Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

United States and Confederate States Postal History continued...

**Mormon Postal History and Documents continued...**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description	Est/Cat	Realized
324		Brigham Young. Signature as endorsement on a sight draft datelined "Salt Lake, 14 July 1874" from Jonathan B. Price to Brigham Young in the amount of £100, 2c Third Issue Revenue stamp affixed, with note attached from Price "Presdt. Brigham Young, I hereby hand your order...for the sum of £100...in appreciation of the strenuous exertions you have put forward towards the elevation of the people of Utah. Not being a Mormon myself, I donate this from pure appreciation of your ability" -- a notation on back reveals the empty gesture: "John B. Price, alias 'Lord Littleton', Check on 1st National Bank, Denver, for £100 Sterling, forwarded by Des. National Bank for collection and sent to every bank in Denver, but no good. Nothing but a bummers check so say A.C." -- folded and some adherence from handling, fascinating to say the least (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	1,050.00
325		Nauvoo Ills. May 3 (1846). Red cds and blue ms. "10" rate on May 2, 1846 folded letter from Urselia B. Hascall to Col. Wilson Andrews in North New Salem Mass., describes journey from Boston to Nauvoo via New Orleans and St. Louis, concludes with a fantastic description of the fake burial of Joseph and Hiram Smith: "he said he should not be brought back alive, he told the twelve before he went to Carthage what to do with his body and when they brought the bodies home everybody saw them in the mansion home and then they took care of the bodies and filled two coffins with stone and had them buried them and the world does not know anything about it. I saw ever so many locks of Joseph's hair. I wondered how they came to save so much, at last they told me he was not buried." Quite remarkable	E. 300-400	1,300.00
326		"Camp of Israel, Sept. 19, 1846". Dateline on folded letter from Urselia B. Hascall to Col. Wilson Andrews in North New Salem Mass., entered mails at New York City with red "New-York 5 cts. 12 Dec." integral-rate cds, written while encamped near Council Bluffs after the trek from Nauvoo with Brigham Young, tightly written contents includes description of journey (mention of Brigham Young, 400 wagons, encampments) and arrival: "...we came to Council Bluffs on the Missouri river (you can find it on the map) there we found the Camp of Israel with its leaders (or some of them I might say) waiting for a boat to be built to carry us across the river. Here we camped for two weeks...finally Brother Young, the president of the church, said the best way was to stay here this winter...", comment on the Mexican War: "The Mexican war is no trouble to us. At present it is rather a benefit. President Polk sent two officers to our President Young for five hundred able bodied men to take Santa Fe and he might have it for a location.", also refers to mailing locks of hair from Joseph Smith, some toning and wear along folds, a fascinating Mormon letter	E. 300-400	1,800.00
327		Irene Hascall Correspondence -- A Mormon Woman in Nauvoo. Four letters written from Irene Hascall to her parents in North New Salem Mass., three with red "Nauvoo Ills." cds, begins with Irene's arrival at Nauvoo in June 1845 and concludes with January 1846 preparations to leave settlement, significant content including detailed description of Nauvoo, mention of the Temple and Joseph Smith's murder, trial of "murderers of Carthage", Mormon Treaty, description of mob attacks and defense by Nauvoo Legion, with the final letter describing Mormons preparing to leave Nauvoo, all well-articulated and neatly written in blue ink, a fascinating first-hand account of life during the turbulent final months of the Mormon community at Nauvoo	E. 1,000-1,500	3,750.00
328		Asabel G. Talcott Correspondence -- A Journey Into Mormonism. Ten letters from Asabel G. Talcott to his family in Hamilton N.Y., plus an eleventh letter from another writer to the same family, substantial content covering the period from July 1842 (prior to Talcott's arrival at Nauvoo) thru January 1854, written in sequence from Rochester Wis. Terr., three from Nauvoo settlement, three from Missouri and Iowa after departure from Nauvoo, and one from Salt Lake City, Talcott's early letters from Wisconsin are secular reports of his journey, farming, family matters, in his first letter from Nauvoo, dated Jul. 31 and Aug. 3, 1843, Talcott describes his arrival, describes a Baptism, states "I don't see how any body can stand it without living in Nauvoo. A week ago last Sunday I heard the prophet Joseph Smith preach & also his brother Hiram", continues with a description of the city and concludes with the first instance