Texas Postal History Society Journal, Vol

TexasTexas PostalPostal HistoryHistory SocietySociety JournalJournal

Vol. 41, No. 2 May 2016 www.texascovers.org

BrewsterBrewster CountyCounty PostPost OfficesOffices andand BigBig BendBend NationalNational ParkPark PagePage 33 TEXPEX 2016

Bill Strauss talks with Wade Saadi, president of the Member Thomas Lera, left, receives the World Stamp Show-NY 2016, after Bill’s TEXPEX talk TPA’s Distinguished Philatelic Texan Award about Fred Ekenstam’s barbed-wire advertising from TEXPEX Chairman Vince King. covers. Fred was unable to make the presentation.

At right, John and Katie Foster ask Bill Strauss about his barbed-wire talk featuring covers from Fred Ekenstam’s collection.

Above, John Germann is in discussions with Larry Ballantyne and Craig Eggleston at the TPHS Spring Fling social. At left, Mike Ludemann and Jim Doolin engage in conversation about Texas postal history at TEXPEX.

At right, a scene from the 2016 TPHS General Meeting at TEXPEX Texas Postal History Society Journal, Vol. 41, No. 2 May 2016 Page 1

Texas Postal History Society Journal

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

TPHS Scenes from TEXPEX 2016...... Inside Front Cover President Vince King 315 S. Locust, Denton TX 76201 From the President by Vince King ...... 2 E-mail: [email protected] Brewster County Post Offices by Thomas Lera ...... 3 Vice President Jim Doolin 11258 Goodnight Lane #105, Dallas TX 75229 Germann Presented New Gaddy Literature Award ...... 13

Secretary-Treasurer Seen at Auction by Tom Koch ...... 14 Lyle Boardman 3916 Wyldwood, Austin TX 78739-3005 E-mail: [email protected] On the Cover: The Rio Grande cuts through Santa Elena Canyon’s 1,500-feet high walls in southwestern Brewster County. The canyon stretches for seven miles about Journal Editor midway between Lajitas and Castolon in Big Bend National Park. Tom Koch 1013 Springbrook Drive, DeSoto TX 75115 E-mail:[email protected] Charles Deaton Specializing in Texas Postal History for 40 Years

My Selling specialty is tracking down those rare stamps and covers that are hard to find and really add something to your collection

P.O. Box 27408, Houston TX 77227 Phone (713) 927-9948 [email protected]

In The Summer contact me on Cape Cod: P.O. Box 2836 Did a bunch of Mormons settle in Grayson County in the 1870s? This happened in a Orleans, MA 02653 number of Texas counties. This post office operated in Grayson County from 1875- 1903. The usually reliable Handbook of Texas has no mention of this and I am hoping some TPHS member might be able to fill me in. Call it a contest. The cover goes to the first member with information on Mormons in Grayson County. Page 2 Texas Postal History Society Journal, Vol. 41, No. 2 May 2016 From the President We Will Meet at Our Flings With Less Business Sessions Vince King nother TEXPEX is behind us and it was a Germann takes First Gaddy Award good one. No snow, no rain, just nice weather The inaugural Gene Gaddy Philatelic Literature Award and good philatelic fun. Our Spring Fling on A for the year’s Best (original) Article in the TPHS Jour- Friday evening was well-attended and enjoyed by all nal was presented to one of our best postal historians, who partook. At our regular meeting on Saturday, we John Germann. John’s article, “Forgotten Post Of- decided to change our approach to meetings and just fices,” that appeared in the August 2015 Journal, was have the evening Fling events in Grapevine and Hous- the choice by members of The Collectors Club of Dal- ton. Not having a daytime meeting will allow mem- las, sponsors of the $75 cash prize and certificate. bers to spend more time with dealers and other With that kind of incentive, consider submitting a activities at the show. We can still address TPHS busi- story for the next two issues of this year for a chance ness if necessary during the Fling or by email, etc. at the prize to be presented at TEXPEX 2017. I hope to see many of you at the big international World Stamp Show-NY 2016. There may be a cover Big Bend National Park you've been looking for just waiting in a dealer's files. Although Texas’ Big Bend National Park is not among Although it is slightly under a year away, I encour- the 16 parks included in the U.S. Postal Services Na- age you to plan to attend TEXPEX 2017, Feb. 24-26 at tional Parks Forever Stamps to be issued on June 2 at the DFW Hilton. Featured will be special seminars by New York’s Javits Center during the World Stamp leading members of our two national guest societies – Show-NY 2016, Thomas Lera has given us a glimpse the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society and the United of the park through post offices and covers of Brew- Postal Stationery Society and, of course, our own state ster County. Tom’s story is timely, be- groups, the TPHS and the Texas Philatelic cause this year marks the 100th Association. anniversary of the National Park Service.

