

Lot
640
(Alabama) Huntsville, Al., blue cds on two folded letter sheets; one to Nashville, Tenn. with matching "Paid" and fancy "5" star in stars rate handstamp, other to Gaston, N.C. with matching "Paid" and fancy negative "10" in circle rate handstamp, 1846 docketing; former with light corner stain and missing bottom flap, latter with light stain slightly affecting address panel, both with Very Fine strikes.Estimate $400 - 600.
Current Opening Bid: $200

Lot 641
(Colorado) Twitchell Correspondence, 1859-60, group of three letters, one with cover; includes Bushy Bar, Clear Creek, July 10th, 1859 dateline on four page letter, with content in part…As I have an opportunity to send you a line or send a letter to Denver at the foot of the mountains (the only method we have of starting a letter home) I again write a line to let you know I am getting along I wrote to you, Warren & Turner on the 4th but I understand that the letters have not yet left Denver City in consequences of the Express charges not being paid, Tomorrow I will send down & pay the charges so that they will be forwarded…have bought a claim for which we are to pay $100.00 when we get it out & have went in Company with 4 others, who own a claim joining us & have put in a sluice, have only worked part of 2 days & have made about 20$, all together making $2.50 each we have not got ritely to work yet I think we will probably make 3 or 4 dollar per day a piece or when we get properly to work; (Central City) Feby 17th, 1860 dateline on four page letter, with content in part…The Towns have improved very rapidly this winter Denver & Auraria are getting to be pretty considerable Cities. This Town is next in size & contains about 500 inhabitants & about 25 prety respectable houses, I think this is destined to be one of the first towns in the Country.; and California Gulch, July 23rd/60 dateline on two page letter, with content in part…I redt your favor of June 28 before leaving Russells Gulch. & answered it the same day…since my arrival I have bin looking around through these mines. Some parts of which apear to be paying well while the yeald is other are small. John and I think of starting on a prospecting trip tomorrow down the Arkansas River we expect to go 50 or perhaps 100 miles & will be out week or two; includes original cover to Rosiclare, Ill. with manuscript "35 paid" express fee notation, franked with 1857, 3¢ dull red tied by blue "Saint Joseph, Mo., Aug 19, 1860" cds, some flaws, F.-V.F.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
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Current Opening Bid: $375

Lot 642
(Colorado) Twitchell Correspondence, 1859-60, group of three letters; includes Leavenworth City, May 4th, 1859, dateline on three page letter, with content in part…I wrote you a letter yesterday while at Camp…we hitched up this morning & drove into the town as usual I went direct to the post office & found a letter from you of which I only red a few words (for I was so rejoiced I could not finish it then)…The express came in yesterday brat better news than was an a circular was published this Morning Stating the news by yesterday express was that men were making from 8 to 20$ per day.; Golden City, Nov 2nd/59, dateline on four page letter, with content in part…Your favor of Oct. 3rd came to had on the 29th r was then up in the mines at Russells Gulch…I got here yesterday, last night the mail came in again, & I recd another letter dated the 9th of October…Since I have got those interest in the Mining Claims on Russels Gulch & have bin at work there I have out a goodeal concerning the mines…The Citizen of this place are building a road through the Mountains to South Park & Blue River which are considered the best mining portion of the country that has bin discovered. The road intersects the Plat route below Denver City in order to bring Emigration into this place first entered of Denver which if they succeed will build this place rite up.; and Russell's Gulch, May 25 (1860), dateline on two page letter, with content in part…I am gitting anxious to here from you & thinking that perhaps when I go to the office to mail this I will receive one (which has occurred several times)…am a working on a Claim that Smith & I own, on this gulch & which I have mentioned in my two last letters. we are making very small wages…The emigrants are arriving by hundreds all or almost all are discourage at the apearance of the times.& a grate many are perfectly satisfied with a few days mining over the Mountains & turn their backs up on the once glorious gold region…I think it doubtful if Salie will receive his letter regularly in consequence of the express line not being properly established yet if I get a favorable word from there have as mine through Jim I will probably sell out here & go over there., F.-V.F.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
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Current Opening Bid: $375