of heavy gospel preaching, subsequent letters in the series reflect Talcott's religious fervor and indicate that his sister and family have taken issue with his "preaching", in his Jul. 31, 1846 letter from Princeton Mo. he describes leaving Nauvoo on Feb. 10, 1846, he writes from Mount Pizgah in Iowa on Jun. 6, 1847 (carried outside the mails by Charles P. Dana), on Jun. 25, 1848, he writes from Sneigh County Island near Hannibal Mo., on Jan. 16, 1854, he writes from Salt Lake City, a letter from another writer, dated Dec. 15, 1850, mentions leaving Nauvoo and graphically describes recent murders, most of the letters have postmarks, including "Rochester W.T." manuscript and "Nauvoo Ills." cds, some faults and staining, yet overall a well-preserved and fascinating Mormon correspondence -- lot 333 in this sale is from the Talcott correspondence	E. 2,000-3,000	1,700.00
329		An Account of the Battle of Nauvoo. Folded letter datelined "Fort Madison, Iowa, Oct. 18th 1846" from Ed Whinery to David Purviance in Flushing O., "Flushing I.T. Oct. 26" cds and ms. "10" rate, the writer provides a first-hand account of the battle between Mormons and anti-Mormons from Quincy Ill., describes the attacks and Mormon defense, evacuation of Nauvoo, Very Fine and rare historical letter	E. 500-750	1,300.00
330		Mormon Correspondence. 20 items including folded letters, some covers and printed Mormon literature, includes letters from Nauvoo and Salt Lake City, some fascinating content including references to Indian hostilities, Temple, Mormon War, etc., worth careful review, a scarce group	E. 2,000-3,000	1,800.00
331		Private Mormon Express to Kanesville, Iowa. Folded letter datelined "Oct. 13th" (1848) from Irene Hascall at Salt Lake City to her cousin, Col. Wilson Andrews, and family in North New Salem Mass., some archival tape reinforcement AN EXTREMELY RARE AND EARLY EXAMPLE OF SALT LAKE CITY MAIL CARRIED PRIVATELY TO KANESVILLE, IOWA. The letter begins "There was a gentleman here this evening said he was going through to the States starts very early tomorrow morning expects to go to Boston. Mother said perhaps you would be more likely to get a letter this way than any other...", and refers later to "The gentlemans name we send the letter by is Edson Whipple". However, the ms. "Kane Iowa, Dec. 20, 1848" postmark and "10" rate indicate it was carried on the Mormon express route between Salt Lake City and Kanesville. The letter has lengthy and significant content, including mention of Indians smoking a peace pipe" with Mormon community, the Gold Rush ("There is a very extensive gold mine discovered lately in California, every body is digging gold...") and Mormon soldiers. Of special interest to postal historians is a reference to the Mormon express between Kanesville and Salt Lake City: "there is a mail now runs from here to Council Bluff, direct your letters to Canes Post Office Council Bluff to be forwarded to the City of the Great Salt Lake". Although intended to be hand-carried by Edson Whipple, this letter was probably held for the next express run to Kanesville. This route became a quasi-official mail route in February 1849, when A. W. Babbitt was hired by the Post Office Department (though Congress refused to provide funding for the contract, see lot 332). In 1850 the government contract mail route was established between Salt Lake City and Independence, Missouri. (Image)	E. 1,500-2,000	2,300.00
332		Quasi-Official Mail Route from Salt Lake City to Kanesville, Iowa. Folded letter datelined "Great Salt Lake City, February 14th, 1850" from Urselia Hascall to Col. Wilson Andrews, North New Salem Mass., clear strike of "Kane Iowa Jul. 6" (1850) cds and ms. "10" rate A REMARKABLE EARLY EXAMPLE OF THE QUASI-OFFICIAL MAIL ROUTE FROM SALT LAKE CITY TO KANESVILLE, IOWA. The letter begins with a statement that helps to explain the long delay between the dateline (Feb. 15) and entry into the Kanseville post office (Jul. 6): "Spring is fast approaching, it appears as if the road through and over the mountains will soon be passible for the mail." According to the American Stampless Cover Catalogue (p. 358, note 76), on February 21, 1849, A. W. Babbitt of Salt Lake City was hired by the Post Office Department to carry mail between Salt Lake City and Kanesville (Kane), a route used by Mormon expresses since 1847. Congress subsequently withheld funding for the Babbitt contract, but the Mormons (Babbitt, Compton et al) continued to carry mail to and from Kanesville, operating it as a quasi-official mail route. This letter, written in February 1850, was probably held until the next express could leave Salt Lake City, on or about June 1. Once it reached Kanesville, it was put into the regular mails and postmarked on July 6. (Image)	E. 1,500-2,000	1,800.00