Texas Postal The Texas Postal History Society Journal is the offi- cial publication of the Texas Postal History Society. It History Society is published quarterly. The TPHS is not responsible for Journal the accuracy of any contributed articles. Articles and images submitted by regular or electronic mail are welcomed by the editor. The TPHS provides no guar- New Texas Postal History Society Website now available at www.texascovers.org antee that submitted articles will be printed or when they may be printed. Articles may be reproduced with Founded in 1975, the TPHS is affiliated with the prior permission and attribution. Texas Philatelic The Journal is available to members of the society. Association and Dues to the TPHS are $18 per year, payable to the Sec- the American retary-Treasurer. Single copies are $5, plus $1 First- Philatelic Society. Class postage. Texas Postal History Society Journal, Vol. 41, No. 2 May 2016 Page 3

Brewster County By Thomas Lera Post Offices

Figure 1 - Brewster County Texas – Photo by Thomas Lera

s the railroad began its expansion across Texas in earnest, circa 1882, towns sprung up along its route, Aquickly becoming shipping points, important supply centers and post office sites. In Southwest Texas, Alpine (then named Murphyville) and Marathon were also key in the growth of the cattle industry. In 1887, Brewster County (Figure 1) broke off from Presidio County, as did Jeff Davis, Buchel, and Foley Counties. Brewster County was named for Henry P. Brewster, a Secretary of War for the Republic of Texas. Buchel and Foley counties, not yet organized, were attached to Brewster County for judicial purposes.1 The first Brewster County elections were held Feb. 4, 1887, when Murphyville was selected as county seat. By 1897, Buchel and Foley counties had still not been organized and, as a result, their territory was officially added to that of Brewster County, making the latter the largest county in Texas.2 (Figure 2) In 2010, Brewster County had a population of 9,232 and a land area larger than the combined area of Delaware and Rhode Island. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county encompasses 6,192 square miles, 6,184 of which are land and 8.5 (0.1%) which are covered in water, mainly from the Rio Grande.

Post Offices in Brewster County4

Doane Town Dates Zip Codes and Service Cancels

Alpine 1888-Open Zip 79830, 31 and 32 Big Bend 1904-1910 Zip 79834, Type 2 with #1 National Park (also Basin Rural Station) Boquillas 1896-1913 Castolon 1926-1954 Cathedral 1910-1911 Haymond 1884-1936 Hot Springs 1914/1942 Interrupted Service Lajitas 1904/1937 Interrupted Service Type 2 with #1 Marathon 1883-Open Zip 79842 Type 3 with #5 Mariscal 1922-1928 McKinney Springs 1913-1921 McLeary 1883-1884 Murphyville 1883-1888 Nesmith 1905-1908 Study Butte 1917/1944 Interrupted Service Terlingua 1899-Open Zip 79852 Type 2 with #3 Tesnus 1912-1954

Figure 2 – Rand McNally and Company 1888 Map of Presidio County, Texas and the counties of Brewster, Buchel, Foley, and Jeff Davis created from Pre- sidio County in 1887. – Image © 2000 by Cartography Associates3 Page 4 Texas Postal History Society Journal, Vol. 41, No. 2 May 2016

Murphyville was founded in the spring of 1882, when railroad workers – building the Galveston, Harrisburg, and San Antonio Railway (now the Southern Pacific Co. Rail- road), across what was then part of Presidio County – camped along a small spring-fed creek. Part of the spring was on a section of land be- longing to Daniel and Thomas Mur- phy. The railroad needed control of the spring as a source of water for its steam engines, so it entered into an agreement with the Murphys to change the name of the section and Figure 3. 1885 Murphyville Circle Date Stamp with Maltese Cross Fancy Cancel. Courtesy of John J. Germann settlement from Osborne to Mur- phyville in exchange for a use-contract for the spring. In November 1883, the Murphys registered a plat for the town of Murphyville with the county clerk of Presidio County. On Dec. 14, 1883, when Murphyville was still in Presidio County, William H. Slaughter was appointed

Figure 5. Post Office Mural View of Alpine by Jose Moya del Pino in 1940 showing Texas cows and Texans strangely sitting and lying on the ground reading books and newspapers. the first postmaster. (Figure 3) On April 13, 1887, with James Darling serving as postmaster, the post office was officially transferred into Brew- ster County. On Feb. 3, 1888, the town name was changed to Alpine.5 (Figure 4)

Alpine is located in the foothills of the Davis Mountains in northwest Brewster County. In 1888, a description of the town mentioned a dozen houses, three saloons, a hotel and rooming house, a livery stable, butcher shop, and a drugstore, which also housed the post office with James Dar- Figure 4. 1899 Alpine Duplex Cancel. Courtesy of John J. Germann ling postmaster.6 In 1940, the Treasury Depart- Texas Postal History Society Journal, Vol. 41, No. 2 May 2016 Page 5

Used with permission from John J. Germann and Myron R. Janzen Page 6 Texas Postal History Society Journal, Vol. 41, No. 2 May 2016 ment’s Section of Painting and Sculpture (later called the Section of Fine Arts) had a mural painted in the post office titled View of Alpine by Jose Moya del Pino, a Span- ish-American painter and muralist (Figure 5). Murals, commissioned to be painted nationwide from 1934 to 1943, were intended to boost the morale of the American people suffering from the effects of the Depression by depicting uplifting subjects the people knew and loved. In September of 2000, the post office moved to a new location. County offices now occupy the original building, but the mural remains intact.

