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The Pony Express Collection formed by Thurston Twigg-Smith continued...

Phase III (7/1/1861-10/26/1861)
Lot Sym. Lot Description  
18 ogbl Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $1.00 Red (143L3).> Complete sheet of 40 in two panes, <Position 9 in the Right Pane shows the “Broken Leg” flaw,> unused (no gum as sold), bright color, vertical crease between
panes and minor margin flaws, faint vioWells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $1.00 Red (143L3). Complete sheet of 40 in two panes, Position 9 in the Right Pane shows the Broken Leg” flaw, unused (no gum as sold), bright color, vertical crease between panes and minor margin flaws, faint violet C.E.C.” (C. E. Chapman) handstamp barely touching two stamps

EXTREMELY FINE. AN IMPORTANT LARGE MULTIPLE OF THE $1.00 PONY EXPRESS STAMP. POSITION R9 IS THE BROKEN LEG” LITHOGRAPHIC FLAW.

When Britton & Rey received Wells Fargo & Co.’s order for new stamps needed for the July 1861 rate change, they were apparently instructed to produce a new $1.00 value in Red and to print more $2.00 and $4.00 stamps in different colors. Since the printers still had the stones for the $2.00 and $4.00, it was a simple matter to make more impressions in Green ($2.00) and Black ($4.00). Their approach to the $1.00 Red, evident in the product itself, is more complicated.

Instead of 20 subjects, there were 40 subjects on the $1.00 stone, which suggests that the print order anticipated a much higher volume of usage. In fact, the average number of letters per eastbound trip jumped from 201 in Rate Period 3 (prior to the government contract) to 305 in the Rate Period 4 (as a government contractor). The total number of eastbound letters, documented at 10,057, indicates that at least an equal number of $1.00 stamps were printed, so doubling the size of the stone meant half the number of impressions (250 vs. 500 for a print run of 10,000). The process of creating the $1.00 printing stone is described on page 28 of this catalogue.

This sheet of 40--one of four recorded--contains the most distinctive plate flaw found on any Pony Express stamp: the Broken Leg” flaw, in which the horse’s front right leg is cut off where the background shading lines end.

The Broken Leg flaw occurs only on Position R9 (Group A Type V). The fact that it does not occur on the other three Type V positions (L9/11 and R11) indicates that it was not present on the Transfer Groups A or B. It may have occurred as the re-transfer of Group A/B was made on the printing stone, possibly due to a flaw in the transfer paper. It also could have resulted from damage to the printing stone, possibly during the erasure process to remove s” from Dollars”.

We have seen eight unused examples of the Broken Leg, including four in sheets, two in blocks, and two singles (most without gum). Only one used example is recorded, which proves the Broken Leg flaw was present when the stamps were actually used on Pony Express mail. One unresolved question is whether Position R9 exists without the flaw, which would prove that some sheets were printed before the flaw occurred on the printing stone.

Ex Hall. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

E. 10,000-15,000

SOLD for $25,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
19 og Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $1.00 Red, Broken Leg (143L3 var).> Position R9, original gum, large margins, bright color and very fresh<><>^EXTREMELY FINE. ONLY NINE EXAMPLES OF THE “BROKEN LEG” TRANSFER FLAW
ARE KNOWN TO US (EIGHT UNUSED, ONE UWells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $1.00 Red, Broken Leg (143L3 var). Position R9, original gum, large margins, bright color and very fresh

EXTREMELY FINE. ONLY NINE EXAMPLES OF THE BROKEN LEG” TRANSFER FLAW ARE KNOWN TO US (EIGHT UNUSED, ONE USED).

The most distinctive plate flaw found on any Pony Express stamp is the Broken Leg” flaw, in which the horse’s front right leg is cut off where the background shading lines end.

The Broken Leg flaw occurs only on Position R9 (Group A Type V). The fact that it does not occur on the other three Type V positions (L9/11 and R11) indicates that it was not present on the Transfer Groups A or B. It may have occurred as the re-transfer of Group A/B was made on the printing stone, possibly due to a flaw in the transfer paper. It also could have resulted from damage to the printing stone, possibly during the erasure process to remove s” from Dollars”.

We have seen eight unused examples of the Broken Leg, including four in sheets, two in blocks, and two singles (all without gum). Only one used example is recorded, which proves the Broken Leg flaw was present when the stamps were actually used on Pony Express mail. One unresolved question is whether Position R9 exists without the flaw, which would prove that some sheets were printed before the flaw occurred on the printing stone.

