Schuyler J. Rumsey Philatelic Auctions Sale

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United States Postal History continued...

Western Express Covers - Wells, Fargo & Co. continued...

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

621

143L7

(Pony Express - Virginia City) Wells, Fargo & Co., Aurora, Express. Blue oval handstamp tying Wells Fargo & Co., 1862-64, 10¢ brown clear to large margins on 1861, 3¢ pink entire to San Francisco, with second strike canceling indicia, black company frank at top; small tear at top and reduced at right into indicia, Fine, with 2016 P.F. certificate.
Scott Nos. 143L7; $5,500; Estimate $1,000 - 1,500. (Image1)

Get Market Data for [United States 143L7] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

Scott $5,500
Est. $1,000-1,500
SOLD for $2,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

622

143L8

(Pony Express - Virginia City) Wells, Fargo & Co., Aurora, Express. Blue oval handstamp cancelling on 1860, 3¢ pink entire to San Francisco and tying Wells Fargo & Co., 1862-64, 25¢ blue margins large to just touching at upper right, black company frank at top; some professional mending mostly in backflap, Very Fine.
Scott Nos. 143L8; Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

A LOVELY VIRGINIA PONY EXPRESS USAGE FROM THE FAMOUS CRITTENDEN CORRESPONDENCE IN AURORA. (Image1)

Get Market Data for [United States 143L8] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

Est. $2,000-3,000
SOLD for $2,700.00
Will close during Public Auction

623

143L8

(Pony Express - Virginia City) Wells Fargo & Co., Sacramento, 23 Jan. Two strikes of blue double-circle datestamp tie Wells Fargo & Co., 1862-64, 25¢ Blue (143L8), large margins to clear, bright color, on 3¢ pink (U35) buff entire to R.D. Morrow, Superintendent of the Savage Mine, Virginia City, Nevada Territory; restored and slightly reduced at left, Very Fine appearance.
Scott Nos. 143L8; $4,500.

A SCARCE EASTBOUND VIRGINIA CITY PONY EXPRESS USE FROM SACRAMENTO.

This was a Private Enterprise of Wells, Fargo & Co. for the rapid handling of letters between San Francisco and the mining region around Virginia City, Nevada. Adhesive stamps were affixed to Wells Fargo franked envelopes which for the extra charge indicated by the stamps, gave rapid service by pony. Letters went from San Francisco to Sacramento by Boat, then by Pony. The service started Aug. 11, 1852 with an extra Pony Charge of 10 cents. This rate was increased in 1863 to 25 cents. The color of the 25 cents was changed from blue to red in 1864 and the service was ended in early 1865. (Image1)

Get Market Data for [United States 143L8] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

Scott $4,500

SOLD for $1,600.00
Will close during Public Auction

624

Wells, Fargo & Co., Aurora, Express. Blue oval handstamp canceling on two 1861, 3¢ pink entires (one on white, other on buff) to San Francisco, the former with 3¢ buff paste-up on reverse, black company franks at top, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
SOLD for $130.00
Will close during Public Auction

625

Wells, Fargo & Co's Express, From Aurora. Black on orange label (Mosher WFCX-L545) with "Aurora" in manuscript with illustrated steamboat & train, affixed on legal size cover to the county clerk in Sacramento, with manuscript "Collect" crossed out and "Paid" notation added, reverse with "Depositions" docketing in a mining lawsuit between Pride of Utah and the Wild West Mine; small flaws to label, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
SOLD for $325.00
Will close during Public Auction

626

Wells, Fargo & Co., Aurora, Express. Purple oval handstamp canceling on 2¢ brown entire to Genoa, with original 1882 enclosure; a bit reduced at left, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $100 - 150. (Image1)

Est. $100-150
SOLD for $110.00
Will close during Public Auction

627

Wells, Fargo & Co., Independence, Mar 29. Blue oval date stamp on 1864, 3¢ pink entire to San Francisco, black company frank at top, Very Fine and scarce.
Estimate; $400 - 600. (Image1)

