Dietz & Nelson's British Columbia & Victoria Express (Haller FD-5) frank in combination with Wells, Fargo & Co. frank on 1864 3¢ Pink entire with United States 1861-66 24¢ lilac and British Columbia & Vancouver Is. 1865 3p Blue (7), 24¢ tied by blue "Dietz & Nelson's B.C. & V. Express" double-circle handstamp & 3p tied by blue "Paid" in oval, black "New Westminster Post Office British Columbia" double oval alongside, each marking perfectly struck, unused and unsealed, tiny scrape below Wells Fargo frank, Extremely Fine and choice, ex-Dale-Lichtenstein; with 2004 P.F. certificate. Estimate  $5,000 - 7,500. A SPECTACULAR FRANKED ENTIRE PREPARED FOR USE BY DIETZ & NELSON'S EXPRESS FOR MAIL TO ENGLAND VIA THE UNITED STATES. ONLY TWO EXAMPLES OF THIS EXPRESS FRANKING ARE KNOWN.This entire is accompanied by a contemporary note on a separate slip of paper, which reads "British Columbia. 'to secure despatch a letter from B. Columbia for England should be enclosed in an envelope stamped in this manner'". An identical unused entire was featured on the cover of the 1955 Barkhausen sale (ex-Gibson, Barkhausen and Haas). It appears that these were samples sent to express company agents. No used examples are known.According to Nathan, this express company was started in 1862 by George Dietz and Hugh Nelson when they acquired the express routes and business of William T. Ballou. Dietz & Nelson served the Cariboo mining region and connected with Barnard's Express at Yale and Lillooet and with Wells, Fargo & Co. at Victoria. The company sold out to Francis J. Barnard in the late spring of 1867. $0 (Image)