Lot
797 
"Fort Union, Feb 3rd 52", manuscript New Mexico Territory military postmark with matching pen strokes just tying 3¢ orange brown (10A), large margins to touched, on 1852 buff cover to Annapolis Md., sharp "Baltimore, Md. Mar 8" cds and manuscript "Way" rating, cover was sent by Assistant Surgeon Thomas McParlin and docketed "Recd March 9th 1852, W.H. McParlin", Extremely Fine and remarkable use, ex-Chase, Ball, Walske. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
THE EARLIEST RECORDED FULL STAMPED COVER FROM NEW MEXICO TERRITORY.
Fort Union, was located close to the Santa Fe trail in north eastern New Mexico. Its main functions was to provide military escorts to the monthly mails between Santa Fe and Independence, Missouri. This letter was carried under the first Waldo, Hall mail contract.
Three modes of transport were used:
1. By wagon: Fort Union depart 3 February 1852 via Independence, to St. Louis (arrive 26 February)
2. By steamboat: St. Louis depart 27 February, via Cairo and Louisville to Wheeling, Virginia
3. By railway: Wheeling via Harrisburg, to Baltimore arrive 8 March with "Way" rating and sent on to Annapolis.