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2010 Rarities of the World continued...

California and Western Mails
Lot Sym. Lot Description  
20 c San Francisco Cal. 15 Aug.> Blue circular datestamp struck twice with matching <5 cent printed matter rate> handstamp and black Paid on 1852 folded printed Prices Current dated Friday, August 13, 1852, and addressed to Boston, expertly repaired aSan Francisco Cal. 15 Aug. Blue circular datestamp struck twice with matching "5" cent printed matter rate handstamp and black "Paid" on 1852 folded printed Prices Current dated Friday, August 13, 1852, and addressed to Boston, expertly repaired along edges and two leaves rejoined, still Very Fine, scarce 5c circular rate from California which was only in effect from July 1, 1851 thru Sept. 30, 1852, only six are recorded (four stampless), ex Cipolla (Image)

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 E. 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $650.00
Will close during Public Auction
21° c Chorpenning Route, Utah via San Francisco to Hawaii.> 6c Green on Buff Nesbitt entire (U10) cancelled by <blue Salt Lake City Utah T. Jan. 1 (1856)> circular datestamp, addressed to <<Orson K. Whitney, co John G. Caine, Honolulu, Sandwich IslandsChorpenning Route, Utah via San Francisco to Hawaii. 6c Green on Buff Nesbitt entire (U10) cancelled by blue "Salt Lake City Utah T. Jan. 1" (1856) circular datestamp, addressed to "Orson K. Whitney, c/o John G. Caine, Honolulu, Sandwich Islands", 1856 docketing at left, missing top flap, minor edgewear and toning

VERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF MAIL SENT TO HAWAII VIA THE CHORPENNING ROUTE.

As discussed in an article in Chronicle No. 215 by Floyd Risvold and Richard Frajola, in 1851 Absalom Woodward and George Chorpenning were awarded the contract for monthly service between California and Salt Lake City. The winter snows made passage virtually impossible, and the routes were eventually changed depending on the season. After July 1854 the route was changed, with Salt Lake City on one end and San Diego on the other and incorporating the Old Spanish Trail, with a branch line service between Carson Valley (Genoa) and Placerville.

This cover was sent by John Whitney to Orson Whitney. Both were related to Henry Whitney, the first postmaster in Hawaii and the person responsible for the famous Missionaries. (Image)

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 E. 4,000-5,000

SOLD for $4,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
22° c Grass Valley Cal. Dec. 18, 1860.> Mostly clear circular datestamp with red manuscript Paid 58 rate on <illustrated six-horse stagecoach cover to Wetter, Prussia,> From San Francisco via Los Angeles banner and Wm. K. Spencer imprint, red N. YorkGrass Valley Cal. Dec. 18, 1860. Mostly clear circular datestamp with red manuscript "Paid 58" rate on illustrated six-horse stagecoach cover to Wetter, Prussia, "From San Francisco via Los Angeles" banner and Wm. K. Spencer imprint, red "N. York Brem. Pkt. 24 Paid Feb. 23" (1861) credit datestamp and blue Bremen transit, backstamped with German transits (Mar. 11-13), backflap slightly refolded (originally folded over thick contents) and some minor edge wear

VERY FINE. A REMARKABLE AND EXTREMELY RARE TRANSATLANTIC USE OF AN "OVERLAND MAIL" ILLUSTRATED STAGECOACH ENVELOPE.

The 58c prepayment marked on this cover by the Grass Valley postmaster does not correspond to any prevailing rate to the German States at this time. It was probably an error based on the 29c rate to England (24c plus 5c for West Coast origin), which was doubled for this letter weighing between one-half and one ounce. The New York foreign-mail exchange office treated it as a double 15c rate Bremen Packet letter, applying a 2 x 12c credit (24c) and sending it on the North German Lloyd's New York, departing on Feb. 23, 1861, and arriving in Southampton on Mar. 7 (the steamer was docked there for repairs and did not carry mail any further eastward, thus the delayed Mar. 11 arrival backstamp). Our Levi records and other sources consulted contain only six examples of an illustrated stagecoach cover (of any design) addressed to a foreign country. A similar stampless cover from San Francisco to Germany is illustrated in Letters of Gold (p. 136).

