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Schuyler J. Rumsey Philatelic Auctions Sale: 90

United States
Western Routes

Sale No: 90
Lot No: 41
Symbol:
Cat No: 35

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image (Butterfield Route) Overland Mail, Via Los Angeles & St. Louis. Routing endorsement on legal size cover to Nathan Clifford in Washington D.C., franked with 1859, 10¢ green, type V, horizontal gutterline strip of five tied by "San Francisco, Cal., Nov 21, 1859" cds's; cover reduced at sides, Very Fine.
Scott No. 35; Estimate $300 - 400.

The recipient, Nathan Clifford, was the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, former Attorney General and more important, the person how arranged the Treaty of Hidalgo Guadalupe, by which the U.S. acquired California from Mexico.
Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Opening US$ 625.00
Sold...US$ 625.00


Closed..Dec-11-2019, 13:24:37 EST
Sold For 625

Sale No: 90
Lot No: 42
Symbol:
Cat No: 35

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image (Butterfield Route) "Overland" to San Francisco, Cal. Manuscript routing endorsement on whip co. corner card cover, franked with 1857, 10¢ green, type V tied by "Westfield, Ms., Mar 6, 1861" cds, reverse with pencil "Recd, Apr 3d/61" receiver docketing; cover slightly reduced at right, F.-V.F., a westbound usage carried on the last trip of the Southern Overland Mail route.
Scott No. 35; Estimate $100 - 150.

This dispatch had to arrive in San Francisco by Southern Butterfield Route as no steamer arrived during the first five days of April.
Est. $100-150 (Image)

Est. $100-150

Opening US$ 500.00
Sold...US$ 500.00


Closed..Dec-11-2019, 13:26:41 EST
Sold For 500

Sale No: 90
Lot No: 43
Symbol:

image (Chorpenning Route) Overland Via Placerville and Salt Lake. Routing in illustrated Six-Horse Stagecoach design with Randal & Co. of Marysville imprint, on fresh cover addressed to Third Assistant Postmaster General in Washington D.C., clear "Forbestown, Cal., Mar. 8" cds with matching "Free" handstamp and manuscript "P.O.B.", Extremely Fine, ex-Gibson, Jessup, Pearce, Haas and Jarrett.
Estimate; $7,500 - 10,000.

A STUNNING STAGECOACH COVER DESIGN BEARING THE PLACERVILLE & SALT LAKE CITY CHORPENNING ROUTE DESIGNATION. Est. $7,500-10,000 (Image)

Est. $7,500-10,000

Opening US$ 10,500.00
Sold...US$ 10,500.00


Closed..Dec-11-2019, 13:27:53 EST
Sold For 10500


Western Express Covers

Sale No: 90
Lot No: 44
Symbol:

image The Central Overland Californi(a) & Pikes Peak Express Company, Denver City K.T., Nov 8. Oval date stamp on the front an reverse of 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Philadelphia, Pa., entered the mails with "Leavenworth City, Kas, Nov 18" cds cancelling, also with "The Only Through Express / Direct Your Letters Care / C. O. C. & P. P. Express / St. Joseph, Mo. / Or / Leavenworth, K. T." magenta company advertising label; a trifle reduced at right, Very Fine, ex-Bauer, with 2013 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $5,000 - 7,500.

A RARE COVER WITH THE COC & PPE ADVERTISING LABEL. THE COC & PPE AFFIXED ADVERTISING LABELS TO SOME OUTGOING COVERS IN 1860. ONLY FOUR COVERS BEARING THE LABELS (ONE YELLOW AND THREE MAGENTA) ARE RECORDED.

