mar 23, black cds on nose of 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire to New Jersey, docketing at left indicates "Answ for B April 14-17-1854" dating this cover, Very Fine and attractive.Estimate $200 - 300.
Tahlequah became the capital of the Cherokee Nation in 1838 after the Cherokee were forced west on the "Trail of Tears".
Realized: $210
Lot
1078
Tahlequah, Ark Apr 9, [circa 1870], black cds on cover to Webber Falls, C.N., franked with manuscript cancelled 1869 3¢ (114) adhesive; a couple small tears at top & part of flap torn away, F.-V.F.Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $325
Lot
1079
Valley Towns, C.N. Apr 10th 1834, manuscript postmark with matching "Free E. Jones PM" on folded outer lettersheet addressed to "John Ross Esq, Cherokee Delegation, Washington City, D.C.", vertical file fold, extensive fold splitting reinforced with hinges, still Very Fine, a very rare Indian Territory cover, accompanied by about ten pages of research materials.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
The Cherokee Valley Towns were a group of towns located in the mountains of what is now Western North Carolina. These settlements, which included towns like Tomotley and Chewohe, were an agriculturally rich and densely populated region, with communities remaining even after the 1838 removal of the Cherokee. The Valley Towns were situated in the valleys of the Nantahala River and the Valley River in western North Carolina, south of the Little Tennessee River.
John Ross (1790-1866) served as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1828 to 1866, the longest tenure of any Cherokee leader. During his leadership, Ross guided the Nation through some of its most turbulent periods, including the forced removal to Indian Territory and the American Civil War.
Realized: $1,250
Lot
1080
Wheelock. Ch. Na. April 18, two strikes of straight line postmark with manuscript "April 18" date, with "Paid" handstamp over manuscript "Pd 3" on buff cover to "Miss L.W. Hall, Lee Creek, Cher. Nation"; backflap replaced & cover professionally repaired, Very Fine appearance, A rare straight line postmark from Cherokee Nation. One of only a few thought to exist.Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $675
Lot
1081
Winn[?] Hall Cty, Ga May 3rd [1828], manuscript postmark with "12½" rate (the single letter rate at the time for letters traveling between 81 and 150 miles) on folded letter to "Honl William H. Crawford, Oglethorp County, Georgia" datelined "Cherokee Agency 26th April 1828" which discusses the pending Treaty of 1828, in part, "…My own opinion is that a purchase cannot now be made by direct treaty but the course which appears to the most probably might succeed would be if the $50,000 appropriation passes would be for the President to appoint some man of talents and weight of character to come to the nation and invite & urge them to send a Delegation to a country for a permanent home…Let him convince them that here they never can be a sovereign people, nor reside permanently and let him if this not succeed visit every town & settlement and Bid up for volunteers and I have no doubts if he was authorized to protect them & their property against the Chiefs but that he would succeed & if a permanent home was offered them where the Land was as good as this & as healthy…it is unfortunate that never since Mr. Monroe's Recommendations to remove all the Indians west of the Mississippi that the Cherokees has not had the first hint officially that that is the policy…H. Montgomery,"; missing piece of back fold due to wax seal, some edge splits w hinge reinforcements, F.-V.F., A rare early letter discussing the pending Treaty of 1828 which was signed three days after this cover was posted.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
In 1828, Colonel Hugh Montgomery was the U.S. agent to the Cherokee, and his correspondence provides a record of the federal government's efforts to coerce the tribe into emigrating westward. The Cherokee Agency was the official headquarters from which Montgomery and other federal officials oversaw interactions with the Cherokee Nation. Montgomery's role in 1828 is closely associated with the Treaty of May 6, 1828, which forced the Cherokee living in Arkansas to cede their lands and move to what is now Oklahoma. The addressee, William H. Crawford, was a prominent politician from Georgia who lived and is buried in Oglethorpe County, where he was a long-time resident and served as a state representative. Crawford was the first Georgian to run for U.S. president (1816 and 1824) and also served as U.S. Senator, Minister to France, Secretary of War, and Secretary of the Treasury.
Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (11MB)
Realized: $3,750