Ex Schwartz and D.K. Collection. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

E. 3,000-4,000

SOLD for $5,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
20   Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $1.00 Red, Broken Leg (143L3 var).> Position R9, margins to just in, bright color nicely contrasted by blue San Francisco Running Pony oval datestamp showing “OC” of October 1861,
the variety clearly visible, sealed tWells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $1.00 Red, Broken Leg (143L3 var). Position R9, margins to just in, bright color nicely contrasted by blue San Francisco Running Pony oval datestamp showing OC” of October 1861, the variety clearly visible, sealed tear at bottom right

FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED USED EXAMPLE OF THE BROKEN LEG” FLAW, WHICH PROVES IT WAS PRESENT IN SHEETS USED DURING THE OPERATION OF THE PONY EXPRESS.

This stamp is the first and still the only recorded used example of the Broken Leg” flaw. No used examples were known at the time the Trepel book on the 1861 Pony Express stamps was published. This stamp proves that the sheets containing the error were actually sold and used at the time the Pony Express was running (as opposed to coming from unused remainders). Only eight unused examples are recorded. (Image)

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E. 4,000-5,000

SOLD for $9,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
21   Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $1.00 Red (143L3).> Position L16, large margins all around including part of straddle-pane margin at right, rich color, beautifully struck blue “Pony Expre(ss) Sacramen(to) Jul.
11” oval datestamp with “Pony Express”Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $1.00 Red (143L3). Position L16, large margins all around including part of straddle-pane margin at right, rich color, beautifully struck blue Pony Expre(ss) Sacramen(to) Jul. 11” oval datestamp with Pony Express” almost complete, applied at Sacramento on the Pony trip departing San Francisco on July 10, 1861 (Trip ET-116), part of black St. Joseph transit circular datestamp at lower right

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST USED EXAMPLES OF THE $1.00 HORSE & RIDER ISSUE EXTANT.

Although the Scott U.S. Specialized Catalogue places all of the Pony Express stamps among its listings of private issues, the July-August 1861 issues ($1.00 Red, $2.00 Green, $4.00 Black, $1.00 Garter and Type II envelope) were in fact issued by Wells Fargo & Co. to meet the requirements of the Post Office Order of March 12, 1861, which authorized the contractor to operate a Pony Express semi-weekly at a Schedule time of ten days eight months of the year and twelve days four months of the year...” Therefore, the July-August 1861 issues have as much official status as any stamp issued for use on government contract mail. (Image)

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E. 3,000-4,000

SOLD for $10,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
22   Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $2.00 Green (143L4).> Reconstructed sheet of 20--reflecting the lithographic printing stone--comprising 23 unused stamps (some overlapping), including one block of six, three
blocks of four, one vertical pair (with coWells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $2.00 Green (143L4). Reconstructed sheet of 20--reflecting the lithographic printing stone--comprising 23 unused stamps (some overlapping), including one block of six, three blocks of four, one vertical pair (with corner sheet margins) and three singles, mostly full margins, all stamps sound, crease in sheet margin of pair

EXTREMELY FINE. AN IMPORTANT RECONSTRUCTION OF THE $2.00 GREEN HORSE & RIDER PONY EXPRESS SHEET, INCLUDING THREE BLOCKS OF FOUR AND A BLOCK OF SIX.

The $2.00 and $4.00 were printed in sheets of 20. Rather than build up the printing stone from intermediate transfer groups or from a Primary Matrix containing the denomination, the printers used a blank matrix to enter each subject on the stone for each value. This required a total of 40 transfers (20 for each value). The denomination (shaded numerals 2” and 4”) then had to be individually transferred to each subject on both stones, thus requiring another 40 separate transfers. It seems incredible that experienced lithographers such as Britton & Rey did not simplify the process by using intermediate transfers.

Based on the fact that the $2.00 Green and $4.00 Black of the July 1861 issue were printed from the same stones as the April 1861 issue, it is certain that the printers had retained the two original stones. Lithographic stones were usually re-used by erasing the image and repolishing the surface, but in the case of the Pony Express stones, they were preserved for future printings.