The second strike on the backflap of the "Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, Denver City K.T." oval handstamp dated "Nov. 6". These envelopes were available for purchase prior to use and this handstamp reflects the date of sale.
Est. $5,000-7,500 (Image)

Est. $5,000-7,500

Opening US$ 4,000.00


Closed..Dec-11-2019, 13:28:17 EST
Sold For 0

Sale No: 90
Lot No: 45
Symbol:

image The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, St. Joseph, Mo., Jun 18. Oval handstamp on 1860, 3¢ Star Die entire to "Denver City, K.S." with "C.O.C. + P.P. Express St. Joseph Mo." sender's endorsement, "Platte City, Mo, Jun 13" cds cancelling; cover cleaned, professionally restored with right end and top backflap added, Very Fine appearance.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Opening US$ 325.00
Sold...US$ 325.00


Closed..Dec-11-2019, 13:29:01 EST
Sold For 325

Sale No: 90
Lot No: 46
Symbol:
Cat No: 24

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image The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, St. Joseph, Mo., Feb 9. Oval handstamp in green on Chicago Silversmiths illustrated advertising cover to Mountain City, Kansas Territory, with "care of (C) O C + P P Exp" sender's endorsement, franked with 1857, 1¢ blue, type V, single and pair tied by blue "Chicago, Ills, Feb 5" cds and grid duplexes; cover reduced at left with edge tears at bottom, F.-V.F., ex-Knapp, Lichtenstein, with 2004 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 24; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

AN EXTREMELY RARE CENTRAL OVERLAND CALIFORNIA AND PIKES PEAK EXPRESS COMPANY EXPRESS USAGE ON AN ILLUSTRATED ADVERTISING COVER BEARING THE 1857 1¢ ISSUE.

Necessarily an 1861 use from just before Colorado Territory was created since the COC & PPE did not come into existence until February of 1860 and did not have company handstamps until later that year.
Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

Opening US$ 1,300.00
Sold...US$ 1,300.00


Closed..Dec-11-2019, 13:29:44 EST
Sold For 1300

Sale No: 90
Lot No: 47
Symbol:
Cat No: 26

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image Hinkley & Co.'s Express, Denver City, Jul 12, 1860. Circle handstamp and "The Central Overland Californi(a) & Pikes Peak Express Company, Denver City K.T., Jul 12" oval date stamp on cover to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, entered the mails with 1857, 3¢ dull red (straddle margin at left, pre-use crease) tied by "Saint Joseph, Mo., Jul 19, 1860" cds in green, also light Prairie du Sac, Wis. transit cds, "rcd July 23" and other dockets, Very Fine conjunctive use.
Scott No. 26; Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

Brought in from the mines by Hinkley to Denver City and exchanged with the COC & PPE before the Denver City Post Office became operational in August of 1860 and before Hinkley entered into competition with the COC & PPE on the Central Overland Route in September of 1860.
Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

Opening US$ 1,000.00
Sold...US$ 1,000.00


Closed..Dec-11-2019, 13:30:26 EST
Sold For 1000

Sale No: 90
Lot No: 48
Symbol:
Cat No: AL-39 var.

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image Hinkley & Co.'s Express, Denver City, Nov 5, 1860. Cds on Abraham Lincoln campaign cover to "Denver City, Kansas Territory, Care of Hinkley & Co. Express", franked with 1857, 3¢ dull red tied by partial cds of Terra Haute, Indiana, "Answered Dec 4th" docket; cover professionally restored, F.-V.F. appearance, picked up by Hinkley from the Denver City Post Office and delivered to the addressee somewhere in the mines after the Denver City Post Office became operational in August of 1860. Scott No. 26.
Milgram No. AL-39 var.; Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.

AN EXTREMELY RARE USAGE OF A LINCOLN CAMPAIGN COVER CARRIED BY EXPRESS COMPANY.

Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th president of the United States on November 6, 1860, the day after Hinkley picked up this cover in Denver City and possibly the very day this cover was delivered. Lincoln was the first Republican to hold the office although it should be recognized political ideologies in those days were very different than now.

This campaign design, similar to Milgram no. AL-39, differs in the letter style of "Lincoln." below the portrait.
Est. $3,000-4,000 (Image)

Est. $3,000-4,000

Opening US$ 4,500.00
Sold...US$ 4,500.00


Closed..Dec-11-2019, 13:31:01 EST
Sold For 4500

Sale No: 90
Lot No: 49
Symbol:

image Holladay O. M. & E. Co., Virginia City, Mon., Oct 26, 1866. Double circle handstamp struck twice on 1864 3¢ pink entire with Holladay Overland Mail and Express Company printed frank, to Independence, Missouri, entered the mails with "Leavenworth, Kan., Nov 12" cds and cancel on the indicia, carried by outside the mails from Virginia City to Salt Lake City and then east on the Central Overland Route; slightly reduced at left, Very Fine, sent less than a month after the "Grand Consolidation" with Wells Fargo.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