Est. $400-600
SOLD for $250.00
Will close during Public Auction

628

Wells, Fargo & Co., San Francisco. Blue oval date stamp on 3¢ green entire to Bridgeport, Mono Co., Cal. with black company frank at top, F.-V.F., a scarce Mono county destination.
Estimate; $75 - 100. (Image1)

Est. $75-100
SOLD for $70.00
Will close during Public Auction

Western Express Covers - Group Lots

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

629

Fake Western Express Covers. Small lot of 22 covers with fake express markings (plus one San Francisco Patriotic fake), the group includes 12 dangerous "Tandler" fakes, an interesting lot for reference.
Estimate; $400 - 600. (Image1)

Get Market Data for [United States Collection] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

Est. $400-600
SOLD for $650.00
Will close during Public Auction

630

Western Express Franks. 24 rare or unique franks cut from covers and entires and affixed & identified on cards; better franks including "South Boise Express Co., Paid 50 Cts" (unlisted and probably unique, ex-Ferrary), "Latta's Mountain Express, Paid" with large stagecoaches and portion of Wells, Fargo & Co. handstamp (similar to Thomas LAT-001, ex-Ferrary), "Tibbett's & Co.'s, Excelsior Express, Paid" (unlisted type marked "only copy"), "J.D. Kersey's Express, Paid." (Thomas index "Unknown", ex-Ferrary), "Pattison's Express, Paid " fancy frank (unlisted, ex-Ferrary) and many more; a truly wonderful reference group of unique and extremely rare franks.
Estimate; $500 - 750. (Image1)

Get Market Data for [United States Collection] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

Est. $500-750
SOLD for $750.00
Will close during Public Auction

Town Postmarks

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

631

Casa Grande, Pinal Co., A.T., Jul 18, 1882. Purple cds cancels 3¢ green entire with printed "Wells, Fargo & Co." frank to San Francisco Cal.; bit of flap missing and small top right edge tear, Very Fine.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

THE FINEST OF ONLY TWO RECORDED STRIKES OF THE CASA GRANDE TOWN CANCEL.

John C. Loss was the Wells agent (1882-1891) and postmaster for Casa Grande, Pinal County. (Image1)

Est. $750-1,000
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

632

Hackberry, Arizona, Sep 4, 188. Duplex cancels 3¢ green entire with printed "Wells, Fargo & Co." frank to Whitewater N.M., endorsed "Via Deming" at bottom left; roughly reduced at left and restored, Very Fine appearance.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Hackberry is a mining town that takes its name from the Hackberry Mine which was named for a hackberry tree in a nearby spring. Prospector Jim Music helped develop the Hackberry Silver Mine in 1875. Wells Fargo carried this cover to Hackberry and posted it to New Mexico via Deming. T.D. McQuigg was the Wells Fargo Station Agent on the A.T. & S.F line. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

633

Holbrook, Ariz. Jan 17, 1883. Double-circle datestamp with matching four-ring target cancel on 3¢ green entire to San Francisco Cal., small top edge tear, partial arrival backstamp, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

J.A. Field was the Wells Fargo agent (1883) of Holbrook, Novato County. (Image1)

Est. $500-750
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

634

Kingham, Ariz. Oct 24, 1883. Clear strike of double-circle datestamp with circular grid cancel on 2¢ vermilion entire with printed "Wells, Fargo & Co." frank to Mineral Park, Arizona Terr., endorsed "Via Needles & Kingman" at bottom left; reduced slightly at top and minor edge staining, Very Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

O.A. Shaw was the Wells Fargo agent (1883-84) of Kingman, Mohave County. The Santa Fe Railroad reached Kingman in 1883, and both the Post Office and Wells Fargo office opened that year. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
SOLD for $250.00
Will close during Public Auction

