Cooke & Le Count's California Letter Book. Bronze on black glazed letter book with printed 1851 calendar on inside back cover, with lengthy letter datelined "French Ravine, December, 29th, 1852" with a lengthy letter back home to his brother with many remembrances and religious overtones, later date of Jan. 5th "…I have been out to day with about 80 other miners to shovel a trail for pack mules to fetch in provision for us we shoveled it to what is called the cold spring Ranch the distance of 4 miles through snow from 2 to 4 feet deep…", he requests a long return letter "…it does not cost any more to fill two sheets ful than it does to send one sheet half full for the Express will pay single or double postage on a letter & delivery it for 1,50…", Very Fine for this.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

AN EXTREMELY RARE CALIFORNIA LETTER BOOK PRODUCED BY COOKE & LE COUNT STATIONERS. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Crooks' Express, Scotts River. Blue oval handstamp on reverse of 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire canceled by bold "Flemington N.J., Jul 3" cds to John W. Denver at Washington D.C., Very Fine and choice.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

AN EXCEPTIONAL STRIKE OF THE CROOK'S EXPRESS SCOTTS RIVER OVAL.

A.D. Crook ran an express service from Yreka to the mines along the Scott and Klamath Rivers. We can not explain why this cover was not dropped into the mails until reaching Flemington N.J., but was mostly likely sent in a bundle or carried privately to Flemington. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

Freeman & Co.'s Express, San Francisco. Red oval handstamp on blue folded cover to San Francisco Cal., bold red "Cova & Co., Panama" forwarder's oval handstamp and endorsed "p "Sonora"" at bottom left; small edge tear at top, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Northern Pacific Express, San Francisco, Cal., Jun 17, 1887. Violet oval handstamp on 1884, 2¢ brown entire with dark blue company frank addressed to Juneau, Alaska, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Pacific Express Co., San Francisco, Paid. Blue handstamp frank (PAC-108h) on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Stockton, canceled by blue "Pacific Express Co., San Francisco, Mar 27" cds; small cover tear at top and partial backflap, otherwise Very Fine, a rare early handstamp frank.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

River Express, Stockton & San Francisco. Green frank on 2¢ green entire cancelled by blue "River Express Co., San Francisco, Cal., Aug 2, 1893" double-oval datestamp (RIV-100) to San Francisco, Very Fine.
Thomas No. RIV-001; Estimate $200 - 300.

This company existed under a variety of proprietors as a freight, storage and package forwarder around the San Francisco Bay area. It operated primarily between Stockton and San Francisco, but had agents or offices in Alameda, Antioch, Benicia, Berkeley, Napa, Oakland, Petaluma and Vallejo. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

W.E. Singer & Co.'s Feather River Express, Connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co. Blue oval handstamp (SIN-100) on large part of December 29, 1854 Daily Placer Times and Transcript newspaper; some edge flaws, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Wells, Fargo & Co. Express, Clarksville. Two strikes of blue oval handstamp (Leutzinger type 3-3) on 1861 3¢ pink entire to San Francisco, Cal., black Haller type E printed frank, Very Fine and scarce.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Wells Fargo & Co. Express, Downieville. Sharp strike of oval handstamp on top of illustrated Sierra Citizen newspaper masthead (approx. 16¼" x 5½"), Vol. 2, No. 35, "Downieville, Sierra County, Saturday, October 20, 1855", showing large illustration of a miner, Indian warrior, deer and bear flanking a bird's-eye view of the town of Downieville, addressed in pencil "O. Amy" at top, who is identified in a news item on the reverse as the paper's authorized agent in Marysville; some edge chipping, Very Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Wells, Fargo & Co's Express. (Per). Printed directive on 1853 3¢ Nesbitt entire to San Francisco, with printed corner card of "J. Dillon & Co. Stage Proprietors, Stockton, Cal." at bottom left; some wear & defect affecting indicia, Fine and rare, a rare early imprint likely used for internal company business.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Wells, Fargo & Co., Sacramento, Aug. 11. Blue circular handstamp struck over indicium of 1864 3¢ pink entire to San Francisco with company frank at left, entire with stunning pink all-over shaded advertising of "H. G. Smith, Pioneer Flour Mill, Sacramento", Extremely Fine, a beautiful cover in choice condition.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Wells Fargo & Co, No. San Juan, Cal., Jul 10. Blue oval datestamp as origin indication on Wells, Fargo & Co's Express black on orange illustrated train label, affixed on yellow Shattuck correspondence cover to Placerville Cal.; label with couple small scuffs, Very Fine and rare Wells Fargo label use.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Wells Fargo & Co. Express, Steamboat. Bold strike of fancy blue shield framed handstamp on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire with printed Wells Fargo frank to Sacramento Cal., Very Fine and choice strike.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Wells Fargo & Co. Express, Steamboat. Sharp strike of blue oval handstamp on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire with printed Wells Fargo frank to San Francisco Cal., reverse with "Hewlett & Collins, General Merchandise, Stockton Cal." oval handstamp as flap seal; small edge nick top left, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Wells, Fargo & Co. Express, Steamboat. Blue box handstamp on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Sacramento, with manuscript notation "Wells Fargo & Co." at top and backflap with circular Nesbitt seal, Very Fine, a scarce early steamboat agent marking.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300