Marathon, the second-largest town in Brewster County, is located on the Southern Pacific Railroad at the intersection of U.S. Highways 90 and 385, 26 miles Figure 6. Marathon, Texas Post Office. – Photo by Thomas Lera southeast of Alpine. In 1887, when Brewster, Buchel, and Foley counties were formed out of Presidio County, Marathon was designated the county seat of Buchel County. In 1897, however, Buchel and Foley counties, which had never been formally organized, were abolished and officially became part of Brewster County.7 On March 10, 1882, Capt. Al- bion E. Shepard, a former sea captain who had worked as a surveyor for the railroad, bought land in the area and established the Iron Mountain Ranch, just north of the future site of

Marathon. Figure 7. 1911 Marathon Four-bar Killer Cancel. On Feb. 13, 1883, while the Courtesy of John J. Germann town was still in Presidio County, Capt. Shepard was appointed the first postmaster. When the counties changed on December 16, 1887, Marathon was in Buchel County, and John J. Hess became postmaster until he was succeeded by Louis L. Hess on April 7, 1891. County lines were again adjusted on August 20, 1897, and Marathon was now in Brewster County. The postmaster remained Louis L. Hess. (Figures 6 & 7) Marathon was the principal shipping point for most Brewster County ranchers because its location in the relatively flat Marathon basin was more accessible to cattle than Alpine. It also served the mining operations at Boquillas. Today, Marathon is the gateway to Big Bend National Park, which is 36 miles south for visitors coming from the north on U.S. Highway 385. It is also reach- able from or from the east by way of U.S. Highway 90.

Figure 8. Haymond Last Day Four-Bar Killer Cancel. Courtesy of John J. Germann Texas Postal History Society Journal, Vol. 41, No. 2 May 2016 Page 7

Haymond was a rail siding and station stop on the Southern Pacific line about 16 miles southeast of Marathon in northeastern Brewster County. The location, originally named McLeary, was part of Presidio County when a post office was established there Oct. 30, 1883, with Charles W. Brown as postmaster. On January 23, 1884, its name was changed in honor of Creed Haymond, a railroad attorney. The railroad was built through the area in 1882, and, by the early 1890s a small community had developed around the train station.8 When the counties changed Dec. 16, 1887, Haymond was then in Buchel County. Charles W. Brown remained postmaster. County lines were again adjusted on Aug. 20, 1897, and Haymond was now in Brewster County. Ardena Dickson was the postmaster at that time, having been appointed October 24, 1894. Shortly thereafter, on Oct. 11, 1897, Nels O. Pierson was appointed. The Haymond Post Office closed on Oct. 14, 1936, with Jacobina Pierson Miller, retiring as postmaster (Figure 8).

Figure 10. The Daniels home and store at Boquillas in 1938. While John Daniels ranched, Wife Mary ran the store and was Figure 9. 1907 Circle Date Cancel with Target Killer. Courtesy of John J. Germann postmaster. Courtesy Junior Historian Files, Marfa Public Library.

The Boquillas Post Office, originally established in Foley County on Dec. 30, 1896, was located in the area of the current Rio Grande Village. The first resident, Dennis Edward (Ed) Lindsey, established a general store and post office on Dec. 30, 1896, and was appointed postmaster (Figures 9 & 10). On Aug. 20, 1897, counties realigned boundaries and Boquillas became part of Brewster County. After Lindsey moved away, several new businesses sprang up in the area, including the Big Tinaja Store owned by Max A. Ernst, which also had a post office. Although he settled eight miles from Boquillas in La Noria (“the well”), the post office retained the name Boquillas.

