Terms of SaleBid IncrementsGradingLinksContact

Sale 129: The Dr. James Milgram Collection of Western Postal History

Previous ChapterTable of ContentsNext Chapter

Town Postmarks - Indian Territories: Creek Nation

Lots 1101-1108

Lot 1101    

Auga [Augusta] Ga Jun 18 [1802], black cds on outer lettersheet of folded letter with manuscript "Paid 10" rate marking addressed to "His Excellency, Josiah Tattnall, Governor of the State, of Georgia", with additional rate markings "fwd 12½" and total of "Paid 22½"; docket at left "Letter Genl Wilkinson"; internal/verso docketed "Honbl Genl James Wilkinson, Commissioners Camp, 15th June 1802, filed 19th July 1802, Indian Affairs," the inner lettersheet (not present, likely filed for obvious reasons) contained details of the "Treaty of Fort Wilkinson" of June 16, 1802 as noted below, some cover including vertical file fold with minor paper erosion and light water/wax staining, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

AN EXTRAORDINARY POSTAL HISTORY ARTIFACT THAT CARRIED NEWS OF THE TREATY OF FORT WILKINSON (1802) TO THE GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA.

One of the commissioners in that treaty negotiation was James Wilkinson, the author of this letter, undoubtedly informing the Governor of Georgia of the outcome.

The Treaty of Fort Wilkinson was signed on June 16, 1802, between the United States, represented by commissioners James Wilkinson, Benjamin Hawkins, and Andrew Pickens, and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, ceding land to the United States. In return for this land cession, the U.S. agreed to pay the Creeks an annual annuity, a special stipend to their chiefs, and to satisfy debts and property claims. The treaty also allowed for the establishment of U.S. military garrisons on Creek lands for frontier protection and aimed to encourage the Creeks' "civilization" by reforming their habits and manners.

all lots for this sale will be subject to a 18% buyer's premium

Current Opening Bid: $750

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1102    

Creek Agency, 11th Jany [1813], black manuscript postmark as part of Mississippi Territory with matching "25" rate on folded letter to Wm. S. Hamilton Esq, Washington City, with "mail" at lower left; datelined "Creek Agency 9th Jany 1813" and reads, in part, "…I did not reach this place till this morning in time to report myself to the commanding General. I hope to reach home in six days where I shall be read to meet any order that may reach me from the General, or his government…W. Hampton," some reinforcement of folds & minor staining at right, Very Fine.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

EXTREMELY RARE MANUSCRIPT CREEK AGENCY POSTMARK FROM EARLY TERRITORIAL PERIOD - ONE OF THE SMALL OFFICES LOCATED WITHIN A THREE-MILE RADIUS IN AN ISOLATED PORTION OF ALABAMA (SEE AMERICAN STAMPLESS COVER CATALOG, VOL. I, ALABAMA, P. 1 AND 8).

The sender of this letter, Wade Hampton, was a soldier from South Carolina and served with distinction during the Revolutionary War under Marion and Sumter. During the war with England in 1812 he was given a major-general's commission on March 2, 1813. He was involved with the ill-fated attack on Montreal after which he resigned his commission (April 6, 1814) and returned to South Carolina.

all lots for this sale will be subject to a 18% buyer's premium

Current Opening Bid: $375

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1103    

Creek Agency, 2nd August 1820, black manuscript postmark with matching "25" rate on folded letter to Mrs. Sarah Norman, Riceborough, Liberty County, Georgia; datelined "Agency August 1 1820" and reads, in part, "…We have been now nine days from home and in that time we have reached this. Since yesterday we have traveled upon Indian land. Last night was the first that we have camped out. We also had two of those wild men among us…The cotton crops through the upper part of Georgia are very indifferent but their corn is good…I hope my negroes are all trying to please those they are under…your loving husband, W. Norman…would have you to understand that this place is on the flint river where hawkins [Indian Agent Benjamin Hawkins, from 1796-1816] formerly lived."; cover faults, Fine, rare early Creek Agency postmark from the period when it was in what is now Georgia.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

