South Dakota Territory - Fort Buford - January 17, 1883 - no content

Fort Buford was a vital U.S. Army post located at the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers (near modern-day Trenton, North Dakota). It played a massive role in the Plains Indian Wars and was where Sitting Bull surrendered in 1881.

It was sent from Fort Buford on January 17, 1883 and bears the fort post office postmark. This is less than nine months before the 3-cent rate expired in October 1883.

Based on the inner frame lines and lettering style, the indicia matches a Plimpton Edge Die, #U163. The envelope is an entire in stable condition. It shows light edge wear and standard age toning, which is perfectly normal and expected for a piece that traveled out of a remote frontier military fort.

Very fine piece of US postal history and US history, just before the mass migration of settlers claiming land under the Homestead Act, which peaked in the 1880s. Fort Buford was considered to be on the western edge of the frontier when this was mailed.