Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

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The Larry Lyons Collection: All Roads Lead to San Francisco continued...

Western Expresses: Kennedy thru Leland continued...

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

1656

Leland & McComb's Express, San Francisco. Double-line oval handstamp in red with the "e" removed (Thomas LEA-100c) on brown cover to San Francisco, Very Fine and another rare Leland express use, after the dissolution of the partnership between George Leland and John McCombe in June 1854, Leland formed a new partnership with David McComb (without the "e"), serving the same area (between San Francisco and Crescent City, Port Orford and other towns in Humboldt Bay) and expanding in August 1854 with a South Coast express to Monterey, Santa Barbara, San Pedro, Los Angeles and San Diego (Image)

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E. $ 750-1,000

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

1657

Leland & McComb's Southern Express. Double-line oval handstamp (Thomas LEA-101) with "Collect" in diamond-shaped box on buff cover, carried north to San Francisco where it entered the mails with 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), tied by "San Francisco Cal. 27 Nov" circular datestamp, stamp defective, Fine appearance, a very rare use of Leland & McComb's "Southern Express" service from points along the Southern Coast of California, based on a similar cover with contents, this cover likely originated in Los Angeles, after the dissolution of the partnership between George Leland and John McCombe in June 1854, Leland formed a new partnership with David McComb (without the "e"), serving the same area (between San Francisco and Crescent City, Port Orford and other towns in Humboldt Bay) and expanding in August 1854 with a South Coast express to Monterey, Santa Barbara, San Pedro, Los Angeles and San Diego, the Thomas book records only five examples of this frank (one in the Wiltsee collection) (Image)

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E. $ 750-1,000

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

1658

Leland's Express San Jose. Circle in 8-Point Star ("Sun") handstamp with "Leland's Express" (and possible traces of "San Jose"), matching "AHEAD OF THE MAILS" straightline handstamp on 3c Red on Buff Nesbitt entire (U10) to Yankee Hill Cal., conjunctive use with Wells, Fargo & Co. frank and blue "Wells, Fargo & Cos. Express S. Frco. 22 Feb." double-circle datestamp, sender's routing "Via Oroville", manuscript "Collect 1/-" (possibly one bit, or 12-1/2c), vertical folds and small tear at right, a few letters of lightly struck Leland marking strengthened in pencil

VERY FINE. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE LELAND "SUN" DESIGN FRANK, AND THE ONLY ONE WITH THE "AHEAD OF THE MAILS" HANDSTAMP -- APPLIED BY GEORGE H. LELAND AFTER HIS VARIOUS PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED BY LATE 1855.

In 1853 George H. Leland maintained a letter box in San Francisco, into which mail could be deposited for outbound sailings. His "Via Nicaragua/Ahead of the Mails/Leland" framed handstamp is seen on covers from San Francisco, and it is almost certain that the marking on this cover is a cut-down version for use on letters carried by his express. The Leland partnerships with John McCombe and David McComb ended by October 1855, when Leland advertised his name only. "Lelands Express", the last of his expresses, lasted a very short time, which explains the rarity of these markings.

Only two examples of the Leland "Sun" design frank are recorded in the Thomas book. The other example, addressed to San Francisco, has the diamond "Collect" handstamp and no other markings. Of the two covers, this is certainly the most outstanding, with the "Ahead of the Mails" and conjunctive use with Wells, Fargo & Co.

Ex Jessup, Pearce and Kramer. (Image)

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E. $ 4,000-5,000

SOLD for $4,250.00
Will close during Public Auction