Ex Dale-Lichtenstein. With 2004 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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 E. 4,000-5,000

SOLD for $8,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
23° c San Francisco Letter Express.> Absolutely perfect strike of blue Horse and Rider oval handstamp on orange cover to local addressee, Extremely Fine it is difficult to imagine a finer strike or cover with this scarce local-post marking, illustrated inSan Francisco Letter Express. Absolutely perfect strike of blue Horse and Rider oval handstamp on orange cover to local addressee, Extremely Fine it is difficult to imagine a finer strike or cover with this scarce local-post marking, illustrated in Letters of Gold, ex Malcolm (where it realized $950 more than 30 years ago) and Jarrett (Image)

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 E. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $2,800.00
Will close during Public Auction
24° c Pacific Express Co.> Haller FP1 Ty. Ia printed frank on 10c Pale Green Nesbitt entire (U17a) to Boston, blue Pacific Express Co. San Francisco Nov. 20 (ca. 1855) double-circle datestamp, <conjunctive usage with Berford & Cos. Atlantic & Pacific ExPacific Express Co. Haller FP1 Ty. Ia printed frank on 10c Pale Green Nesbitt entire (U17a) to Boston, blue "Pacific Express Co. San Francisco Nov. 20" (ca. 1855) double-circle datestamp, conjunctive usage with "Berford & Cos. Atlantic & Pacific Express" blue oval perfectly struck at center, sender's routing "Via Nicaragua", no government markings, carried from New York City to Boston outside the mails, some slight scuffs at left where a label may have been removed

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED COVERS WITH THIS COMBINATION OF PACIFIC EXPRESS COMPANY AND BERFORD & COMPANY MARKINGS. A SPECTACULAR TRANS-CONTINENTAL EXPRESS USAGE.

The Pacific Express Company was formed on March 2, 1855, by former employees of Adams & Company, the huge express and banking concern that went bankrupt in February 1855. Pacific Express operated until sometime in 1857, carrying mail between points in California and also through connections to the East Coast. The original Berford & Company was started in 1849 and is reported to have sold out to Wells, Fargo & Co. in 1854. The "Berford & Cos. Atlantic & Pacific Express" represented in this handstamp (of which one other is known) must have been a short-lived operation under that name, formed after the earlier Berford's concern sold out. Although no year date is present, this cover and its mate must have been mailed in 1855 or 1856.

Illustrated in Letters of Gold. Ex Hawley. With 1975 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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 E. 7,500-10,000

SOLD for $10,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
25° c Langtons Humboldt Express, 25c Brown (86L1).> Large margins to just touched at corner of frameline, tied by blue Langtons Pioneer Express Unionville oval handstamp on 3c Pink entire (U34), black Langtons printed frank, addressed to Bidwells BarLangton's Humboldt Express, 25c Brown (86L1). Large margins to just touched at corner of frameline, tied by blue "Langton's Pioneer Express Unionville" oval handstamp on 3c Pink entire (U34), black Langton's printed frank, addressed to Bidwell's Bar Cal. "Care of Capt. Singer", a bit age toned and worn around edges, stamp has slight gum toning

VERY FINE. ONLY SIX INTACT COVERS ARE KNOWN WITH LANGTON'S HUMBOLDT EXPRESS STAMP. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF WESTERN POSTAL HISTORY.

The Humboldt Express was the last of seven successive Western express services operated by Samuel W. Langton, who has been described by historians as the most energetic and persevering of the numerous expressmen of the period. Langton launched the Humboldt Express in February 1860 and oversaw its operation until his accidental death in 1864. Service was provided between the Humboldt mines in Nevada to Carson City, the state capital. For transportation across this difficult route, 25c was charged in addition to the $2.00 per letter fee. To facilitate prepayment of this surcharge, Langton issued the 1860 25c Brown adhesive stamp. The stamp, with its exceptionally detailed depiction of a stagecoach drawn by a four-horse team, is widely regarded as the finest example of a pictorial stamp issued by the numerous local posts operated in the United States between 1842 and the 1870's. The style, lettering, color and lithographic technique used to print Langton's stamp are identical to those of the Wells, Fargo & Co. pony express stamps of the same period, and it is accepted, though unproven, that the issues of both companies were made by the same printer (Britton & Rey of San Francisco).

We record the following Humboldt Express 25c Brown covers: 1) Unionville (blue oval) to J. S. Bendle, Bidwell's Bar Cal., "Care of Capt. Singer", U34 with Langton frank, the cover offered here, ex Brown, Moody, Simpson, Hertz, 2) Star City (blue oval) to J. S. Bendle, Bidwell's Bar Cal., "Care of Capt. Singer", U35 with Langton frank, repaired, PFC, ex Dale-Lichtenstein, 3) Unionville (blue oval) to J. S. Bendle, Bidwell's Bar Cal., "Care of Capt. Singer", U34 with Langton frank, ex Caspary, Nathan, 4) Star City (blue oval) to G. Borzo, Placerville Cal., U34 with Langton frank, WF Nevada Jun. 10 oval, ex Jessup, Hawley, Polland, Jacobitz, 5) Unionville (red oval) and "Paid" in oval tying 25c, to Charles Lott, Oroville Cal., U34 with WF frank and WF Carson City May 11 oval, PFC, ex Haas, Edwards, and 6) Star City (blue oval) to S. W. Holladay, San Francisco, U34 with Langton frank, 3c 1861 tied by "Paid" and WF Nevada Jul. 11 (1863) oval, with enclosure, PFC, ex Hall, Kapiloff. In addition to these six intact covers, there are two restored fronts or pieces and a few faked examples. Our census has been compiled independently of the Gamett census and more recent Lyons census, which contain incorrect sale history data for #1 and #2 above.