635

Prescott, Ariz., Apr 9, 1883. Cds with cork cancel on 3¢ green (U163) entire with printed "Wells, Fargo & Co." frank to San Francisco Cal., Very Fine, Only 6 Known.
Estimate; $500 - 750. (Image1)

Est. $500-750
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

636

Prescott, Arizona, May 20. Purple double-oval datestamp on 2¢ green entire with printed "Wells, Fargo & Co's Express" frank to San Francisco Cal., two strikes of magenta "Wells, Fargo & Co., San Francisco, May 23, 1878" ovals, receipt docketing on reverse; reduced slightly at right with tiny spindle hole, Very Fine.
Estimate; $500 - 750. (Image1)

Est. $500-750
SOLD for $550.00
Will close during Public Auction

637

Tubac (Arizona Territory). Straight line postmark (Meyers type 2) on 1¢ postal card to Tucson, A.T., reverse with interesting 1882 message "Please call at P.A. & Co. stage office and receive $4.00." referring to the Pedro Aguirre & Co. stage and express office, Very Fine.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE TUBAC, ARIZONA TERRITORY STRAIGHTLINE POSTMARK.

Pedro Aguirre & Co. operated stages and mail service from their headquarters in Tucson, Arizona to points south in Southern Arizona and Sonora, Mexico, as early as 1870. (Image1)

Est. $750-1,000
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

638

"Tucson, March 29, 1868". Datelined letter with "Territory of Arizona" letterhead signed "R.C. McCormick", Territorial Governor to Hon. M. McKenna at Fort Bowie, Arizona Territory letter with political content reads in part "Yours of 25, came by the stage, A precinct will be made at Bowie and now Anderson has promised in the neighborhood of 50 votes, perhaps more…the radicals have always fought me for my conservatism and generous treatment of the Democracy - Indeed many of them have long called me a Democrat…", Very Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Letter was carried by J.F. Bennett & Co. stageline from Tucson east to the Rio Grande Valley. Fort Bowie (1862-1894) was headquarters of the California Battalion during the Civil War.

The first Capital of Arizona Territory in 1863 was Fort Whipple in Chino Valley, May 1864 the territorial capital was moved to Prescott. In 1867, the capital was moved to Tucson for ten years and in 1877 moved back to Prescott. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
SOLD for $575.00
Will close during Public Auction

Mail Routes

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

639

(Arizona Territory - Incoming Mail) Wells, Fargo & Cos. Express, New-York, Aug 1. Blue double-circle datestamp ties 3¢ rose (65) horizontal pair on circa 1866 cover to Hon. John N. Goodwin, Governor, Prescott, Arizona Territory, endorsed "Per California Steamer" carried by PMSS "Golden City" arriving at San Francisco Aug. 25th, placed in the mails with "San Bernardino, Cal, Aug 29" transit cds, Very Fine, Believed to be the Earliest Reported Postal Service to the early Capital of Arizona Territory.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

John Noble Goodwin (1824-1887) was a United States attorney and politician who served as the first Governor of Arizona Territory (1863-66) under Lincoln. He was also a Congressman from Maine and served as Arizona Territory's delegate to the United States House of Representatives. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
SOLD for $325.00
Will close during Public Auction

640

(Butterfield Mail) "Overland Mail via St. Louis". Manuscript endorsement on circa 1860 cover bearing 3¢ dull red (26) tied by "New-York, May 11" cds from the McDowell correspondence to Fort Buchanan, Arizona; no backflap, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

This cover went from New York City to St. Louis by railroad. Then from St. Louis on May 14 by Butterfield Overland mail stage to Tucson. From Tucson, it was carried on the Lathrop contract mail buckboard to Tubac. Then from Tubac, a Santa Rita River Mining Co. Expressman carried it to Fort Buchanan. From there, a Compadre Silver Mining Co. horseback expressman carried it to Sonoita Creek, south of Fort Buchanan, where Mr. McDowell lived in a cabin. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
SOLD for $475.00
Will close during Public Auction

United States Postal History continued...

The John Drew Collection of Arizona Postal History