McKinney Springs Post Office was formed when the Boquillas Post Office relocated on Nov. 12, 1913. In 1913, Walter K. Ellis, who owned a candelilla wax factory at McKinney Springs (a town about 10 miles to the northeast), became its postmaster. Glenn Springs was located on Glenn Draw 11 miles southeast of the Basin Ranger Station in Big Bend Na- tional Park in southern Brewster County. The spring for which the community is named was an important source of water. The land was sold August 1914 to Ellis, who moved his base of operations to Glenn Springs and built a wax factory. The McKinney Springs post office was also moved, although they did not bother to apply for a name change. The post office closed June 15, 1921, with the mail being forwarded to Marathon.9 It was later reestablished on October 12, 1922 under the name Mariscal at the Mariscal Mine, with Arlet C. Spalding, as postmaster. It was discontinued Aug. 28, 1928, and the mail was forwarded to Hot Springs. Page 8 Texas Postal History Society Journal, Vol. 41, No. 2 May 2016

Tesnus, sunset spelled backwards, was named for its location on the Southern Pacific’s “Sun- set Limited” rail line 23 miles southeast of Marathon in eastern Brewster County. The railroad couldn’t use the name “Sunset” because a post office by that name was already in operation in Texas. It was established when the railroad was built through the area in 1882.10 Its first postmaster, Clara C. Gould, was appointed on Feb. 2, 1912. The post office closed in Figure 12. 1954 Tesnus Four-bar Killer Cancel. Courtesy of John J. Germann 1955. (Figure 11) Although none of the earlier structures remain, Tesnus still serves as a siding for the Southern Pacific.

Castolon lies within the boundaries of Big Bend National Park on the banks of the Rio Grande. During the Mexican Revo- lution, the U.S. Army established Camp Santa Helena here and built a number of permanent structures; however, the fighting ended before the buildings were occupied. In 1921, the La Harmonia Store took up residence in the bar- Figure 12. 1954 Castolon Four-bar Killer Cancel. racks building and has remained Courtesy of John J. Germann ever since. The application for a post office initially proposed the name Santa Helena, but that name had already been taken. Instead, the name Castolon was approved, and the post office was established on March 29, 1926, with Richard W. Derrick as postmaster. It was discontinued on June 30, 1954, and the mail was sent to Terlingua. (Figures 12 & 13) The store continues to op- erate, serving park visitors and residents on both sides of the river. The post office furnishings are on dis- play in the store.

Hot Springs is in Big Figure 13. The post office and general store in Castolon, Texas. Bend National Park where Tornillo Photograph by Luis Marden, National Geographic Creek enters the Rio Grande, in the Texas Postal History Society Journal, Vol. 41, No. 2 May 2016 Page 9

Figure 14.1934 Hot Springs Four-bar Killer Cancel. Figure 15. Hot Springs General Store and Post Office. Courtesy of John J. Germann Photograph by Thomas Lera southern tip of Brewster County some four miles upriver from Boquillas Canyon and the Mexican village of Bo- quillas. In 1909, the land and springs were purchased by J. O. Langford, who hoped to regain his health there. Langford built a store and post office, and the site, conveniently located on the wagon road between San Vicente and Boquillas, became a popular border trading post. (Figures 14 & 15) The post office was initially established July 22, 1914 with Joseph O. Langford its first postmaster and was discontinued June 15, 1916 with mail being sent to McKinney Springs. It was reestablished on Feb. 24, 1928 and discontinued once again on Sept. 30, 1942 with mail being sent to Marathon. Under both operations, Joseph O. Langford served as the only postmaster. After the post office closed, Maggie Smith and her husband continued to run the Hot Springs Store. Every

Figure 16. Mule Ears Peak near Study Butte. Photograph Figure 17. 1912 Study Butte Four-bar Killer Cancel. Courtesy of John J. Germann by Thomas Lera

Monday, Ed Hancock carried mail from Marathon to the Hot Springs Store for distribution to waiting residents from both sides of the border. The store finally closed for good in 1952.

Some sources indicate a BigBend Post Office existed because of the BigBend mercury mine.11 George A. Chavez was appointed the first postmaster on May 13, 1904. This post office was discontinued on May 31, 1910, with the mail being sent to Terlingua. Study Butte is a community on State Highway 118, five miles east of Terlingua. Like Terlingua, Study Butte owes its existence to the mining industry established in the area around 1900. It was named for Will Study, manager of the quicksilver mining company in the area. The post office opened Sept. 14, 1917 with mine operator William D. Burcham as postmaster, and was discontinued Jan. Page 10 Texas Postal History Society Journal, Vol. 41, No. 2 May 2016

15, 1921, with mail being sent to Terlin- gua. (Figures 16 & 17). Lajitas is on the western edge of Big Bend National Park in southwestern Brewster County. In the late 1890s, quicksilver was discovered near Terlin- gua, 11 miles from Lajitas. A rapid influx of people followed and, by 1900, Lajitas was designated a substation port of entry.12 The Lajitas Post Office became operational when Josephine N. McGuirk petitioned for its reestablishment on May 26, 1904. It was closed temporarily in Figure 18. 1936 Lajitas Four-bar Killer Cancel. Courtesy of Tom Koch 1910, reopened in 1916, and closed per- manently on May 29, 1937. (Figure 18) There may have been a post office as early as 1901 under the name Lajites (with an “es”), but it failed to meet post office qualification criteria and was never in operation.

