Todd's & Co.'s Express/San Francisco. Blue oval handstamp & matching double oval "Not Paid" on 1853 (August 8) folded cover to Tuttletown, the cover was handed over to Wells, Fargo & Co., who applied their blue San Francisco handstamp (Leutz. 1-12) & carried it to its destination, cover with some toning, fascinating original contents include," Nick & I passed one day at the New Almaden Mines. We rode our rail car 1000 feet right into the bowels of Mother Earth when we dismounted & went out through a perfect labyrinth carrying a torch.", Very Fine, a lovely conjunctive usage, ex Pearce, Walske. Estimate  $400 - 600. C. A. Todd (no relation to Alex H. Todd) operated the San Francisco-Stockton-Southern Mines route from April 1852 until September 1853, when he sold out to Wells Fargo. It was this sale that gave Wells Fargo its foothold in the region. $0 (Image)