Lot
83 
Salt Lake Cal., July 16, manuscript postmark with "Paid 10" rate on cover to Poughquag, N.Y.; cover with edge wear, light stains and small erosion hole above address, Fine appearance. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
ONE OF THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE SALT LAKE CAL. POSTMARK USED ON THIS DATE, WHICH IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED POSTMARK DATE OF UTAH AS AN UNORGANIZED TERRITORY.
When the Salt Lake City post office was established by the U.S. Government on January 18, 1849, no expense provision or contract was made to transport the mails. It was left to the Mormons to carry the U.S. mails at their own expense. This letter was carried east by a special express headed by A. W. Babbitt, which left Salt Lake City on 27 July, 1849 for Kanesville, Iowa on the Missouri River. Although the postmaster at Salt Lake City for a while in 1849 used the term "Cal." in his manuscript postmark, the town was not attached to California for Post Office Department administrative purposes (as Fort Leavenworth and Scott were attached to Missouri).
Realized: $1,000