Rare California Territorial Circular Date Stamp And Manuscript Note to Territorial Governor Peter Burnett, July 16, 1850

Sacramento, California, 1850. [Territorial California] Rare California Territorial Circular Date Stamp And Manuscript Note to Territorial Governor Peter Burnett, July 16, 1850. 1pp. 6.25 x 10.5 inches.

Manuscript note written on thin blue paper unevenly trimmed and folded into a stampless letter. Previous folds with light toning. Note written on top of address.

Stampless folded envelope addressed to "To the Governor of California, San Jose, Alta California" with a bold and striking circular date stamp from Sacramento 16 July at a rate of 121/2 cents. According to the "American Stampless Cover Catalog Volume 1" the circular date stamp of this fashion was used prior to statehood on September 9, 1850. Peter Hardeman Burnett served as the Territorial Governor from the capitol on San Jose.

There likely was an enclosed note or additional letter sheet (verso is blank with no enclosure present) yet the gist was a request from an L.F. Harris of Shasta County applying for the appointment of a judgeship from the governor. The reply, likely in a secretarial hand, states that the governor has no right or power to appoint a judge of any kind, they are elected in that district.