333		"G S L C Cal. Sep 28/50" Manuscript Territorial Postmark. Diminutive manuscript for "Great Salt Lake City" with "California" state designation, ms. "40" cent rate on folded letter from Asabel G. Talcott to his brother, John, in Hamilton N.Y., datelined "Great Salt Lake City, State of Deseret, Sept. 23rd 1850" and again on Sep. 24, small portion of blank paper missing from corner of one sheet, address panel slightly toned VERY FINE. ONE OF THE FEW EXAMPLES OF THIS EARLY MORMON POSTAL MARKING IN EXISTENCE. THIS SEPTEMBER 28, 1850, DATE IS NINETEEN DAYS AFTER UTAH TERRITORY WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. The "GSLC Cal." manuscript postmark is recorded on very few covers mailed during the pre- and early territorial period. According to the American Stampless Cover Catalogue, the earliest is July 11, 1850, and the latest is July 23, 1850. This unrecorded September 28, 1850, date falls into the Utah territorial period, but the "Cal." designation remained in use, perhaps because news of territorial status had not yet reached the Mormon community. The 40c rate found on the "GSLC Cal." covers is much higher than the 10c rate charged for letters posted at Kanesville, Iowa. One theory is that these 40c-rate letters were carried via Panama, another is that 40c represents the express charge for mail carried by the Mormon express. Congress did not fund the official mail route until 1850, and the first government contract mail left Independence Mo. for Salt Lake City in November 1850. This letter from Asabel G. Talcott reflects his intense devotion to the Mormon faith. For the first time he describes the new settlement in Salt Lake City to his brother: "I arrived here the 28th of last Oct... We have here a very healthy climate, a fertile soil, a beautiful valley, a good, lovely & industrious & happy people, and everything that is needful to induce the pure & honest in heart to come to this place & help in building up the kingdom of God on the earth." Asabel mentions a Mormon newspaper published in Salt Lake City and Council Bluffs (Iowa) and names other settlers known to acquaintances back in Hamilton, New York. (Image)	E. 5,000-7,500	4,500.00
334		"Salt Lake Deseret, Nov 20 1850" Manuscript Territorial Postmark. Legibly written with "Deseret" Mormon state designation and ms. "10" rate on folded letter from a gold prospector named W. R. Dickinson to his father, William, in Schoolcraft Mich., datelined "November 14th [corrected from "24"] 1850" and again on November 19 VERY FINE. ONE OF TWO OR THREE EXAMPLES OF THE "DESERET" MORMON POSTAL MARKING, USED AFTER UTAH BECAME A UNITED STATES TERRITORY, BUT BEFORE THE "UTAH" DESIGNATION WAS ACCEPTED IN PLACE OF "DESERET" BY THE MORMON GOVERNMENT. The American Stampless Cover Catalogue lists the earliest and latest dates of the "Salt Lake Deseret" postmark as November 18 and November 23, 1850. It is possible that the late date is based on this example. According to the American Stampless Cover Catalogue (p. 358, note 76), the first mail under the new government contract for the Independence-Salt Lake City route was carried westbound, arriving in early November 1850. This letter may have been among the first eastbound mail from Salt Lake City under the new contract. The contents of this letter includes several significant references to the Mormon settlement in Salt Lake City. The writer, a gold prospector headed for California, begins by describing his journey: "...there was a plenty of mormons wageons teeams all along The road -- there was estemated to be aboute 15.00 [cross-out thru second 0] Mormons. There was game a plenty -- buffalo aplenty", followed by a description of buffalo hunting. The writer also mentions difficulties with Indians: "indeans hostile between hear, Salt lake and the mines" and gives an account of a Mormon party of 10 that was attacked (all but two killed). Reference is made to "the mail from Independence to Salt lake 4 months in the year, once a month, it goes out in the morning at 10 oclock for the States" and "letters do not cost but 10 cents from hear to the States". Of the greatest significance are first-hand accounts of meeting Brigham Young with references to polygamy: "I have seen Brigam Younge and gave him Best wishes. Plade the fiddle for him to dance At a party. He has got some thirty or forty Spiritual Wives besides his own, and I talk of Takeing one for the winter as for life and What do you think of that, dad, do you think I am a goner, ha. I intend starting for Callafornia in the spring, I think. I sende my love to pardy and tell him that i will tell all aboute the Spiritual Wives when i come home." Accompanied by a second letter from the same writer, datelined "State of Deserett, Salt lake City, May 29th 1851" with a report of Indian hostilites and dissatisfaction with the Mormon community. (Image)	E. 7,500-10,000	12,500.00

