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Sale 97: The Westpex Sale

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State Postmarks - New Mexico (Santa Fe to Tucson & Balance)

Lots 814-823 Lots 824-833 Lots 834-836

Lot 824    

Santa Fe, N.M., group of 6 territorial usages, each with different cds style comprising "Santa Fe, New Mexico, May 1" cds and "10" rating handstamp, "Santa Fe N.M., 1 Jan" cds and matching "10" in circle rating handstamp Official Business to Washington D.C., "Santa Fe N.M. '3 Paid' 1 Oct" integral-rate cds to Brooklyn N.Y., and #26 tied by "Santa Fe, N. Mex, Jun 24" balloon cds on 1861 cover to Bristol R.I.; "Santa Fe, N.M. Dec 17" cds on 3¢ #U10 Nesbitt entire to Palestine, Texas; and "Santa Fe, N.Mex. Jun 3" cds with fancy circle of Vs ties 3¢ #94 on all-over green Z. Staab & Brother Merchants shaded ad cover; some faults, F.-V.F. and scarce group.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Realized: $350

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Lot 825    

"Socorro NM, Sep 11", manuscript New Mexico Territory postmark with matching pen strokes cancel 3¢ dull red (26) on 1861 folded letter to Penn Yan, N.Y.; 3¢ flaws, edge flaws and splitting, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Interesting letter describes much about life in the small town of Socorro during the early days of the Civil War. The great small pox epidemic in town, and the on going movement of Federal troops from Fort Craig to El Paso reads: "…The mail has just arrived & brought me your letter Aug 8th with Stillmans and Genettes. I am so glad to hear from you & it is a pleasure to see the mail arrive & pass on unmolested for it assures us that Uncle seems dominion here is not yet at an end…We are all well for which blessing we have great reason to be thankful to our heavenly father. Small pox is raging now in Socorro but our children have all been vaccinated, two deaths have occurred very near us, one a child of one our nearest neighbor's children are running the streets completely covered with it & no more attention is paid to it that any common sickness. In Alimilla 10 miles north about 30 children have died with it. I got you vaccine matter and think I will have the children vaccinated again…"

Realized: $450

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Lot 826 ()   

(Spanish American War) 1853 (Jul. 1, Nov. 6) New York, N.Y. to Hon. James Gadsden, Mexico City, Mexico via New Orleans and Vera Cruz, two cover fronts, each with partial "New-York, 10cts., Paid" attached rate exchange cds and Vera Cruz arrival postmark with "4" due rating handstamps, Very Fine pair.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

In 1853, Gadsden was appointed by the U.S. Government as the new American minister to Mexico, with instructions to purchase more land from Mexico for the prospective railroad route across southernmost New Mexico and Arizona, and to clear up the possibility of disputes over the location of the boundary between the two countries.

Realized: $725

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Lot 827    

Taos, 1825 folded cover from Taos, New Mexico to Santa Fe with manuscript "del Al del ind de Taus" (from the Alcalde-Mayor of Taos) to Governor D. Antonio Narbona, endorsed "S.N." at top for "Servicio National" paid public messenger, 1825 notation on reverse which is consistent with Antonio Narbona being Governor during this time, Fine and rare early Mexican use.
Estimate    $2,000 - 3,000.

ONE OF ONLY A FEW USAGES FROM THE EARLY MEXICAN PERIOD OF NEW MEXICO, THIS BEING THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE FROM EARLY TAOS.

The Martinez Hacienda is one of many Taos museums now. This usage is from the Mexican period (1821-1846). Several other similar items in this find bore the year notations. D.S. Martinez was the Alcalde of Taos in 1825.

This cover was illustrated in color on page 236 of the the article that appeared in American Philatelist, March, 2001 by Leo J. Harris and Floyd Risvold entitled "Spanish Colonial Mails."
.