The name Terlingua has been applied to three different settlements in southwestern Brewster Country. The original site was a Mexican village on Terlingua Creek three miles above its confluence with the Rio Grande. With the discovery of quicksilver in that area Figure 19. 1979 Terlingua Four-bar Killer Cancel. Courtesy of John J. Germann in the mid-1880s, the Marfa and Mari- posa Mining Co. camp became known as Terlingua; the original site was then referred to as Terlingua Abaja, or lower Terlingua. When the Marfa and Mariposa mine closed in May 1910, the Terlingua Post Office, which had been established on Aug. 15, 1899, with William E. Bell as postmaster, was moved 10 miles east to the Chisos Mining Company camp; the name was retained. (Figure 19) By 1913, Terlingua's 1,000 inhabitants had access

Figure 22. 1972 Big Bend National Park Basin Rural Sta- Figure 21. 1967 Big Bend National Park Four-bar Killer Cancel. tion Post Office. Unknown photographer. Courtesy of John J. Germann Texas Postal History Society Journal, Vol. 41, No. 2 May 2016 Page 11

Figure 20. Big Bend National Park. Photograph by Thomas Lera to a company-owned commissary and hotel, a company doctor, erratic telephone service, a dependable water supply, and three-times-a-week mail delivery. By 1922, 40 percent of the quicksilver mined in the U.S. came from Terlingua, but production declined steadily during the 1930s. In the 1940s, Terlingua became a ghost town. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, tourism brought new life to the village. Terlingua became famous for its annual chili cook-off and was deemed the “Chili Capital of the World” by the Chili Appreciation Society in 1967. The post office remains open today.

Big Bend National Park, the first national park in Texas, comprises more than 1,250 square miles (about the size of Rhode Island) in the Big Bend of the Rio Grande, along more than 100 miles of the Texas- Chihuahua-Coahuila border southeast of El Paso. The Rio Grande flows for 107 miles on the park's southern boundary, through Santa Elena, Mariscal, and Boquillas canyons, the deepest gorges on the river. The Chisos Mountains, the southernmost mountain range in the continental United States, are completely enclosed within the park, and rise more than 7,800 feet above sea level. The popular Basin, a topographic depression in the Chisos range, offers visitors spectacular vistas and a cool respite from the desert heat. (Figure 20). Nine National Register archeological and historic sites document the Indian and Anglo-Mexican pres- ence: at Castolon Historic District (trading post), Hot Springs Historic District (recreational and therapeutic springs), Mariscal Mining District, Homer Wilson Ranch Site, Rancho Estelle, Luna's Jacal (a Mexican goatherd's abode), Burro Mesa Archaeological Site, and two additional archeological sites.13 In January 1934, the National Park Service investigated the proposed national park and on June 30, 1935, the United States Congress passed the enabling legis- lation stipulating that acquisition of the park acreage “shall be secured . . . only by public and private donations.” By 1942, most of the land had been purchased with a $1.5 million appropriation from the 47th Texas Legislature. The park opened to the Figure 23. 1967 Big Bend National Park, TX. Basin Rural Station Four-bar Killer Cancel. public in 1944. Courtesy of John J. Germann Page 12 Texas Postal History Society Journal, Vol. 41, No. 2 May 2016

Louis Leonard Lewis became acting postmaster Aug. 30, 1950, and the post office was established soon thereafter on Oct. 1, 1950. Lewis was confirmed postmaster on March 28, 1951. It began operations as a 4th- class office and was upgraded to 3rd-class in March 1956. (Figure 21) It was originally located in Chisos Basin, occupying about 95 square feet in a concession store. Initially, mail was delivered two days a week from Alpine and one day a week from Marathon. Later, deliveries increased to four and five days a week from Alpine.14 When the new park headquarters complex was completed at Panther Junction in 1962, the post office relocated there from Chisos Basin. The Big Bend National Park Basin Rural Station was established in the former post office on Dec. 7, 1963. It was upgraded from a rural station to station in 1985 and closed in 2003. It now serves as a contract station for the Chisos Mountain Basin Complex. (Figures 22 & 23) Charles T. Lindenborn was appointed first postmaster March 30, 1910, at Cathedral, until it was discontinued July 31, 1911, and mail was sent to Marfa in Presidio County. No other information was found. There is also sparse information about the Nesmith settlement and its post office formed around May 19, 1905, other than John H. Reedy declined to be postmaster. The settlement was named for H. N. Nesmith, a prospector and mining engineer in the Mariscal area. On July 24, 1905, James M. Wells was appointed the first postmaster. The post office was discontinued on April 15, 1908, and the mail sent to Boquillas. Acknowledgements I would like to thank John Germann and Tom Koch for not only lending me the covers but also their comments on this article. Their help is much appreciated. End Notes

