Lot
614 
"Fort McDowell A.T., May 27th 1866", dateline on blue enclosed letter from 1st Lieut. and Post Adjutant William A. Hancock, 1st Regiment, Arizona Volunteers, carried by military express to Maricopa Wells, orange cover entered mails to Santa Clara Cal. with manuscript "Maricopa Wells AT, May 30 1866" postmark and matching pen strokes cancelling 3¢ rose (65), faint stain (possibly re-used stamp), sent by mail stage to Santa Clara; letter has some splits, right edge of cover expertly restored, Very Fine appearance, ex-Birkinbine. Estimate $500 - 750.
THE EARLIEST RECORDED POSTMARKED USE FROM MARICOPA WELLS, ARIZONA TERRITORY.
Realized: $850
Lot
615
Fort Thomas, A.T., group of all three different postmarks on 3¢ green (207) covers comprising purple 1879 type 1 with star cancel to Washington D.C., 1880 type 2 double-circle to Washington D.C., and 1881 type 3 to South Barrington Me.; few flaws, F.-V.F. trio. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $180
Lot
616
Fort Thomas, Ariz., dateless circular postmark (Meyer type 2) with backwards "Z" ties 2¢ red brown (210) on 1887 cover to Springboro Pa., endorsed "James B. Hughes, 2nd Lt 10' Cav., Ft Thomas Ariz." at left; reduced at right, F.-V.F., ex-Risvold. Estimate $100 - 150.
Lot
617
"Ft. Whipple, Arizona, Apr. 26, 1864. / By Military Express.}", straightline datestamp on "Territory of Arizona, Governor's Office" corner card cover to Judge William F. Turner at Santa Fe (incorrectly called "California Terr"), carried by Military Express to Tucson, Vedette Mail to Las Cruces, entered mails at Las Cruces with manuscript "Las Cruces N.M. May 14/ 64" postmark and matching "X" cancel on 3¢ rose (65), mail stage to Santa Fe, forwarded from Santa Fe to Mt. Lebanon with "Santa Fe N.M. May 21" cds, manuscript "For" and "3" handstamp for postage due (restated "Due 3" in manuscript); stamp with couple small perf faults and tiny toned speck, cover slightly reduced at right and professionally improved, Very Fine appearance, ex-Longfellow, Birkinbine. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
THE ONLY RECORDED BLACK STRIKE OF THE EXTREMELY RARE FORT WHIPPLE TWO-LINE MILITARY EXPRESS DATESTAMP.
One other example of this Fort Whipple Military Express datestamp is reported, incompletely struck in red on a legal-size cover. This example in black is clearly struck and on a more attractive cover.
Realized: $3,250
Lot
618
Jerome, Arizona, Dec 1, 1883, duplex with fancy circular cancel on 2¢ red entire to Phoenix, blue Dec. 3rd arrival backstamp; minor tone spot, F.-V.F. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $210
Lot
619
La Paz AT, 13/4 66 (Yuma), manuscript postmark (Meyer 1, rarity 7) and matching pen strokes cancel 3¢ rose (65) on 1866 cover to Cincinnati Oh., Very Fine and choice early use from La Paz, ex-Longfellow. Estimate $500 - 750.
Lot
620
Maricopa Wells, A.T. (Arizona), blue cds (type 2, rarity 6) with matching blue cancel tying 3¢ ultramarine (114) on small cover to New York N.Y.; some cover restoration, Very Fine appearance, a scarce 1869 issue Arizona territorial use. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $325
Lot
621
"Mesilla Jany 25", manuscript postmark applied by Postmaster Francis De Ryther and matching pen "X" cancels on 3¢ rose (65) strip of three and single, faulty, on orange circa 1863 cover to Capt. W. L. Parvin, Co. F, 1st Infantry, California Volunteers, San Francisco Cal., pencil "Resigned" (Capt. Parvin resigned at Mesilla on Nov. 26, 1862), reverse with "San Francisco, Cal. Advertised Mar. 11" cds; cover reduced at right, Fine and important cover postmarked at Mesilla after Union Occupation of Arizona, ex-Birkinbine. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
THIS IS THE EARLIEST U.S. POST OFFICE CONTRACT MAIL FROM ARIZONA AFTER UNION OCCUPATION. ONE OF TWO KNOW CARRIED ON THE FIRST CONTRACT MAIL ROUTE IN THE MILITARY DISTRICT OF ARIZONA.
This cover was carried on U.S. Post Office Route 14465 from Mesilla to Kansas City via Santa Fe (contract effective January 1, 1863) by stage operated by Cottrill, Vickroy & Co.'s Santa Fe and Colorado Stage Co.
Realized: $1,250
Lot
622
"Mohave City AT, May 24", manuscript postmark with matching "X" cancel on 3¢ ultramarine (114) on circa 1869 cover to Henrietta N.Y., Very Fine and scarce 1869 Arizona Territorial use. Estimate $400 - 600.
Mohave City, Arizona Territory was founded to service Fort Mohave. The fort was established to protect northern Arizona gold and silver mines, as well as the nearby Colorado River crossing, from Indian attacks. Only 10 recorded manuscript postmarks are known before the use of the first handstamp.
Lot
623
"Mohave City AT Aug 7 1869", manuscript postmark and matching ms. squiggle on 3¢ ultramarine (114) on small cover to Chester Pa.; slightly reduced at right, Very Fine and scarce 1869 Pictorial Issue use from this Arizona Territory town, ex-Sampson, Chase, Juhring, Birkinbine. Estimate $400 - 600.