Mormon Postal History and Documents continued...

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

Est/Cat

Realized

324

Brigham Young. Signature as endorsement on a sight draft datelined "Salt Lake, 14 July 1874" from Jonathan B. Price to Brigham Young in the amount of £100, 2c Third Issue Revenue stamp affixed, with note attached from Price "Presdt. Brigham Young, I hereby hand your order...for the sum of £100...in appreciation of the strenuous exertions you have put forward towards the elevation of the people of Utah. Not being a Mormon myself, I donate this from pure appreciation of your ability" -- a notation on back reveals the empty gesture: "John B. Price, alias 'Lord Littleton', Check on 1st National Bank, Denver, for £100 Sterling, forwarded by Des. National Bank for collection and sent to every bank in Denver, but no good. Nothing but a bummers check so say A.C." -- folded and some adherence from handling, fascinating to say the least (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

1,050.00

325

Nauvoo Ills. May 3 (1846). Red cds and blue ms. "10" rate on May 2, 1846 folded letter from Urselia B. Hascall to Col. Wilson Andrews in North New Salem Mass., describes journey from Boston to Nauvoo via New Orleans and St. Louis, concludes with a fantastic description of the fake burial of Joseph and Hiram Smith: "he said he should not be brought back alive, he told the twelve before he went to Carthage what to do with his body and when they brought the bodies home everybody saw them in the mansion home and then they took care of the bodies and filled two coffins with stone and had them buried them and the world does not know anything about it. I saw ever so many locks of Joseph's hair. I wondered how they came to save so much, at last they told me he was not buried." Quite remarkable

