Berthouds Mule Team Express, PD 25¢. Two-line rectangular framed handstamp frank at left on 3¢ pink (U59) buff entire to Philadelphia Pa., entered mails with blue "Treasure City, Nev. Sep 13" cds duplexed with circular grid cancel, Philadelphia (9.20) arrival backstamp; reduced at left from opening, F.-V.F. and rare, Thomas WC6650, signed Frajola as genuine.
Thomas No. BRT-700; Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE BERTHOUDS MULE TEAM EXPRESS FRANK.

Silver was discovered in this area in 1867 and by November of that year, the first cabins were built on Treasure Hill. Treasure City was founded in 1868 in the White Pine Mining District and within a year had a population of 6000. The town reached its peak in 1869. By 1870, most of the population began to leave town, due to the lack of good ore. The business district was destroyed by fire in 1874 and never rebuilt. Very little is known about this express. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

Devil's Gate Express, Paid 25. Two-line frank handstamp with unlisted larger "Paid 25" (31mm) lightly struck on 3¢ pink (U58) entire cancelled by circular grid, matching "Virginia City, Nev. Feb 17" cds to Carson City Nev.; partial flap, F.-V.F. and scarce, Only 8 recorded examples of this express are recorded., ex-Barkhausen.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

This Express operated from the Devil's Gate district of Nevada Territory to Virginia City and Carson City. They picked up letters alone the road and carried them for 25 cents each to the nearest post office. Cover was picked up by Devil's Gate Express and posted at Virginia City to Carson City, Nevada. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

Hammond & Wilson's Express/Susanville and Reno/Connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co. Printed scroll frank on fresh 1874 3¢ green entire to San Francisco, fresh and Very Fine, a rare express line lasting only a few months.
Estimate; $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Langton's Pioneer Express, Carson City. Light but clear strike of blue oval handstamp on August 27th 1864 "Carson Weekly Independent" newspaper, folded in half, F.-V.F. and scarce newspaper express use.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Langton's Pioneer Express from "Unionville N.T.". Black on yellow label with manuscript town designation, affixed on blue linen-lined legal-size cover to San Francisco, manuscript "Coll" at top right with some pencil numbers; cover faults, Fine and scarce label.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

"Nels Express, 50cts Paid". Manuscript endorsement at top left of buff cover to Burlington Vt., entered mails with red "San Francisco '40' Jun 1" integral-due cds, original letter which no longer accompanies was datelined "Foster Bar, California, May 10, 1850" and refers to expressman; upper left corner repair and edge wear reinforced, F.-V.F. appearance.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

Nels Express was probably one of the typical one-man Expresses that operated in the California Gold Country. Many of the Argonauts would become express-men to support their friends and partners in the mines. Nels mad at least one express run down the river to San Francisco. Nelson A. Hammond was a pioneer stagecoach employee and later worked for Wells, Fargo & Co. in 1865, at Dutch Flat-Alta in 1866, Cisco 1868 and Reno 1869. He organized the Hammond & Wilson Express at Reno. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

Pacific Stage & Express Co. Printed Paid frank illustrated with six-horse stagecoach and line of text at top that lists their principal offices in California and Nevada, this variant exists on westbound uses, on 3¢ pink (U35) buff entire to San Francisco Cal., entered the mails with "Nevada City, Cal. Oct " cds duplex; reduced at right into indicia and restored, Very Fine appearance.
Thomas No. PAS-002; Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS PACIFIC STAGE & EXPRESS CO. FRANK.

Pacific Stage & Express Co. was operated by James McCue and Michael Rees between 1860 and 1864. It ran between San Francisco and Sacramento, to Virginia City, Nevada. This express operated through the Henness Pass north of Lake Tahoe to Virginia City. It operated from this terminus of the Central Pacific Railroad as it pushed through the Sierras to Virginia City. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

Pacific Union Express Golconda (Nevada). Blue "Oct 11" double circle datestamp on red franked 3¢ pink entire to Reno, Very Fine and choice.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

Believed to be the finer of two known examples of this style datestamp. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Pacific Union Ex. Co., Treasure City. Blue double circle handstamp on 1864, 3¢ pink entire to San Francisco, red scroll frank at top; cover tear at top affecting frank, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Pacific Union Ex. Co., Virginia City. Blue cds on 1864, 3¢ pink entire to Santa Rosa, Cal., red company frank at top, Very Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Pacific Union Express Co., Washoe City. Blue double circle handstamp on 3¢ pink entire to Santa Barbara with red company ribbon frank at top, some minor toned spots, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Patten & Bunker's Humboldt Express. Printed frank on orange buff cover that entered the mails with faulty 3¢ rose pink (64b), tied by blue "Carson City U.T., Nov 12" cds to Red Bluffs Cal., manuscript docketing on reverse indicating the sender was William Heaton of Shasta Cal.; light horizontal fold, a Very Fine example of this frank despite the stamp, Thomas WC2310, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. PAB-001; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS PATTEN & BUNKER'S HUMBOLDT EXPRESS FRANK.

This express operated between the Humboldt district of Nevada and Carson City. This cover was carried from Red Bluff, Cal. and identical to a Nov. 10th cover illustrated in "Nevada Express" by James Gamett. William T. Heaton was a merchant in Starr City in the business of Heaton and Davis. Patton and Bunker were also connected with Langton's Pioneer Express in 1863. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

Pioneer Stage Company. "Sacramento to Virginia" all-over shaded company envelope showing stage coach, bearing pen cancelled 3¢ rose (65) to Hyrum Rumfield of the Overland Mail Co. at Salt Lake City, Utah, docketed "Arrived at G.S.L.C. (Great Salt Lake City), July 27, 1:45 A.M.", reduced slightly at right, Very Fine.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

THE FINEST OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS ILLUSTRATED PIONEER STAGE COMPANY ENVELOPE.