Opening US$ 850.00
Sold...US$ 850.00


Closed..Dec-11-2019, 13:32:20 EST
Sold For 850

Sale No: 90
Lot No: 50
Symbol:

image Jones & Russell's Pike's Peak Express Co., Denver City. Circle handstamp without date and "To Pikes Peak" manuscript endorsement on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire, evidently intended for use to the mines but instead sent outbound to Somerset, Ohio, with the similar company circle handstamp dated "Jul 29, 1859" on the reverse, entered the mails with "Leavenworth City, K.T., Aug 8, 1859" cds on the indicia; cover stain professionally removed, Extremely Fine appearance, an unusual if not unique "franked" envelope bearing the second handstamp used by this company in period, i.e., prior to being absorbed by the larger freighting partnership of Russell, Majors, and Waddell in October of 1859, with 1973 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

Opening US$ 675.00
Sold...US$ 675.00


Closed..Dec-11-2019, 13:32:49 EST
Sold For 675

Sale No: 90
Lot No: 51
Symbol:

image Leav'h City & Pikes Peak Express Co., May 25, 1859. Wonderfully clear cds on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Brock, Ohio, entered the mails with "Leavenworth City, K.T., Jun 9, 1859", cds cancelling; lightly cleaned with minor restoration sealing tear at top, Extremely Fine appearance and rare example of the first handstamp used by this company, ex-Meroni, Baughman, with 1965 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN OF THIS VERY RARE COLORADO EXPRESS COVER. APPROXIMATELY SEVEN COVERS ARE THOUGHT TO EXIST.

Jones & Russell's Leavenworth City & Pikes Peak Express operated in Kansas Territory from Leavenworth City to Denver City beginning in April of 1859. This was the first express service between Leavenworth City to Denver City, charging 25¢ per letter. This marking is known used only from April to July, 1859. The company was the precursor of the Central Overland California & Pike's Peak Express, which was organized in February of 1860.
Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

Opening US$ 4,000.00
Sold...US$ 4,000.00


Closed..Dec-11-2019, 13:34:11 EST
Sold For 4000

Sale No: 90
Lot No: 52
Symbol:

image Paid Murphy 10¢. And "C. O. C. and P. P. Express, Paid" manuscript notations on 1860, 3¢ Star Die entire to "Spring Gulch, Mountain City, Colorado Territory", "Sumner, Kansas, Jul 29, 1861" origin postmark on the back perhaps applied as a courtesy plus partial strike canceling indicia, evidently picked up as a stagecoach way letter by the Central Overland California & Pike's Peak Express company and carried to Denver City then delivered by Murphy to the addressee; light stains, small corner and edge faults, F.-V.F., a copy of a 2016 Linn's Stamp News article announcing the discovery this cover accompanies.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

THE ONLY KNOWN MURPHY EXPRESS COVER.

When this cover was sent, Sumner in the new state of Kansas was a fairly large town 20 miles northwest of Leavenworth City. While Sumner along with Denver City and Mountain City in the newly created Colorado Territory all had Post Offices, Spring Gulch was a mining location beyond Mountain City that did not. The recipient of this letter likely prepaid Murphy to call for his letters at Denver City and perhaps Mountain City. Murphy is believed to have been John T. Murphy who was a merchant based in Nevada City, which was near Mountain City.
Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

Opening US$ 1,200.00
Sold...US$ 1,200.00


Closed..Dec-11-2019, 13:35:17 EST
Sold For 1200

Sale No: 90
Lot No: 53
Symbol:
Cat No: 65

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image (A.J. Oliver & Co's) Bannack City Express. Tombstone handstamp clearly struck on "Direct To Salt Lake City, In Care Of Bannack City Express, Oliver & Co., Proprietors" company text advertising cover to Westborough, Massachusetts, and forwarded to Cincinnati, Ohio, entered the mails with "Brigham City, U.T., Sept 11" manuscript postmark at lower left and franked with pen canceled 1861, 3¢ rose (s.e. at top), "Westborough, Ms., Sep 30" cds applied when forwarded along with second 1861, 3¢ rose tied by circle of wedges cancel, likely an 1863 use given the manuscript postmark; trivial moisture stains along the bottom, Extremely Fine and attractive, cover illustrated in Nathan's Franks of Western Expresses (page 15).
Scott No. 65; Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.

