Lot 1
Arapahoe, K.T., Dec 5th 1859, dateline on miner's letter (no cover) with good content regarding life in the mining camps, letter written by Theophilus Taylor which states, "This place my home is in the Mountains and the prospect is good for getting gold, but in consequence of our getting here late in the season and being greenhorns to mining, we have not done very well…there is plenty of gold here, that is true and we mean to have our share if hard labour will procure it. We have some good claims as there are in the mountains, both quartz and gulch claims. The weather is very pleasant in the valley, there is some snow in the mountains, but not enough to hinder working…I should like to send amount due you but there is a great risk…I will send it otherwise as soon as there is a United States mail established.", letter is signed with notation please write me "Direct to Denver, Kansas Territory", Very Fine, Bauer et al state this office was not established until January 17, 1860, so this letter was probably carried by express and mailed elsewhere.Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $240
Lot
2 
Auraria [Georgia] 6 June 1860, manuscript postmark on 3¢ postal stationery entire to Dahlonega, light soiling and fading of address panel, otherwise F.-V.F. Estimate $100 - 150.
Gold was discovered in Georgia in 1828, and the town of Auraria was named in 1833. In 1857 a group of Aurarians called the "Russell Boys" traveled to the Pikes Peak region to seek gold, which they discovered in the sands of Cherry Creek in February 1858. This soon gave birth to a town which they named Auraria in honor of their Georgia home.
Realized: $80
Lot
3
(Auraria K.T.), 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt postal stationery entire canceled by "Albion, Mich Jul 27" balloon postmark to Auraria K.T. carried by mail to Leavenworth City, carried by unknown private express company, reduced at left, couple minor edge tears, Very Fine and scarce, scarce cover incoming to the goldfield of western Kansas. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $100
Lot
4
Auraria K.T., July 11th/59, two line manuscript postmark ties 1857 3¢ adhesive (tiny perf faults) on neat cover to Illinois, cover with trivial small corner repair at bottom left, Very Fine and scarce, One of only a couple reported examples of the manuscript postmark, a rare usage on the first day of service. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
The Auraria post office was established Jan. 18, 1859 and was formally transferred to Denver City on February 11, 1860.
Realized: $9,500
Lot
5
Auraria K.T., Aug.2 1859, clearly struck two line handstamped postmark on cover with manuscript "Paid" at top right to Rhode Island, interesting original contents datelined "Auraria Kansas Territory, Foot of the Rocky Mountains", letter written by Joseph Whiting, both the cover and contents are water stained and otherwise damaged, but quite readable and historically significant, Fine appearance. Estimate $500 - 750.
Contract mail service to Auraria was begun on July 11, 1859 and was carried by the United States Express Company until they failed after their 26 August 1859 trip.
Realized: $625
Lot
6
Auraria K.T., Aug. 9, 1859, clear two line handstamp ties 3¢ 1857 adhesive on clean cover to Ohio, professionally repaired flap & cover tear at top left affecting top right corner of adhesive, Very Fine and rare, a wonderful example of this rare marking. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
Realized: $6,500
Lot
7
Bent's Fort, Santa Fe Trail, Unorganized Territory, 1846 Mexican War letter from settler/trader enroute to Santa Fe, datelined "Near Bents Fort July 31 '46", the same day that Kearny (also at Bent's Fort) issued his proclamation to the people of New Mexico declaring his intention to "liberate" Santa Fe, postmarked "Fort Leavenworth, Mo., Sep 2" black cds with manuscript "5" cents unpaid, An excellent trail letter with historic contents written by E.N. Pomeroy, which states in part, "We are all well as usual intending to leave for Santa Fe in two or three days, the traders are in fine spirits from the understanding that we are not to pay any duty, and from sea ports being blockaded so that supplies can't enter the usual way…We are making fine profits in our sales to the Army, the only trouble is in procuring goods enough. The mail is about to close. The news from Santa Fe is that the place will probably surrender without a fight, nothing however is known upon which much reliance can be place.", Very Fine and rare, this is the earliest recorded folded letter from what is now Colorado & one of the most important early Colorado items, one other example is known carried by this Military express. Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
Bent's Fort was established as an early trading post in unorganized Missouri Territory, but was also used by the military as circumstances dictated. As it had no postal facilities, this letter was carried by military courier back to Fort Leavenworth.
Realized: $7,000
Lot
8
Boulder NT Feb 20, 1861, manuscript postmark and matching cancel on 3¢ Star Die entire to Illinois, slightly reduced at left & few minor toned spots, Very Fine, A very rare cover from Boulder, Nebraska Territory, mailed only eight days before the office became part of Colorado Territory. Only four such covers are known (see the census in Charles W. Winter's Nebraska Postal History). One of the Gems of the Collection. Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
For administrative purposes the Boulder Post Office appears as being part of Kansas Territory.
Realized: $5,250
Lot
9
Breckinridge, Utah Ter'ty, 13th Sept 1860, manuscript postmark on cover to Iowa franked with 1857 3¢ tied (slightly defective at top) by matching manuscript cancel, neat docketing on face, Very Fine and rare, This is the earlier of two known covers from the only post office in that part of Utah Territory that is now Colorado. Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
Named for Vice President and presidential candidate John C. Breckinridge, the town later changed its spelling to Breckenridge after its namesake's support of the Confederacy in 1861. A stunning Colorado rarity. .
Realized: $14,000
Lot
10
Coraville K.T., Jun 17, clear two line handstamp postmark on attractive 1859 cover to Ohio franked with 1857 1¢ strip of 3 (small faults) tied by 3 additional strikes of the handstamp postmark, cover opened at left & right, Very Fine, One of the most important Colorado Covers in existence & the earliest recorded handstamp postmark from pre-territorial Colorado, illustrated in Jarrett's Colorado book. Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
There never was a community named Coraville. The Coraville post office, located in Denver City, was also the western terminal for the Leavenworth City and Pike's Peak Express Company. The contract for mail between Salt Lake City did not include Coraville in error, three mails were dispatched from Coraville as contract mails before the express agent realized that they were not being pair for the service.
Realized: $14,500