1776 letter by Junipero Serra outlined his plan for California missions. It could be yours
A piece of California history that dates to 1776 is going up for auction in New York City later this month.
A two-page letter by Father Junipero Serra, regarded as the father of the California mission system, will be up for sale at Siegel Auction Galleries on Sept. 26, the auction house announced in a news release.
According to the release, very few letters from Serra are privately owned, making the auction a rare opportunity to own this type of artifact from the California Mission era.
The 248-year-old letter to then-Gov. Fernando de Rivera y Moncada details the 18th century Spanish missionary’s plan to set up a chain of churches in Alta California, “both for the Propagation of the Faith, as the chief purpose, and also for the convenience of travelers, as well as to strengthen the peaceful dispositions of the peoples along the way.”
Serra’s vision for an interconnected chain of churches — as well as a postal system — across California was essential to Spain’s colonization of the region as it pushed indigenous residents to convert to Catholicism.
Though he was officially canonized in 2015, Serra’s legacy in modern years has been more controversial, with many critiquing his involvement in the wide-spread eradication of Native American peoples and culture.
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What was in Father Junipero Serra letter?
In his letter, Serra advised building Mission San Buenaventura in what is today Ventura, and Mission La Purísima Concepción in Lompoc to create a chain where travelers and letter carriers could consistently pause on journeys.
“By taking this simple line of action, couriers from Monterey to San Diego could sleep, every night, in Christian pueblos, and in places that are well defended,” a translation of the original Spanish letter reads. “But, without such precautions, I feel very much afraid in regard to the constant passing to and fro of our men through that ill omened, yet fascinating, Santa Barbara Channel.”
At the time the letter was written in July 1776 — the same month the Declaration of Independence was adopted — only five missions had been established in California: in San Diego in 1769, Carmel-by-the-Sea in 1770, San Gabriel in 1771, San Luis Obispo in 1772 and San Francisco just one month before the letter was written, according to the release.
In the years following, the number of California missions would grow to 21, stretching from San Diego to Sonoma.
What else is going up for auction?
The letter is expected to sell for $100,000 or more, according to the release.
The Serra letter is the first item in the auction of The Vaquero Collection of Alta California Postal History, according to the release.
The sale also contains other important historical letters from notable figures in California history, including those of sea captain William G. Dana who was granted a 38,000-acre-property called Rancho Nipomo.
The Dana Adobe, the original family residence for Rancho Nipomo, is open as a museum in San Luis Obispo County.
Those interested in bidding can preregister at siegelauctions.com/profile/login. For more information, contact Siegel Auctions.
This story was originally published September 19, 2024 at 10:00 AM with the headline "1776 letter by Junipero Serra outlined his plan for California missions. It could be yours."
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