Lot
121 
(Humboldt) Union Town, H.(umboldt) B.(ay) Cal., Jul 16, blue double circle date stamp (HUM-4880, R5) canceling on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire to San Francisco, with original enclosure datelined "Hoopa Valley, Cal., July 5, 1860"; slightly reduced at left, Very Fine, an rare and extremely late usage of this Union Town postmark used after the name was changed to Arcata on May 5th of 1860. Estimate $200 - 300.
The Union Town post office opened in 1852 and was the original name of Arcata (the permanent name change to "Arcata" occurred in 1860). Union Town was created as a port, and re-provisioning center for the gold mines in the Klamath, Trinity, and Salmon mountains to the east, and was very briefly the county seat during this period.
Realized: $325