Lot
112 
Fort Randall, N T, Sep 17, bold cds ties 1861 3¢ rose on cover to Clifton Mills, Wis., "39" docket at top; cover slightly reduced at left, F.-V.F., this postmark type came into use in 1861 after The Post Office had been transferred to Dakota Territory., ex-Winter. Scott No. 65 Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $90
Lot
113
(Oregon Route) Ft. Kearny O.R., clear strike of Fancy Blue Oval Eagle Handstamp with Oregon Route designation on 1852 folded letter to Cog Hill, Tennessee, with manuscript "June 1/52" date and matching "5" rate, with letter datelined "Fort Kearney, May 26th, 1852" noting…we arrived here all well…we are three hundred miles from St. Joseph…I will write from Fort Laramie about 3000 miles ahead, Very Fine. Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE FANCY FORT KEARNY O.R. "OREGON ROUTE" EAGLE HANDSTAMP OF THE FOUR EXAMPLES RECORDED.
By the 1850's, the commonly called Oregon Route, or O.R. was formerly known as the Oregon Trail, that being the route of Oregon emigrants. This letter was sent with the the Woodson Contract mail for Independence, Mo.
Realized: $3,750
Lot
114
(Oregon Route) Ft. Laramie O.R., Dec 15, cut out of postmark affixed contemporarily by sealing wax on military monthly report to the Quarter Master General in Washington D.C., datelined "Fort Laramie, O.R., December 11th, 1851", Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
Monthly reports were generally sent to the Quartermaster's General Office by military courier. Instead, the U.S. mails were used for this dispatch. The Woodson Contract called for mails to depart Ft. Laramie of the 15th of each month. Heavy winter snows delayed delivery for a month as the backside of this letter is docketed "Rec'd Feb 10/52". Military filing practice was to cut out the date mark from cover.
Realized: $325
Lot
115
(Oregon Route) Fort Laramie, O.R., discernible strike of circular forwarding handstamp with manuscript "Nov 15" date on cover to Wilmington, N.C., initially sent with blue "San Francisco, Aug 15" cds and matching "Paid 6" crossed out and manuscript 5 forwarding rate alongside, 1852 docketing at left, Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A VERY RARE FORWARDING USAGES OF THE FORT LARAMIE OREGON ROUTE POSTMARK.
A Post Office at Fort Laramie on the Oregon Route or Oregon Trail across the plains was established in 1850. The Post Office was located in unorganized territory but attached to Oregon Territory for administrative purposes and was the last Post Office on the Oregon Trail going west.
Lot
116
(Minnesota) Fort Ripley, Min, Dec 13, large cds on uncancelled 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Aiken, S.C., "Jan. 5, 1855" docket at left, with original letter between ministers datelined "12 Dec 1854, P.O. Fort Ripley M.T."; couple small cover edge nicks, Very Fine appearance. Estimate $150 - 200.