Sale 1384 — 2026 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 23 June, 2026
Category — California Postal History, Indian Territory, Use from France to Lincoln
Stephen W. Kearny. Brigadier General and Governor of California, one-page autograph letter signed "S.W. Kearny Brig. Gen'l and Gov. of California" and datelined "Monterey California April 27th 1847", to John Burton at Pueblo de San Jose, letter reads "Sir, I have received your communication of the 30th March relating to a Decree made by me on the 26th of that month in the case of Gabriel Castro vs. Antonio Hermano & I have since learned that you have contrary to that Decree 'given judgment & issued an execution to be levied by a Sheriff against various portions of the Property of the Defendant' A Hermano. I have now to decree, that you stay all further proceedings in this case, until you hear further from me on this subject", excellent condition
VERY FINE. A RARE AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED BY STEPHEN W. KEARNY AS MILITARY GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA.
Kearny served as military governor of California from Feb. 23, 1847 to May 31, 1847. He was succeeded by Richard B. Mason (see following lot). Ex Drew.
Richard B. Mason. Military officer and fifth military governor of California, autograph letter signed "R. B. Mason Col. 1st Dragoons Gov. of California", with intact red wax seal at top for First Dragoons, letter reads "Know all men by these Present, That I, Richard B. Mason, Colonel 1st Regiment of Dragoons United States Army and Governor of California, by virtue of authority in me vested, do hereby appoint Dolores Pacheco 2nd Alcalde for and in the jurisdiction of the Pueblo de San Jose Upper California. Done at Monterey the Capital of California, this 9th day of February A.D. 1848 and the 72nd year of the Independence of the United States." remarkably well preserved
VERY FINE. A RARE APPOINTMENT SIGNED BY RICHARD B. MASON, THE FIFTH MILITARY GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA.
Alcalde is a municipal magistrate position with both administrative and judicial responsibilities. Ex Drew.
Wells, Fargo & Co., Pony Express, $1.00 Red (143L3). Full to large margins including part of adjoining stamp at bottom, bright color, tied by blue “Pony Express, San Francisco, Aug. 31” (1861) Running Pony oval datestamp on 10c Green on White Star Die entire (U32) with Wells Fargo & Co. red printed frank to Esther Reed, care of George Reed in Coxsackie N.Y., manuscript "per Pony" next to stamp, carried on the Pony trip that departed San Francisco on Saturday, August 31, 1861, and arrived in St. Joseph on September 14, entered the mails with clear strike of "St. Joseph Mo. Sep. 14" circular datestamp, cover with tiny edge tears, $1.00 with faint trivial corner creases, cover with some minor cosmetic improvement
VERY FINE APPEARING COVER WITH THE $1.00 RED STAMP ISSUED BY WELLS FARGO & COMPANY FOR THE OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACT PERIOD BEGINNING IN JULY 1861.
The FKW census lists seven covers from this trip. One is a way-mail cover picked up in Carson City and does not have a Running Pony marking. One originated in Sacramento and five originated in San Francisco.
FKW census no. E147. With 1966 P.F. certificate.
Baptist Mission, C.N., 4 Jan. Full clear strike of circular datestamp with inverted “4” in date, stencil marking “WM. MUSGROVE/Babtist Mission CN” in ornate frame (with “Babtist” spelling error), manuscript “Free" above and “PM” after Musgrove’s name on cover addressed in his hand to Andrew Nave at Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation, no indication of year date; accompanied by a second cover addressed by Musgrove to Nave at Tahlequah and franked “Free, William A. Musgrove, P.M.” and “Bap Mission”, both covers have some very slight wear and toned spots
VERY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE BAPTIST MISSION, CHEROKEE NATION, CIRCULAR DATESTAMP ON COVER AND ONE OF THE FEW POSTMARKED COVERS KNOWN FROM THIS CHEROKEE NATION POST OFFICE IN PRESENT-DAY OKLAHOMA.
The Baptist Mission post office was established on July 5, 1850, with Rev. Evan Jones as postmaster. It apparently operated as a Confederate post office during the Civil War. It was discontinued on June 22, 1866.
William A. Musgrove (1814-1880) was a well-known resident of Baptist Mission, who ran “a small mercantile business, manufactured plug tobacco, kept beehives, and ran wagon-, furniture-, and cabinet-making shops” (The Papers of Will Rogers). Musgrove also served as postmaster and likely introduced the “Baptist Mission C.N.” circular datestamp, which is also found on the Confederate 25c scrip issued by Musgrove in 1862 (an example was offered in Stack's John J. Ford Jr. sale).
The addressee, Andrew Nave, was a Cherokee merchant and the son-in-law of Chief John Ross. In 1863 the Nave home was attacked by Confederate marauders led by Stand Watie, and Andrew Nave was killed during the attack.
Ex Chase and Bleuler.
1861 French Cover Addressed to Abraham Lincoln as President-Elect. France, 1860, 80c Rose on Pinkish (20; Yvert 17B), three, tied by diamond of dots cancels on Jan. 5, 1861 cover from Marseilles, France, addressed to "Honorable Mr. Lincoln, Elected U.S. President", crayon "27" credit to U.S., carried on New York & Havre Line steamer Arago, red "New York Paid 15 Jan. 23" 15c credit datestamp and "Am. Service" octagonal handstamp (ties left stamp), Washington D.C. Jan. 24 arrival datestamp, "FORWARDED" straightline handstamp and sent with a "For 3" due notation to Springfield Ill., subject docketing at left by John Hay refers to construction of a frigate, missing backflap and some minor edge tears
VERY FINE APPEARING TRIPLE-RATE COVER FROM FRANCE TO PRESIDENT-ELECT ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Lincoln was elected on November 6, 1860, and left Springfield for Washington on February 11, accompanied by his secretary, John Hay, and others. He was inaugurated as the country's sixteenth president on March 4, 1861. Between the time of his election and his inauguration, seven states would secede from the Union. As he was not yet in office when this letter was written, 3c was due for the forwarding postage to Springfield.
Ex Walske.