The question of just when the Creek Agency post office was moved from Georgia to Alabama has long been a vexing problem for postal historians. Under the tenure of agents Benj. Hawkins (1796-1816) and David B. Mitchell (1816-1821) the agency compound and post office were located on the east bank of the Flint River near present day Knoxville (Crawford County) Georgia. This cover reinforces the fact that the office was in Georgia at the time the letter was written (1820) as the writer notes "this place is on the flint river."

all lots for this sale will be subject to a 18% buyer's premium

Current Opening Bid: $100

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1104    

Creek Agency, CN 11/22/68, black manuscript postmark tying 1867 3¢ Grill on cover to Ohio, docketed at left "Dec 3rd 1868" receipt; stamp repaired and may not belong (however the stamp may have been placed on the cover after the manuscript postmark), Very Fine appearance.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

all lots for this sale will be subject to a 18% buyer's premium

Current Opening Bid: $50

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1105    

Fort Hawkins, 21 May [1818], straight line Fort, Hawkins [Georgia] postmark with red manuscript "21 May" below and matching "Free" frank to the Paymaster General in Washington D.C., endorsed "John B. Hogan, P.M. [Paymaster] 7 Reg Infy" at top right, letter of mostly business nature with Hogan complaining to the Paymaster General, "How is it to be presumed, Sir, that I could travel by land & water a distance of 600 miles in the dead of Winter, make a payment & forward to your office my Vouchers in the short space of from the 16th November to the 19th December?", cert. states "It is a Genuine Usage, with a portion of the postmark drawn in." (which is insignificant), couple vertical file folds with light toning on left-hand fold, F.-V.F., the unique example of the straight line postmark; with 2009 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

Fort Hawkins (1806-1828) was named for Benjamin Hawkins, who served as the General Superintendent of Indian Affairs (1796-1816) South of the Ohio River, as well as principal US Indian agent to the Creek. A former US Senator from North Carolina, Hawkins had been appointed by President George Washington to deal with the Choctaw, Cherokee and Chickasaw in the larger territory, and worked to bring about years of peace between the Creek and American settlers. Hawkins was named the Beloved Man of the Southeastern tribes, indicating the respect they had for him.

all lots for this sale will be subject to a 18% buyer's premium

Current Opening Bid: $375

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1106    

Fort Hawkins, 20 August 1818, manuscript postmark and matching "Free" frank as well as a straight line "Free" handstamp on folded letter addressed to the Quartermaster General in Washington D.C. and endorsed "Public Service" at top; datelined "Fort Hawkins 15th August 1818" with army business contents, couple pressed out vertical file folds, Very Fine and choice, only four manuscript postmarks are recorded.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

Fort Hawkins was named for Benjamin Hawkins, who served as the General Superintendent of Indian Affairs (1796-1816) South of the Ohio River, as well as principal US Indian agent to the Creek. A former US Senator from North Carolina, Hawkins had been appointed by President George Washington to deal with the Choctaw, Cherokee and Chickasaw in the larger territory, and worked to bring about years of peace between the Creek and American settlers.

all lots for this sale will be subject to a 18% buyer's premium

Current Opening Bid: $375

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1107    

Indian Territory in Camp April 28, 1849, dateline on folded letter with manuscript postmark "Westport, Mo. 3 May" with matching "10" rate marking to Lode, Seneca Co., New York; carried privately from the trail to Westport; reads in part from "Augustus" to his father, "We have finally got under way and about one hundred miles in camp on prairie from Independence…average about twenty miles day…we have a well beaten road so far and will have some ways yet…the country is beautiful can see nothing but green prairies for hundreds of miles…give me this kind of life, never felt better in my life…", Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

all lots for this sale will be subject to a 18% buyer's premium

Current Opening Bid: $100

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1108    

Indian Territory Postmark Group, small lot of 12 covers with various Indian Territory postmarks, towns included Big Tusk, Choteau, Claremore, "Doksville, I.T." manuscript Fort Arbuckle, Ark., "Fort Gibson, Ind. T., M.O.B.", Fort Sill, Tahlequah, Webber's Falls, "Wewoka P.O. Seminole Nat. Ind T." oval, few minor faults, generally F.-V.F., an interesting lot worth inspection.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (11MB).

all lots for this sale will be subject to a 18% buyer's premium

Current Opening Bid: $100

email this lot to a friend

Lots 1101-1108

Previous ChapterTable of ContentsNext Chapter