Lot 1840
P.O./ Frontera/ 20 Dec. 51/ N.M., unusual manuscript postmark in four lines, all in bright magenta, on white envelope to Washington with 3¢ orange brown (10), mostly ample to huge margins including right sheet margin, just clear at upper left, gorgeous color on bright fresh paper, tied by matching pen strokes, original 1851 enclosure headed "Frontera near El Paso:"; cover without bottom flap and stamp with small diagonal corner crease, still immaculate and Very Fine, a great rarity and one of the most important New Mexico Territory covers used with the 1851 Issue.
Estimate 5,000 - 7,500
Provenance: Longfellow, Shipley
The writer of the letter, G. Clinton Gardner, was a clerk and artist for the Boundary Survey Commission headed by Maj. William H. Emory. Gardner noted, "I have just sent my letters home by the mail via San Antonio yet in case that may fail I will write you these few lines via Santa Fe." In addition, he instructed anyone writing him to send letters "Care of J.R. Sweet & Co. San Antonio." At the outbreak of the Civil War, Emory, stationed in the Indian Territory, gathered up all the scattered companies of the abandoned forts of Arbuckle, Cobb, Smith and Washita in addition to 150 women, children and teamsters, and led them to Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, just ahead of pursuing secessionist volunteers from Arkansas and north Texas.
|
| |
| Realized $5,250 |