Lot 643
(Colorado) Twitchell Correspondence, 1859-61, group of three letters, one with cover; includes Twitchell & McGlothlin Ranch, August 7th, 1859 (8 Miles North of Golden City), dateline on two page letter, with content in part,…Not at once, by applying to the Post - Office, I will there recover if (slitely ailing) a letter from you, which inverably produces the desired effect & sets me all rite again…I called at the post office first & there I found 2 letters which I grasped with eager hand, & after reading them I felt a goodel better…Austin was down here last night from the mines he came to get my mule to go to South Park which I about 100 miles South West from here, it is reported that there is good mines discovered a that place & hundreds are preparing to go…The most reliable report that we have is that a man can make from 10 to 15 dollars pr day; Russell's Gulch, Mch 11th, 1860, dateline on two page letter, with content in part…This is May 6th letter I sent then (as I have all my letters) by Jones & Russell's Express so it seems strange that you have not recd them. I have recd your letters regular & I except, all about you have writen. I have but little to write about as my last was of the 3rd of this month (from Nevada Gulch) Since then I have commenced work with Crocket & Co. (the Co. I was with last fall) We commenced washing day before yesterday we took out, in the 2 days 195 pennyweights or 156 $ the one sixth was my part being 26 dollars for the 2 day work.; includes original cover to Rosiclare, Ill. with "Jones & Russell Pikes Peak Express Co., Denver City, Mar 15, 1860" cds and franked with 1857, 3¢ dull red tied by "Leavenworth City, K.T., Mar 23, 1860" cds; cover and stamp edge wear with cover missing backflap; and California Gulch, June 7th, 1861, dateline on two page letter, with content in part…last week I went to Breckinridge, French & Georgia Gulches a distance of 80 miles, My business was to attend to some claims…I was shown a piece of Gold, by a gentleman on Georgia Gulch that was worth with a trifle of 300 dollars it was the bigest piece of gold that I have seen in this country., F.-V.F.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
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Current Opening Bid: $375

Lot
644
(Colorado) Twitchell Correspondence, 1859-61, group of three letters; includes Mountain Camp, July 4th, 1859, dateline on four page letter, with content in part…We left our encampment on Cherry Creek the 15th the next day after I wrote to you & started up into the mountains we arrived at this encamps must the 17th we left 3 men at the waggons & 15 and the balance in no. with 3 horses packed with provisions & mining tools started on to the mines a distance of from 5 to 20 miles we prospected five days with out finding any thing that we thought would pay; Golden City, Aug 3rd, 1859, dateline on eight page letter, with content in part…I came down from the mountains about a week ago where I had been to work at mining some 3 weeks or rather trying to mine. There were 8 of us in Co. Austin & Jas Warton. & balance of who you are not aquainted our claims were on Clear Creek a Stream of considerable size & very rapid…I am now in co. with McGlothlin we have taken up a ranch about 8 miles north of this place with the intention of herding cattle this fall…Consequently I have made my mind to stay here this fall & winter (if I have my health) & see what the prospect are in the springs & next sumer. I think by so doing I will have an opportunity going in to the mountains in the spring & getting a claim that will pay.; and California Gulch, July 1st/61, dateline on four page letter, with content in part…I was in hopes to have hird from you by our last mail, I have just returned this morning from Taylors Gulch 50 miles west of here where I have bin since I wrote you. A Co. of six of us have bin working on the said gulch about 2 weeks have bin repairing a watter race, building a cabbin & making preparation for work & consequently have done but little mining. I think however that we can make some money in the course of a month or so…Morg is very sick with the Mountain feaver I am afraid he cannot recover, we have 2 Doctors attending him & are doing all that is in our power for him., F.-V.F. or better.Estimate $500 - 750.
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Current Opening Bid: $250

Lot
645
(Connecticut) Plymouth Hollow, Ct., Apr 20, bold red large balloon cds with matching fancy "Paid" in scroll and large "V" rate handstamps on folded letter to Hartford, Ct., Extremely Fine, wonderfully choice strikes.Estimate $300 - 400.
Current Opening Bid: $150

Lot
646
(Florida) St. Mark, Florida, Jan 24, bold cds with manuscript day on folded letter datelined "Key West, Jan 7, 1840" to Tallahassee, matching "Ship" handstamp with manuscript "2+6/8" rating; some light tone spotting, Very Fine, a scarce ship mark from St. Mark.Estimate $300 - 400.
Current Opening Bid: $160

Lot
647
(Illinois) Chicago, Supplementary Mail, Jan 5, complete strike of blue cds (type C) canceling on 1861, 3¢ pink entire to Baltimore, Md.; entire missing backflap, Very Fine.Estimate $150 - 200.
Current Opening Bid: $80

Lot
648
(Illinois) Galesburg, Ill., My 20, brown straight line postmark with manuscript date on 1842 folded letter to the Missionary Society in New York, matching manuscript "25" rate, initially posted with "Canton, Ills., May 11" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp and "10" rate, all crossed out and reposted over two weeks later in Galesburg, Very Fine and unusual.Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $100

Lot
649
(Indian Territory) Fort Towson, Ark., Jul 11 (Choctaw Nation), cds with matching "Free" handstamp and manuscript "O.P.S." below (On Public Service), on lengthy three page letter to Maj. Gen. T.S. Jesup, Quarter Master Genl. in Washington D.C., with letter from contacted corn supplier regarding difficulties in fulfilling his contract including buying a steamboat to haul a portion from Texas, Very Fine.Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $100