1 Clifford B. Casey, Mirages, Mysteries and Reality: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txpost/post 11 Handbook of Texas Online, Martin Donell Kohout, Brewster County, Texas, the Big Bend of the Rio masters.html. “Study Butte, TX,” accessed March 06, 2016. Grande (Hereford, Texas: Pioneer, 1972) Good http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/ar- Background information; Clifford B. Casey, 6 Handbook of Texas Online, Clifford B. Casey, ticles/hls82. Uploaded on June 15, 2010. Pub- “Trans-Pecos in Texas History,” West Texas “Alpine, TX (Brewster County),” accessed lished by the Texas State Historical Historical and Scientific Society Publication, March 06, 2016. Association. No. 5, 17; Virginia Madison and Hallie Still- http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/ar- well, How Come It's Called That? Place Names ticles/hfa05. Uploaded on June 9, 2010. Pub- 12 Handbook of Texas Online, Evelyn Hilton, “Laji- in the Big Bend Country (Albuquerque: Univer- lished by the Texas State Historical tas, TX,” accessed March 06, 2016. sity of New Mexico Press, 1958). Excellent Association. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/ar- source for the settlers and places in Big Bend; ticles/hnl05. Uploaded on June 15, 2010. Pub- http://www.ohranger.com/big-bend/history very 7 Handbook of Texas Online, Martin Donell Kohout, lished by the Texas State Historical good source of information about the history of “Marathon, TX,” accessed March 22, 2016. Association. the region. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hlm26; AnneJo P. Wedin, 1989, The Mag- 13 Handbook of Texas Online, John Jameson, “Big 2 The Center for Big Bend Studies, established by nificent Marathon Basin: A History of Bend National Park,” accessed March 06, 2016. Sul Ross State University in 1987, supports and Marathon, Texas, Its People and Events, Austin: http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/ar- promotes archaeological and historical activi- Nortex Press. ticles/gkb02. Uploaded on June 12, 2010. Pub- ties in the Trans-Pecos and Big Bend region of lished by the Texas State Historical Texas and northern Mexico. The Center for Big 8 Handbook of Texas Online, Richard Bruhn, “Hay- Association. Bend Studies produces two annual publications: mond, TX,” accessed March 06, 2016. Journal of Big Bend Studies and the newsletter, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/ar- 14 Lee II, Paul R. and Sergio J. Logo. 2014. Parks, La Vista de Frontera. ticles/hvh36. Uploaded on June 15, 2010. Pub- Postmarks and Postmasters: Post Offices lished by the Texas State Historical Association within the National Park System. Rocky Moun- 3 The David Rumsey Historical Map Collection fo- tain Philatelic Library, Denver Co.:10-13. cuses on 18th and 19th century North and 9 Handbook of Texas Online, Martin Donell Kohout, South American cartographic materials. The “Glenn Springs, TX,” accessed March 22, collection includes atlases, globes, school geog- 2016. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/on- raphies, maritime charts, and a variety of sepa- line/articles/htg08. Uploaded on June 15, 2010. rate maps including pocket, wall, children's and Modified on February 11, 2011. Published by manuscript maps. Available online. the Texas State Historical Association.

4 Germann, John J. and Myron R. Janzen, 1986, 10 Handbook of Texas Online, Richard Bruhn, “Tes- Texas Post Offices by County, 1986-2009 (pri- nus, TX,” accessed March 06, 2016. vately published). http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/ar- 5 Wheat, Jim. 1974. Postmasters and Postmasters of ticles/hvt21. Uploaded on June 15, 2010. Pub- Texas, 1846-1930. Garland, Texas: self-published by the Texas State Historical lished. Information also available at Association. Texas Postal History Society Journal, Vol. 41, No. 2 May 2016 Page 13 John Germann Receives Inaugural Gaddy Award for Best Article in the TPHS Journal Texas Philatelic Association President John Ger- mann, a longtime member of the Texas Postal History Society, received the first Gene Gaddy Literature Award for the best original article published in the TPHS Journal. Germann was recognized for an original article titled “Forgotten Post Offices” that was published in the August, 2015 Journal. Not only did John detail the history of the post offices categorized, he accumulated images of dilapidated structures, post offices in homes, in businesses and so forth to make the presentation a patchwork of color and reflection of the odd and unusual post offices in the Lone Star State. The award, sponsored by The Collectors Club of Dallas, consisted of a certificate and check for $75. Members of the CCOD judged original stories in the four issues of 2015 and selected Germann’s as the best. John J. Germann, left, receives the inaugural Gene Gaddy Litera- ture Award from Texas Postal History Society Journal Editor Tom The award was presented at the TPHS meeting on Koch during the TPHS meeting at TEXPEX in late February. Saturday afternoon at the Hilton DFW Lakes Execu- – Photo by Lyle Boardman tive Conference Center in Grapevine, Texas. The Gaddy, who died Sept. 19, 2015, was a charter award was also announced later that evening at the member of the TPHS in 1975. The CCOD plans to TEXPEX Awards Banquet. continue the award far into the future.

