Unique Opportunity to own a Gold Rush Town Cover from Northern California.
A scarce example from my “APRIL abbreviated by ‘APL’ instead of ‘APR’” collection from Murphy’s, California with pale blue green “MURPHY’S APL. 9 CAL.” cds with manuscript ‘Paid 10’.
Addressed to ‘Mrs. A.A. Clark, Kings Ferry, N.Y.’ No contents, no postal markings on reverse. Circa 1845-1851.
Many things going for this artifact: Scarce NoCal small town, prepaid, Gold Rush era, west to east, pale blue green cds, ‘APL’ instead of ‘APR.’
History: In 1848, John & Daniel Murphy established a trading post & gold mining operation in the area that is now their namesake. True entrepreneurs with the luck of the Irish, they were a part of the very first immigrant party (Stephens-Townsend-Murphy) to successfully bring wagons over the Sierra in 1844, paving the way for westward migration.
Their cries were among the first heard of “GOLD!” in CA. Its been reported that they took $2M in gold ore from the Murphys Diggins in a year’s, making them millionaires before the age of 25. During that first year, 50 tents, several lean-tos, and two blockhouses were erected, and by 1850, the camp had a population of 1200. In 1852 there were 3000 people, close to the present-day population.
See scan and good luck!