Ex Hall. (Image)

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E. 7,500-10,000

SOLD for $7,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
23 ngbl Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $2.00 Green (143L4).> Positions 6-711-1216-17, vertical block of six, unused (no gum), large margins, slight creases in top right stamp and center pair<><>^EXTREMELY FINE
APPEARANCE. A SCARCE MULTIPLE OF THE $2.00Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $2.00 Green (143L4). Positions 6-7/11-12/16-17, vertical block of six, unused (no gum), large margins, slight creases in top right stamp and center pair

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE MULTIPLE OF THE $2.00 GREEN HORSE & RIDER SECOND ISSUE.

With 1999 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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E. 2,500-3,500

SOLD for $4,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
24 ngbl Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $2.00 Green (143L4).> Positions 1-26-7, block of four, unused (no gum), full to huge margins with sheet margin at top left, rich color, vertical creases in margins at sides with
one ending in tiny tear, small blue inWells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $2.00 Green (143L4). Positions 1-2/6-7, block of four, unused (no gum), full to huge margins with sheet margin at top left, rich color, vertical creases in margins at sides with one ending in tiny tear, small blue ink stains at top and on back of left margin, otherwise Very Fine, with 1982 P.F. certificate (Image)

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E. 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $2,600.00
Will close during Public Auction
25 ng Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $2.00 Green (143L4).> Position 17, unused (no gum), large and even margins, rich color, Very Fine and choiceWells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $2.00 Green (143L4). Position 17, unused (no gum), large and even margins, rich color, Very Fine and choice (Image)

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E. 400-500

SOLD for $950.00
Will close during Public Auction
26   Wells, Fargo & Co., Pony Express, $2.00 Green (143L4). Position 12, three large margins including part of adjoining stamp at bottom, full at top, rich color, blue San Francisco Running Pony oval
datestamp<><>^VERY FINE AND CHOICE. FEWER THAN TEN USWells, Fargo & Co., Pony Express, $2.00 Green (143L4). Position 12, three large margins including part of adjoining stamp at bottom, full at top, rich color, blue San Francisco Running Pony oval datestamp

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. FEWER THAN TEN USED EXAMPLES OF THE $2.00 HORSE & RIDER SECOND ISSUE ARE REPORTED.

The $2.00 Green Second Issue is extremely scarce in used condition. Only two covers are recorded, and we have seen approximately eight genuinely cancelled stamps off cover.

With 1996 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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E. 4,000-5,000

SOLD for $9,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
27   Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $4.00 Black (143L5).> Reconstructed sheet of 20--reflecting the lithographic printing stone--comprising two blocks of four, one vertical pair (with corner sheet margins) and ten
singles, few with original gum, mostlyWells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $4.00 Black (143L5). Reconstructed sheet of 20--reflecting the lithographic printing stone--comprising two blocks of four, one vertical pair (with corner sheet margins) and ten singles, few with original gum, mostly unused (no gum), full to huge margins, all stamps sound

EXTREMELY FINE. AN IMPORTANT RECONSTRUCTION OF THE $4.00 BLACK HORSE & RIDER PONY EXPRESS SHEET, INCLUDING TWO BLOCKS OF FOUR.

The $2.00 and $4.00 were printed in sheets of 20. Rather than build up the printing stone from intermediate transfer groups or from a Primary Matrix containing the denomination, the printers used a blank matrix to enter each subject on the stone for each value. This required a total of 40 transfers (20 for each value). The denomination (shaded numerals 2” and 4”) then had to be individually transferred to each subject on both stones, thus requiring another 40 separate transfers. It seems incredible that experienced lithographers such as Britton & Rey did not simplify the process by using intermediate transfers.

Based on the fact that the $2.00 Green and $4.00 Black of the July 1861 issue were printed from the same stones as the April 1861 issue, it is certain that the printers had retained the two original stones. Lithographic stones were usually re-used by erasing the image and repolishing the surface, but in the case of the Pony Express stones, they were preserved for future printings.

Ex Hall (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

E. 7,500-10,000

SOLD for $8,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
28 ngbl Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $4.00 Black (143L5). Vertical block of six with huge bottom left corner sheet margin, unused (no gum), large margins top and right, detailed impression on bright white
paper<><>^EXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS BLOCK OF SWells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $4.00 Black (143L5). Vertical block of six with huge bottom left corner sheet margin, unused (no gum), large margins top and right, detailed impression on bright white paper

EXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS BLOCK OF SIX OF THE $4.00 BLACK PONY EXPRESS ISSUE.

With 1997 P.F. certificate (Image)

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E. 5,000-7,500

SOLD for $9,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

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