Realized: $3,000

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Lot 828    

(Taos) Fernandez de Taos, N.Mex. Dec 20, cds with matching cork cancels tie 3¢ green (147) strip of five on 1872 cover to Bordeaux, France, red "New York 'Paid 6' Jan 6" credit exchange cds, carried by NGL Line Main from New York Jan. 6th to Southampton arriving Jan. 16th, red London Paid (1.17.72) transit cds and oval "PD" handstamp, Calais (1.18) transit, Bordeaux (1.19) arrival backstamp, Very Fine, ex-Noel, Walske.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $180

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Lot 829    

(Spanish New Mexico) Tomé "Octe. 13", red straightline with manuscript date and matching ms. "4" rating on 1845 letter from Albuquerque to Chihuhahua, datelined "Alburqeqe Agosto 5, 1845" with letter in Spanish, address and letter in Spanish, ex-Kramer.
Estimate    $5,000 - 7,500.

ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED USES OF THE SPANISH NEW MEXICO ALBUQUERQUE "TOMÉ" STRAIGHTLINE.

In August 1845, the area of New Mexico was claimed for the United States by General S. W. Kearny. The only two post offices were Albuquerque (Tomé) and Santa Fe. This cover is the basis of the American Stampless Cover Catalog listing.

Letter concerns receipt of "tornaguia" (return of a receipt issued by the custom-house, showing that the goods have arrived at their destination) and regarding the charge of Otero discussed previously.

Realized: $6,250

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Lot 830    

"Tubac A.T. Dec 9", manuscript Arizona Territory postmark applied by Postmaster Thomas M. Yerkes with matching "X" cancel on 3¢ rose (65), small flaws, on yellow cover to Gertrude Cranston, Lima, N.Y., endorsed "Via Santa Fe" at left (Route 17203 to Prescott, then Santa Fe) up the Santa Fe trail; reduced slightly at left, fresh and Very Fine use, ex-Risvold.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

The Tubac Post Office was established on February 21, 1859 while then in Dona Ana County, New Mexico Territory. It became part of the Arizona Territory on February 24th, 1863. Tubac was an Indian village and was first garrisoned by the Spanish as early as 1752 with a fine Mission Church being built in those early years. During the history of Tubac four national flags Spain - Mexico - Confederate States and United States have flown over this small but important town. The area today has become one of Arizona's more important artist colonies.

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Lot 831    

Tubac and Tucson, N.M., four covers from the Jones correspondence to Columbus, Ohio, each with a 1¢ 1857 intact but 5¢ 1857 peeled off, two with "Tubac, N.M." manuscript postmark dated May 19th and May 27th 1859, former is the earliest known Tubas postmark use; and two with partial "Tucson N.M." cds dated Apr. 24th and Apr. 30th 1859, Fine and tragic early territorial group.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $650

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Lot 832    

"Tubac, N.M. Nov. 24", manuscript postmark with matching pen strokes canceling 3¢ dull red (26) on 1859 yellow cover endorsed "Via OM to St. Louis" to Cincinnati, Ohio, receipt docketing "H. C. Grosevenor, Nov. 20 - 1859" at left, carried by Lathrop's Buckboard Mail to Tucson and then by Butterfield stage; edge faults, Fine, ex-Birkinbine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Cover was sent by the mine operator H. C. Grosvenor in Tubac who was latter killed by Apaches in 1861.

Realized: $625

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Lot 833    

"Tucson NM, May 15.", manuscript postmark by Mark Aldrich on buff cover addressed to General James W. Denver as Commissioner of Indian Affairs (April-June 1857) in Washington, D.C., carried by military express to Santa Fe, instead of entering the regular mails there, it was carried in a military pouch to Washington, D.C., Very Fine, ex-Birkinbine.
Estimate    $2,000 - 3,000.

THIS IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED UNITED STATES POSTMARK FROM ARIZONA.

Mark Aldrich was a wealthy Arizona merchant who facilitated the mails even before he was officially appointed postmaster. Before Aldrich settled in the West, he lived in Illinois. He was one of five tried and acquitted in the murder of Mormon prophet Joseph Smith in 1844. After becoming very wealthy as a merchant, he became Tucson's unofficial first mayor and served as the postmaster (he was officially appointed November 11, 1857).

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Lots 814-823 Lots 824-833 Lots 834-836

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