An overhead view of TEXPEX 2016 and the dealer bourse in the Texas Grande Hall at the DFW Hilton Lakes in Grapevine. Page 14 Texas Postal History Society Journal, Vol. 41, No. 2 May 2016

Seen at Auction by Tom Koch 1847 Transatlantic Industry Cover to Germany

The first auction cover featured here caught got my attention, and I regret I did not have a chance to throw in a bid for the item. Since I am a collector of Industry, Texas, postal history, this cover realization was definitely light on the billfold at $104. It was sent to Konigshofen U.S.-British pre-convention era and has a hand- some “COLONIES&c.ART 13” boxed cancellation. This is an or- ange accountancy marking from the Anglo-French Treaty of 1843 for an unpaid letter from the United Kingdom to France under letter bill article 13. England received 3s4d per 30 grams. The letter was sent to England at British expense. The manuscript “Industry Texas May 11. 47” notation was likely written by the first postmaster of Industry, Johann Gottlieb Sieper. This predates Industry’s current “earliest seen” manuscript marking of 1852 as noted in the American Stampless Cover Catalog. Now, the early German settlers in Texas initially clustered around the community of Industry (1832-38) and wrote many letters back home. Rumsey Lot 849 The catalog description of 1848 is wrong, according to the postmaster’s marking and the German backstamps that clearly show The Westpex Sale, Auction 67, Schuyler Rumsey 1847. Philatelic Auctions, Apr 28 - May 1, 2016 Another special auction item in this report is the Confederate Mesilla,. N.M,. cover that went through San Antonio to Austin, as Lot 849 - Mexico, 1861, 2r black on pink, Victoria, large mar- shown on the following page. gins, tied by Victoria oval handstamp (Schatzkes 1817) on 1863 folded letter sheet to Brownsville, Texas, Very Fine, very few covers of this issue are known to the United States. Scott No. 8 Estimate $600-800. Unsold.

Lot 1181 - 1887, 2¢ green, tied by star in circle duplexed with "Ballinger, Texas, Feb 14, 1889" cds on alligator skin embossed envelope with "Cupid Union Telegraph Company" imprint and silver gilt Cupid delivering a telegram at lower left; slightly soiled, Very Fine and most unusual. Scott No. 213. Est. $150 - 200. No photo. Unsold.

Arbeiter Lot 599

Philatelie Arbeiter Auktionen, Feb 25-27, 2016,

Lot 599 – 1848, cover from Texas to King yards in Grabfeld, red clear rectangle cancel with two lines "COLONIS&ART. 13", as well clear HK "WÜRZBURG expense", reverse HK "WÜRZBURG" in red and "King yards" in black, various hand- Rumsey Lot 1543 written fees. Realized 95 Euro ($104). Texas Postal History Society Journal, Vol. 41, No. 2 May 2016 Page 15

Lot 1543 - (Texas) Laredo, Tex., registry exchange label with number 233, on cover to Mexico City, Mexico, franked with Honduras 1903, 1c green, fifteen singles + 6c violet, block of four mostly on reverse tied by barred cancels, “Tegucigaipa, Hon- duras, Set 12, 1905” origin cds with matching registry handstamp alongside, with Mobile registry label (FX-MO1) slightly over left edge and appropriate transit marks; central fold affecting couple stamps on reverse, otherwise Very Fine, an unusual double exchange label usage on cover transiting in the United States. Scott No. FX-LA1; $1,000 Est. $400-600. Realized $220.

Rumsey Lot 2864

Lot 2864 - Confederacy, “Grand Cane Texas, Oct 31st/61”, manuscript postmark with matching “Paid 5” rating on 3¢ red on buff (U27) star die entire to James D. Wilson, Houston Tex.; no flap, otherwise Very Fine and choice, This town is unlisted in the new CSA catalog. Est. $400-600. Realized $525.

Rumsey Lot 2863

Lot 2863 - Confederacy, Mesilla N.M. Dec 21, clear strike of”cds and manuscript “Due 10c" rating at left on cover with sol- dier's endorsement at upper left from “A.N. Alford, Co. A. T.M.R. (Texas Mounted Rifles), C.S.A.” and addressed to H.M. Alford, Austin, Texas, endorsed "Via San Antonio, pencil “Re- ceived Jany 6 1862” receipt docketing; reduced slightly at right, Very Fine. Est. $15,000-20,000. Realized $16,000.