Ex Brown, Moody, Simpson and Hertz (Image)

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 E. 30,000-40,000

SOLD for $32,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
26° c Pacific Express Co.> Horse and rider frank (Haller P1, Ty. 2) in <blue> on 3c Red Nesbitt entire (U10) to Barnard Vt., beautiful bold strikes of Auburn Cal. Sep. 3 circular datestamp and <Paid in oval with 7 cents manuscript surcharge for 10c tPacific Express Co. Horse and rider frank (Haller P1, Ty. 2) in blue on 3c Red Nesbitt entire (U10) to Barnard Vt., beautiful bold strikes of "Auburn Cal. Sep. 3" circular datestamp and "Paid" in oval with "7" cents manuscript surcharge for 10c transcontinental rate, few soiled spots, Very Fine, this Pacific Express Co. frank is very rare in blue (two others were offered in the Knapp sale, but none in other major sales), a similar use of the black frank from Auburn to the same addressee was offered in the Barkhausen sale (lot 220), this cover comes from the 2/3/49 Costales sale (lot 232) (Image)

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 E. 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $1,900.00
Will close during Public Auction
27° c Oroville & Quincy Express Co.> Red and black frank with wonderful illustration of six-horse stagecoach (Haller FO2, Ty. 1a), conjunctive usage with lightly struck <Wells, Fargo & Co. Oroville May 25> blue oval datestamp on 3c Green entire (U163) toOroville & Quincy Express Co. Red and black frank with wonderful illustration of six-horse stagecoach (Haller FO2, Ty. 1a), conjunctive usage with lightly struck "Wells, Fargo & Co. Oroville May 25" blue oval datestamp on 3c Green entire (U163) to San Francisco, sender's backstamps with Greenville return address, in immaculate condition, Extremely Fine, carried by the Oroville & Quincy Express from Greenville in Plumas County south to Oroville, then by Wells, Fargo & Co. to San Francisco (Image)

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 E. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $1,600.00
Will close during Public Auction
28 c Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $1.00 Red (143L3).> Position L16 with break in 1, large margins at top, other sides slightly into framelines, bright color, tied by sharp strike of blue <Pony Express San Francisco Jul. 13 (1861) Running Pony> ovaWells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $1.00 Red (143L3). Position L16 with break in "1", large margins at top, other sides slightly into framelines, bright color, tied by sharp strike of blue "Pony Express San Francisco Jul. 13" (1861) Running Pony oval datestamp on 10c Green, Star Die Entire (U32) with red Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank, sender's endorsement "Per Pony", clearly struck "St. Joseph Mo. Jul. 25" circular datestamp cancels entire, trivial opening tear at upper right corner, stamp with tiny tear at top right

A FRESH COVER WITH CLEARLY STRUCK MARKINGS AND A FINE EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 RED STAMP ISSUED BY WELLS, FARGO & COMPANY FOR THE OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACT PERIOD BEGINNING IN JULY 1861. THIS IS A VERY EARLY USE OF THE STAMP.

Commencing July 1, 1861, the Pony Express was authorized by Congress to carry mail at the rate of $1.00 per half ounce. An additional fee was charged by Wells, Fargo & Co. to carry mail from San Francisco to the western terminus at Placerville, which is represented by the printed frank on this entire. The contract also stipulated the mandatory U.S. postage charge of 10c per half ounce. This cover beautifully combines all three postage elements and was carried on the fourth eastbound Pony Express trip after the new rates and stamps were introduced. Although the Scott Catalogue lists the July 1861 issue Pony Express stamps (143L3-143L6) with other private post issues, we wish to emphasize that these stamps were issued under the terms of a government mail contract, therefore, they have semi-official status.

Pony Express Census No. E112. Ex Knapp. With 2007 P.F. certificate (Image)

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 E. 10,000-15,000

SOLD for $10,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
29 ngbl Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, 25c Blue (143L8).> Vertical block of eight, unused (no gum), huge margins to clear, Fine-Very Fine, with 1992 and 2010 P.F. certificatesWells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, 25c Blue (143L8). Vertical block of eight, unused (no gum), huge margins to clear, Fine-Very Fine, with 1992 and 2010 P.F. certificates (Image)

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 E. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $4,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

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