Lot
3 
(Alameda) "Oakland, Cal / March 4", manuscript postmark (ALA-3170) with matching manuscript canceling 10¢ green, type III (33), small flaws, on cover to Canaan 4 Corners N.Y., Very Fine and early use, Catalog $250 on cover. Estimate $150 - 200.
Lot
4
(El Dorado) "Cedarville Cala, Decr 16 1859", manuscript postmark on light yellow cover to Madisonville, E. Tenn. bearing 3¢ dull red (26) block of four, each cancelled by matching manuscript. strokes; faults from placement over edge, F.-V.F. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS RARE CALIFORNIA TOWN.
Cedarville post office was open from Nov. 22nd 1853 to Nov. 12th 1863. Williams did not recorded this town with any postmarks. The other recorded example of this manuscript postmark is dated May 1st 1859 as listed in the Philamercury census.
Lot
5
(El Dorado) Georgetown Cal., Jul 2, 1861, bold strike of cds (Williams ELD-1420) ties 10¢ green (35) on light buff cover to Denver, Colorado Terr. partial strike of framed Advertised and "Aug" handstamps; some edge wear, Very Fine. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $170
Lot
6
(El Dorado) Greenwood Cal. Dec 19, clear strike of blue cds (ELD-1710) cancels 10¢ green (U18) buff entire to Germany, magenta "10" rating, red "N. York Br. Pkt. 'Paid 7' Jan 27" credit exchange cds, red "Aachen, Franco, 13/2" framed transit, German (2.15) arrival backstamp; light bend at right, Very Fine, Unusual use sent at the Prussian Closed Mail rate even though only 10¢ prepaid., ex-Pearce. Scott No. U18 Estimate $300 - 400.
Lot
7
(El Dorado) Placerville, Cal., cds (Williams ELD-2980) just tying manuscript cancelled 10¢ green type III (33), scissor cut perfs at bottom, on cover to Washington, D.C., manuscript endorsement "Via Salt Lake" at bottom left, F.-V.F. Estimate $500 - 750.
A SCARCE COVER CARRIED ON THE CHORPENNING ROUTE.
Realized: $950
Lot
8
(Monterey) "Monterey Sept. 22nd 1828", dateline on letter from John B.R. Cooper to Father Dana concerning trade reading in part, "…Dear Dana…have no hopes of getting any thing or assistance from you and such a number also of these fellows owing me that set me almost mad bu the days for trusting is past and gone a trade may be kept up between you and me advantageous too us both I will procur for you what spare and timber of any dimensions you may want at the price or expences getting them down to the beach, you paying the freight to there I will take what licor you can procur down there at what price they may be able to pick up in the Missions and Pueblanas it is a shure sale in Monterey and generally very quick…" and signed "Yours Truly, John B. R. Cooper"; professionally framed, Very Fine. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
AN EARLY 1828 MONTEREY LETTER FROM JOHN B.R. COOPER TO FATHER DANA.
John Bautista Rogers Cooper (1791-1872) was raised in Massachusetts in a maritime family, he came to the Mexican territory of Alta, California as master of the ship, Rover, and was a pioneer of Monterey, California when it was the capital of the territory. Marrying into the family of the Mexican territorial governor, he acquired extensive land holdings in the area prior to the Mexican-American War.
Realized: $2,100
Lot 9
(Monterey) 1850 (Mar. 2) Monterey Cal., Recorded Deed for Land Parcel, 4 pg. land document headed "Municipality of Monterey, State of California" with intaglio "Alcaldis Office, Monterey" circular handstamp, signed by "Philip A. Roach" Alcalde of Monterey, Very Fine and rare handstamp.Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $130
Lot
10
(Nevada) "Rough & Ready, Cala. Feb 25-", manuscript postmark at left with matching "40" rating on buff cover to Reynoldsburg Oh., enclosed letter datelined "Feby 22d 1851" from miner to his parents with some interesting mining content: "…Men run wild with excitement in this country there are always some large stories afloat some newly discovered & very rich diggings 150 or 200 miles away & men are continually running hither & thither but those rich places are seldom found nowadays very scarce…The country is full of men who are searching all over for the gold which is all over the country but not in quantities sufficient to suit the digger there are undoubtedly many very rich and extensive mines yet to be discovered but there are many men to work them out. I shall be well pleased when it comes my turn to leave my share of this country to hands that are more willing to do the hard work & accept the miners fare…", F.-V.F. and scarce 40¢ usage with interesting mining content. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $220
Lot
11
(Nevada) "Rough and Ready. Apl. 23rd. 1851", dateline on great early miner's letter recapping trip from Sacramento to Rough & Ready reading in part "…we ae now at Rough and Ready on Deer creek a tributary of the Yuba, about 45 miles from Marysville and about 9 miles from Nevada City… March 14th Took a pretty early start, had a very pleasant ride, passed by Sutters fort, it is quite a sizeable fort built of adobies, though somewhat delapidated…the owner of the ranch advised us not to attempt to cross the mountains at present a the snow would probably be very deep, considering discression to be the better part of valour, we took his advice and turn back to Bidwells bar… saw a man that came down from the mountains, said the snow was 2ft deep and still snowing…we could hear nothing encouraging on the middle Feather where we were, we determined to go over on the Yuba at Long bar, kept at the river about 2 miles and stopped at Park bar, went 20 miles. As the miners did not seem to be doing much along here, we kept on higher and passed Barlows bar, crossed the river and soon after reached Roses bar…24th Pushed on again, reached Kentucky flat a little after noon… the diggings here are in a flat valley 4 to 8 ft deep, gold course and pays pretty well… Rough and Ready… here the diggings are in the ravines and washing the top dirt of the hills, a great many of the miners are doing wells, we hired out here at $5.00 pr day…"; separations and toning, Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $250
Lot
12
(Nevada) Rough and Ready, Cal., 6¢ Rates, group of 6 with manuscript postmarks from 1852 to 1855 comprising three manuscript "Paid 6" rated stampless uses, 1854 use on 6¢ green #U13 entire, 1854 use on 6¢ green #U14 entire, and 1855 use with #11A vertical pair to Mich.; some mixed condition, F.-V.F. and rare group. Estimate $400 - 600.
Realized: $400