A choice example of the rare "Mesilla N.M." datestamp from the Ebay 18205362442 Confederateoccupation of New Mexico in the newly-formed Ter- ritory of Arizona. Ebay Realizations In July 1861, Lt. Col. John Baylor raised the Confederate flag at Fort Bliss, later occupying Fort Fillmore and the town of Mesilla. Return Flight - Ira Eaker - Cristobal, Canal Zone - On August 1st he issued a proclamation establishing the Confed- Brownsville, Tex. 3/18/29, March 23, 2016. Item 18205362442. erate Territory of Arizona, naming Mesilla as its capital. In Janu- After arriving from Brownsville, Texas the day before, Capt. Ira ary 1862, the Confederate Congress passed a bill establishing the C. Eaker left Cristobal on March 18, 1929 in the plane Pan Amer- Territory of Arizona. President Davis signed the bill in January ican. This return flight was an attempt to fly non-stop to and issued his presidential proclamation shortly thereafter. Brownsville, Texas. This planned “dawn-to-dusk” flight was interrupted by a weather-forced landing in Tampico, Mexico. Albert Nelson Alford enlisted as a private in Company A, Texas Eaker arrived in Brownsville on March 20 at 1:15 p.m. All of the Mounted Rifles, which was organized in May 1861, but reorgan- covers carried were penalty envelopes with no franking Covers ized in April 1862 as the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. The regiment were postmarked in Cristobal at 4:00 a.m. and were backstamped was active in various conflicts in New Mexico Territory. In late in Brownsville on March 20 at 1:30 p.m. This is a very rare flight 1861 and early 1862, it was actually known as the Army of New with only 27 covers carried. It was unlisted in the American Air Mexico, but later well known as part of the Trans-Mississippi De- Mail Catalogue until the sixth edition when it became #28 in the partment. recently added Canal Zone section. 1 bid. Realized $200.

According to specialists in Arizona and New Mexico postal his- 1845 San Augustine, TX stampless TEXAS RANGERS, Great tory, there are fewer than 10 examples known of the Mesilla, Content, Scarce Letter!, April 10, 2016. Item 222060008969. 10 N.M. occupation marking. bids. Realized $179.50. Page 16 Texas Postal History Society Journal, Vol. 41, No. 2 May 2016

Ebay 222060008969 Ebay 201525663994 Matagorda July 10 Texas Stampless Straight-Line Folded Letter Scarce Type, Feb. 7, 2016, Item 17208008853. 1 bid, Realized $99.99.

Ebay 162015501121

Ebay 17208008853

Dallas Texas cover to Darlington SC 1856 lawyer ad 3c #11 k15, April 10, 2016, Ebay 141945561071. Back flap missing, top edge faults, hole in stamp. 4 bids, Realized $93.

Ebay 351673397954

Ebay 14194556107 1907 Burton Texas USA Registered Cover With Stamps Mailed To Berlin Germany, Feb. 26, 2016, Ebay 201525663994. 10 bids, Realized $81.01. 1905 Registered & Uprated Entire OLAA Hawaii to Hico Texas Unusual, Mar 30, 2016, Ebay 162015501121. 7 bids, Re- Ebay 201525663994 alized $78.77. 1885 Elkhorn P.O. Red River County, Texas 2 covers - to and from 1936 FDC Texas Centennial Coca Cola, March 16, 2016. Ebay Elkhorn, April 21, 2016, Ebay 231913741840. One cover sent to & re- 351673397954. 3 bids, Realized $36. turned from Menardville, Texas. 1 bid, Realized $39.47. A VALUABLE ADDITION FOR THE TEXAS POSTAL HISTORIAN!

TEXAS POSTMASTER AND COUNTY HANDSTAMPS ON COVER, 1857-1911

BY FRED EKENSTAM

This book chronicles the history, development and usages of county and postmaster handstamps of Texas on cover known to date. The covers, over 150 of them, are presented in full color. There are two tables which list the known 221 cancellations alphabetically and then again alphabetically by county. There is a rarity guide which sets value based on years of usage and what has been seen or docu- mented. Several of the covers are from the stampless period, a few are from the Confederate period, but most are from the 1870s and 1880s.

Only $55 postpaid

Send your check to: Fred Ekenstam 803 Dogwood Lane Fredericksburg TX 78624 T E X A S P O S T A L H I S T O R Y

l STAMPLESS l CONFEDERATE l D.P.O. l ADVERTISING l 1936 CENTENNIAL AND RELATED l ETC.

I BUY AND SELL A FULL LINE OF TEXAS, U.S. AND WORLD POSTAL HISTORY. COPIES OF MATERIAL FROM YOUR COLLECTING INTEREST SENT UPON REQUEST. T H E R I G H T S T A M P C O M P A N Y

VANCE RIGHTMIRE P.O. BOX 302918 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78703-0049

EMAIL: [email protected] PHONE: 512-657-6183