E. 300-400

1,300.00

326

"Camp of Israel, Sept. 19, 1846". Dateline on folded letter from Urselia B. Hascall to Col. Wilson Andrews in North New Salem Mass., entered mails at New York City with red "New-York 5 cts. 12 Dec." integral-rate cds, written while encamped near Council Bluffs after the trek from Nauvoo with Brigham Young, tightly written contents includes description of journey (mention of Brigham Young, 400 wagons, encampments) and arrival: "...we came to Council Bluffs on the Missouri river (you can find it on the map) there we found the Camp of Israel with its leaders (or some of them I might say) waiting for a boat to be built to carry us across the river. Here we camped for two weeks...finally Brother Young, the president of the church, said the best way was to stay here this winter...", comment on the Mexican War: "The Mexican war is no trouble to us. At present it is rather a benefit. President Polk sent two officers to our President Young for five hundred able bodied men to take Santa Fe and he might have it for a location.", also refers to mailing locks of hair from Joseph Smith, some toning and wear along folds, a fascinating Mormon letter

E. 300-400

1,800.00

327

Irene Hascall Correspondence -- A Mormon Woman in Nauvoo. Four letters written from Irene Hascall to her parents in North New Salem Mass., three with red "Nauvoo Ills." cds, begins with Irene's arrival at Nauvoo in June 1845 and concludes with January 1846 preparations to leave settlement, significant content including detailed description of Nauvoo, mention of the Temple and Joseph Smith's murder, trial of "murderers of Carthage", Mormon Treaty, description of mob attacks and defense by Nauvoo Legion, with the final letter describing Mormons preparing to leave Nauvoo, all well-articulated and neatly written in blue ink, a fascinating first-hand account of life during the turbulent final months of the Mormon community at Nauvoo

E. 1,000-1,500

3,750.00

328

Asabel G. Talcott Correspondence -- A Journey Into Mormonism. Ten letters from Asabel G. Talcott to his family in Hamilton N.Y., plus an eleventh letter from another writer to the same family, substantial content covering the period from July 1842 (prior to Talcott's arrival at Nauvoo) thru January 1854, written in sequence from Rochester Wis. Terr., three from Nauvoo settlement, three from Missouri and Iowa after departure from Nauvoo, and one from Salt Lake City, Talcott's early letters from Wisconsin are secular reports of his journey, farming, family matters, in his first letter from Nauvoo, dated Jul. 31 and Aug. 3, 1843, Talcott describes his arrival, describes a Baptism, states "I don't see how any body can stand it without living in Nauvoo. A week ago last Sunday I heard the prophet Joseph Smith preach & also his brother Hiram", continues with a description of the city and concludes with the first instance of heavy gospel preaching, subsequent letters in the series reflect Talcott's religious fervor and indicate that his sister and family have taken issue with his "preaching", in his Jul. 31, 1846 letter from Princeton Mo. he describes leaving Nauvoo on Feb. 10, 1846, he writes from Mount Pizgah in Iowa on Jun. 6, 1847 (carried outside the mails by Charles P. Dana), on Jun. 25, 1848, he writes from Sneigh County Island near Hannibal Mo., on Jan. 16, 1854, he writes from Salt Lake City, a letter from another writer, dated Dec. 15, 1850, mentions leaving Nauvoo and graphically describes recent murders, most of the letters have postmarks, including "Rochester W.T." manuscript and "Nauvoo Ills." cds, some faults and staining, yet overall a well-preserved and fascinating Mormon correspondence -- lot 333 in this sale is from the Talcott correspondence

E. 2,000-3,000

1,700.00

329

An Account of the Battle of Nauvoo. Folded letter datelined "Fort Madison, Iowa, Oct. 18th 1846" from Ed Whinery to David Purviance in Flushing O., "Flushing I.T. Oct. 26" cds and ms. "10" rate, the writer provides a first-hand account of the battle between Mormons and anti-Mormons from Quincy Ill., describes the attacks and Mormon defense, evacuation of Nauvoo, Very Fine and rare historical letter

E. 500-750

1,300.00

330

Mormon Correspondence. 20 items including folded letters, some covers and printed Mormon literature, includes letters from Nauvoo and Salt Lake City, some fascinating content including references to Indian hostilities, Temple, Mormon War, etc., worth careful review, a scarce group

E. 2,000-3,000

1,800.00

331

Private Mormon Express to Kanesville, Iowa. Folded letter datelined "Oct. 13th" (1848) from Irene Hascall at Salt Lake City to her cousin, Col. Wilson Andrews, and family in North New Salem Mass., some archival tape reinforcement

AN EXTREMELY RARE AND EARLY EXAMPLE OF SALT LAKE CITY MAIL CARRIED PRIVATELY TO KANESVILLE, IOWA.