THIS IS THE FINEST KNOWN EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE EXPRESS - WITH APPROXIMATELY SEVEN COVERS RECORDED.

Oliver & Co. operated as a stage line and express company from 1862 until 1866 in the part of the original Idaho Territory that became Montana Territory in 1864. Oliver's Bannack Express ran overland from Bannack City (aka East Bannack) through unsettled Indian country to Utah Territory. Oliver's intent was to provide a direct connection to the Central Overland Route for letters going to and from the eastern states. The need for Oliver's service to Utah diminished when a mail contract between Salt Lake City and Bannack City was awarded in 1863.
Est. $4,000-6,000 (Image)

Est. $4,000-6,000

Opening US$ 4,000.00
Sold...US$ 4,000.00


Closed..Dec-11-2019, 13:36:10 EST
Sold For 4000

Sale No: 90
Lot No: 54
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection

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image Overland Mail & Express Co., Barlow & Sanderson, Proprietors… Principal Office, Pueblo, Col. Stagecoach company printed corner card with six-horse stagecoach illustration (no imprint) on cover to Nasby, Missouri, light "Villa Grove, Col, Aug 13" cds and 1879, 3¢ green with target cancel, with original letter on Overland Mail And Express Co. printed letterhead with 188_ date blank but datelined simply "August the 13", letter is from a man working as a driver to his mother back home and reveals "I am getting $80 still and if I had tended stock I would only have gotten $25."; slightly reduced at right, stains and small edge faults, Fine.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

Bradley Barlow and Jared L. Sanderson were "stagecoach kings" before and long after the more famous Ben Holladay ventured into and out of the business. For over three decades, Barlow and Sanderson's company controlled important transportation routes in Colorado and across the southwestern United States from Missouri to California and as far north as Oregon and Idaho. As railroads were built across the west in the 1870's and 1880's, Barlow and Sanderson concentrated on providing feeder service. The company held numerous mail contracts in various states and territories. Barlow retired from a lifelong career in the stage business in 1878. Sanderson continued to crack the whip until 1884.
Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

Opening US$ 575.00
Sold...US$ 575.00


Closed..Dec-11-2019, 13:37:05 EST
Sold For 575

Sale No: 90
Lot No: 55
Symbol:
Cat No: 63+65+73

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image Overland Mail Co., Salt Lake City, Utah. Stagecoach company printed corner card on cover to Tiffin, Ohio, decipherable Salt Lake City cds tying 1861 1¢ blue + 3¢ rose, pair (s.e. at left) + 1863, 2¢ black completing the triple 3¢ rate; cover a bit reduced at left, Very Fine.
Scott No. 63+65+73; Estimate $500 - 750.

The Overland Mail Company was granted the first daily mail contract on the Central Overland Route effective July 1, 1861.
Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Opening US$ 525.00
Sold...US$ 525.00


Closed..Dec-11-2019, 13:37:28 EST
Sold For 525

Sale No: 90
Lot No: 56
Symbol:
Cat No: 65

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image D.C. Patterson & Co's Boise And Salt Lake City Express. Oval handstamp plus Paid, One Dollar, Jun 25, 1864 company cds on cover to Branchport, New Jersey, entered the mails with "Brigham City, Utah, Jul 9" cds and franked with 1861, 3¢ rose canceled by target handstamp; cover reduced at right just into the stamp, F.-V.F.
Scott No. 65; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

Patterson's Boise Express ran overland in 1863 and 1864 from Bannock City (also known as West Bannock and later Idaho City) through unsettled Indian country to Utah Territory. Patterson's intent was to provide a direct connection to the Central Overland Route for letters going to and from the eastern states. The need for Patterson's service to Utah diminished when a mail contract between Salt Lake City and Walla Walla via Boise City was awarded in 1864.
Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

