Lot 8
[Indians - Choctaw Nation] "Fort Coffee, Choctaw Nation West, 1st July 1834", dateline on folded letter to Chicopee Factory, Mass., entered mails at the nearest post office with manuscript "Fort Smith A.T., July 4th" postmark and matching "25" rate marking, the letter is an order for four regulation swords for the four officers that signed this letter; some fold splitting, Very Fine, ex-Chase, Bleuler.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
THIS IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED LETTER OUT OF THIS SHORT-LIVED CHOCTAW NATION POST THAT WAS ABANDONED IN 1838.
It was decided that a military post should be located closer to the Indian lands than Fort Smith. Work started on Fort Coffee on April 22, 1834 and the 7th Infantry moved up from Fort Smith to occupy the new fort on June 16th, this letter was written only two weeks later, long before a post office was established at Fort Coffee on April 22, 1835.
Realized: $500