The letter begins "There was a gentleman here this evening said he was going through to the States starts very early tomorrow morning expects to go to Boston. Mother said perhaps you would be more likely to get a letter this way than any other...", and refers later to "The gentlemans name we send the letter by is Edson Whipple". However, the ms. "Kane Iowa, Dec. 20, 1848" postmark and "10" rate indicate it was carried on the Mormon express route between Salt Lake City and Kanesville.

The letter has lengthy and significant content, including mention of Indians smoking a peace pipe" with Mormon community, the Gold Rush ("There is a very extensive gold mine discovered lately in California, every body is digging gold...") and Mormon soldiers. Of special interest to postal historians is a reference to the Mormon express between Kanesville and Salt Lake City: "there is a mail now runs from here to Council Bluff, direct your letters to Canes Post Office Council Bluff to be forwarded to the City of the Great Salt Lake". Although intended to be hand-carried by Edson Whipple, this letter was probably held for the next express run to Kanesville. This route became a quasi-official mail route in February 1849, when A. W. Babbitt was hired by the Post Office Department (though Congress refused to provide funding for the contract, see lot 332). In 1850 the government contract mail route was established between Salt Lake City and Independence, Missouri. (Image)

E. 1,500-2,000

2,300.00

332

Quasi-Official Mail Route from Salt Lake City to Kanesville, Iowa. Folded letter datelined "Great Salt Lake City, February 14th, 1850" from Urselia Hascall to Col. Wilson Andrews, North New Salem Mass., clear strike of "Kane Iowa Jul. 6" (1850) cds and ms. "10" rate

A REMARKABLE EARLY EXAMPLE OF THE QUASI-OFFICIAL MAIL ROUTE FROM SALT LAKE CITY TO KANESVILLE, IOWA.

The letter begins with a statement that helps to explain the long delay between the dateline (Feb. 15) and entry into the Kanseville post office (Jul. 6): "Spring is fast approaching, it appears as if the road through and over the mountains will soon be passible for the mail." According to the American Stampless Cover Catalogue (p. 358, note 76), on February 21, 1849, A. W. Babbitt of Salt Lake City was hired by the Post Office Department to carry mail between Salt Lake City and Kanesville (Kane), a route used by Mormon expresses since 1847. Congress subsequently withheld funding for the Babbitt contract, but the Mormons (Babbitt, Compton et al) continued to carry mail to and from Kanesville, operating it as a quasi-official mail route. This letter, written in February 1850, was probably held until the next express could leave Salt Lake City, on or about June 1. Once it reached Kanesville, it was put into the regular mails and postmarked on July 6. (Image)

E. 1,500-2,000

1,800.00

333

"G S L C Cal. Sep 28/50" Manuscript Territorial Postmark. Diminutive manuscript for "Great Salt Lake City" with "California" state designation, ms. "40" cent rate on folded letter from Asabel G. Talcott to his brother, John, in Hamilton N.Y., datelined "Great Salt Lake City, State of Deseret, Sept. 23rd 1850" and again on Sep. 24, small portion of blank paper missing from corner of one sheet, address panel slightly toned

VERY FINE. ONE OF THE FEW EXAMPLES OF THIS EARLY MORMON POSTAL MARKING IN EXISTENCE. THIS SEPTEMBER 28, 1850, DATE IS NINETEEN DAYS AFTER UTAH TERRITORY WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