Opening US$ 1,050.00
Sold...US$ 1,050.00


Closed..Dec-11-2019, 13:38:06 EST
Sold For 1050

Sale No: 90
Lot No: 57
Symbol:

image Sanderson & Co. Overland Stage & Express Co., Principle Office, Pueblo, Col. Printed corner card with illustrated design showing Six-Horse Stage on Mountain Road, Stage with "Overland U.S. Mail, S. & Co." imprint, on cover bearing 3¢ green (184) cancelled by cork duplexed with "Globeville Cal. Feb. 6" cds to Chicago Ill., Feb. 11th receiving backstamp; cover edge faults and small mend top right, Fine, a rare modified design from the final years of the Barlow and Sanderson stage line empire.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

Established by Vermont men, Jared L. Sanderson and Bradley Barlow during the Civil War, the Barlow-Sanderson Overland Mail Company first carried the mail and operated a stage line between Sedalia and Warrensburg, Missouri and by 1863, was also operating a line from Kansas City, Missouri to Fort Scott, Kansas. In 1866, they began to expand westward and transferred their headquarters from Kansas City to Junction City, Colorado. By 1867, the two entrepreneurs had established a route from Missouri to California over the Santa Fe Trail and changed the name to the Barlow and Sanderson Company. The company continued to grow in Colorado, becoming the largest stage line in the area and in 1874, the headquarters moved to Granada, Colorado. Two years later, despite rumors of bribery and corruption within the company, the stage line continued to expand. However, buy 1878, Bradley Barlow withdrew and the name of the company changed to J.L. Sanderson and Co. Overland Stage and Express Line.
Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

Opening US$ 425.00
Sold...US$ 425.00


Closed..Dec-11-2019, 13:39:40 EST
Sold For 425

Sale No: 90
Lot No: 58
Symbol:

image Wells, Fargo & Co., Downieville, Sep 1. Oval handstamp on 1864, 3¢ pink entire with Wells Fargo printed frank, to Rensselaer, Indiana with "Wells Fargo & Co Mail This At NY" sender's endorsement, instead entered the mails with "St. Louis, Mo., Sep 22" cds and quartered cork duplex cancelling, carried outside the mails on the Central Overland Route rather than on the ocean route via Panama; small edge tear at top, F.-V.F., a rare usage.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Opening US$ 120.00


Closed..Dec-11-2019, 13:40:00 EST
Sold For 0

Sale No: 90
Lot No: 59
Symbol:

image Wells, Fargo & Co., Helena, Montana, Sep 8, 1867. Double circle handstamp on 1864, 3¢ pink entire with Holladay Overland Mail and Express Company printed frank used posthumously, Meussdorffer correspondence to San Francisco, original business letter accompanies, docketing at left; tiny opening edge tear at upper right, Very Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Opening US$ 550.00
Sold...US$ 550.00


Closed..Dec-11-2019, 13:41:21 EST
Sold For 550
Sale No: 90
Lot No: 60
Symbol:
Cat No: U35

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image Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express, New York, Aug 2. Double circle handstamp on 1864, 6¢ pink legal size entire with Wells Fargo "Atlantic Express" printed frank, to Chrysopolis, Cal. with "Overland" sender's endorsement, evidently carried through to California and then missent to Copperopolis with Copperopolis and Visalia Wells, Fargo & Co. oval transit handstamps, dated "August 18, 1866" on reverse and forwarded with "Via Aurora" pencil endorsement appended on the front, sent back on the overland route to Nevada, entered the mails with "Aurora, Nev., Sep 25" cds for delivery to Chrysopolis; reduced sides and edge repairs, Fine and an outstanding usage.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

A HIGHLY UNUSUAL WELLS FARGO MISSENT AND FORWARDED USE.

Wells Fargo's lines reached Aurora in Nevada but not so Chrysopolis and a number of other California mining camps and towns on the remote eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Aurora and Chrysopolis are both ghost towns today. The site of Chrysopolis is now in Inyo County, which was created out of Coso County the year this cover was sent. Coso County was created two years before and included parts of Tulare and Mono Counties but was never organized.
Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Opening US$ 2,800.00
Sold...US$ 2,800.00


Closed..Dec-11-2019, 13:43:49 EST
Sold For 2800

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