The "GSLC Cal." manuscript postmark is recorded on very few covers mailed during the pre- and early territorial period. According to the American Stampless Cover Catalogue, the earliest is July 11, 1850, and the latest is July 23, 1850. This unrecorded September 28, 1850, date falls into the Utah territorial period, but the "Cal." designation remained in use, perhaps because news of territorial status had not yet reached the Mormon community. The 40c rate found on the "GSLC Cal." covers is much higher than the 10c rate charged for letters posted at Kanesville, Iowa. One theory is that these 40c-rate letters were carried via Panama, another is that 40c represents the express charge for mail carried by the Mormon express. Congress did not fund the official mail route until 1850, and the first government contract mail left Independence Mo. for Salt Lake City in November 1850.

This letter from Asabel G. Talcott reflects his intense devotion to the Mormon faith. For the first time he describes the new settlement in Salt Lake City to his brother: "I arrived here the 28th of last Oct... We have here a very healthy climate, a fertile soil, a beautiful valley, a good, lovely & industrious & happy people, and everything that is needful to induce the pure & honest in heart to come to this place & help in building up the kingdom of God on the earth." Asabel mentions a Mormon newspaper published in Salt Lake City and Council Bluffs (Iowa) and names other settlers known to acquaintances back in Hamilton, New York. (Image)

E. 5,000-7,500

4,500.00

334

"Salt Lake Deseret, Nov 20 1850" Manuscript Territorial Postmark. Legibly written with "Deseret" Mormon state designation and ms. "10" rate on folded letter from a gold prospector named W. R. Dickinson to his father, William, in Schoolcraft Mich., datelined "November 14th [corrected from "24"] 1850" and again on November 19

VERY FINE. ONE OF TWO OR THREE EXAMPLES OF THE "DESERET" MORMON POSTAL MARKING, USED AFTER UTAH BECAME A UNITED STATES TERRITORY, BUT BEFORE THE "UTAH" DESIGNATION WAS ACCEPTED IN PLACE OF "DESERET" BY THE MORMON GOVERNMENT.

The American Stampless Cover Catalogue lists the earliest and latest dates of the "Salt Lake Deseret" postmark as November 18 and November 23, 1850. It is possible that the late date is based on this example. According to the American Stampless Cover Catalogue (p. 358, note 76), the first mail under the new government contract for the Independence-Salt Lake City route was carried westbound, arriving in early November 1850. This letter may have been among the first eastbound mail from Salt Lake City under the new contract.

The contents of this letter includes several significant references to the Mormon settlement in Salt Lake City. The writer, a gold prospector headed for California, begins by describing his journey: "...there was a plenty of mormons wageons teeams all along The road -- there was estemated to be aboute 15.00 [cross-out thru second 0] Mormons. There was game a plenty -- buffalo aplenty", followed by a description of buffalo hunting. The writer also mentions difficulties with Indians: "indeans hostile between hear, Salt lake and the mines" and gives an account of a Mormon party of 10 that was attacked (all but two killed). Reference is made to "the mail from Independence to Salt lake 4 months in the year, once a month, it goes out in the morning at 10 oclock for the States" and "letters do not cost but 10 cents from hear to the States".

Of the greatest significance are first-hand accounts of meeting Brigham Young with references to polygamy: "I have seen Brigam Younge and gave him Best wishes. Plade the fiddle for him to dance At a party. He has got some thirty or forty Spiritual Wives besides his own, and I talk of Takeing one for the winter as for life and What do you think of that, dad, do you think I am a goner, ha. I intend starting for Callafornia in the spring, I think. I sende my love to pardy and tell him that i will tell all aboute the Spiritual Wives when i come home."

Accompanied by a second letter from the same writer, datelined "State of Deserett, Salt lake City, May 29th 1851" with a report of Indian hostilites and dissatisfaction with the Mormon community. (Image)

E. 7,500-10,000

12,500.00