The Pioneer Stage Co. began in the summer of 1859 when J.B. Crandell drove the first coach over the Sierra Nevada mountains to Carson Valley. Over the next years the Pioneer Stage Co. became a premier transportation service. In November 1866 they consolidated with other overland stage and express companies into the Wells, Fargo & Company. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

Raum's Express Franks. Two different on 3¢ green (U83) fronts only, "Raum's Centerville, Ruby Hill and Shelburn Express, Agency White Pine Daily News" (RAU-006, one of only two known) postmarked "Shelbourne Nev., Nov 1" cds and "Raum's Ruby Hill, Rubyville, Centerville and Shelburn Express, Agency White Pine Daily News" (RAU-007, one of only 7 known) with some edge repair, Fine and scarce pair.
Thomas No. RAU-006, RAU-007; Estimate $300 - 400.

Mell Raum operated this Nevada express in the 1870s near Eureka, Nev. and along the Eureka River. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Raum's Ruby Hill, Schellburn and Rubyville Express, Agency White Pine Daily News. Printed frank with fancy frame, on 3¢ green (U82) entire with printed Wells Fargo & Co. frank canceled by over inked strike of blue "Wells Fargo & Co., Humboldt Wells, Feb 28" oval datestamp to San Francisco Cal.; reduced slightly at left with small paper loss at top left, Very Fine and rare conjunctive use., Thomas WC2367.
Thomas No. RAU-002; Estimate $750 - 1,000.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS RAUM'S RUBY HILL, SCHELLBURN AND RUBYVILLE EXPRESS FRANK, THIS BEING THE ONLY RAUM'S USE CANCELLED BY WELLS FARGO.

After Lovell left the partnership of Raum & Lovell's Express, Mell Raum continued to operate as Raum Express through the same North-central area of Nevada connecting with the U.S. mail at Schellbourne Nev. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

Reno, Washoe, and Carson City, Stage and Fast Freight Line, L.H.Dyer, Proptr. Shield handstamp at upper left on circa 1871-72 yellow cover to Reno, Nevada, endorsed "Dyer will please deliver" at bottom; stain and corner nick, Fine and rare.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

THE ONLY RECORDED HANDSTAMP OF THIS RENO, WASHOE AND CARSON CITY STAGE LINE.

L.H. Dyer started his stage line in Mill Station, Nevada and operated to Carson City. In 1865 Dyer extended the Northern Terminus of his stage line to Huffaker's. A ranch seven miles south of Reno. In 1867 Dyer got a contract to carry the U.S. Mail from Washoe City to Virginia City. In 1870 Dyer relocated his office from Mill Station to Reno. The Virginia-Truckee Railroad started construction in January 1870 and was completed through Carson City to Reno 1872. In August 1873 the Railroad purchased Dyer's line. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Sale & Barber's Humboldt Express. Printed double-oval frank in combination with printed Langton's Pioneer Express printed frank at top left on 3¢ pink (U35) buff entire to Meadow Valley Cal.; repaired left edge, cover tear, Very Fine appearance, ex-Fred Star.
Estimate; $5,000 - 7,500.

ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS EXPRESS COMPANY FRANK.

This Express operated from Virginia City, Nevada Territory to the Humboldt mines in the Northwestern part of the territory in 1868 and 1869. This letter was carried into Unionville, Nevada by Sale & Barber's Express, and turned over to Langton's Express who delivered it to Meadow Valley, above Quincy in Plumas County, CA. Est. $5,000-7,500 (Image)

Est. $5,000-7,500

Sanders & Dixson's Express. Blue manuscript endorsement at right and printed "Wells Fargo & Co." frank on 3¢ buff (U10) Nesbitt entire cancelled by "Wells, Fargo & Co. Express, Placerville" oval to San Francisco Cal., original enclosed letter datelined "Virginia City, N. T. January 2d 1860"; some edge restoration with backflaps reattached, Very Fine appearance, ex-Nathan.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE SANDERS & DIXSON'S EXPRESS, THIS BEING THE ONLY WELLS FARGO & CO. CONJUNCTIVE USE.

This was a small Express that operated between Virginia City, Nevada and Genoa, Nevada in 1860, and then by snowshoes to Placerville, Calif. Where connections were made with Wells Fargo or to the Post Office there for the Atlantic States. It may be that "Snowshoes" Thompson took this mail from Genoa to Placerville, as he was the only expressman capable of making the trip in winter at that time through the almost impassable snow regions.

Notice in the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise, Dec. 17, 1859: "New Express - L. Saunders & E.C. Dixon will run an express from Placerville - Carson Valley to Virginia City, Nevada". On December 24th 1859 their first advertisement appeared in the same newspaper, "…Connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co. at Placerville, to all parts of California, Oregon and the Atlantic States. Letters, Parcels and Treasure, carried through with safety and dispatch…Wells, Fargo's envelopes, with our stamp for sale at our office, in Carson City, Gold Hill and Virginia City." Their last ad appeared in this newspaper Jan. 29th 1860. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

T.F. Tracy's Express, Paid. Blue oval handstamp on 3¢ red (U10) Nesbitt entire cancelled by "Placerville, Cal. Oct 14" cds to San Francisco Cal.; couple small edge flaws and partial flap, Very Fine and rare, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS T.E. TRACY'S EXPRESS FRANK HANDSTAMP, A GREAT WESTERN EXPRESS RARITY.

In June 1857, Theodore F. Tracy organized a short-lived express company in which he was proprietor, Messenger and did all the work. It ran between Placerville and over the Sierra to the small Mormon settlement at Genoa, Nevada. It advertised in the Placerville Mountain Democrat June 28, 1857. "Connecting with Wells Fargo at Placerville, leave Placerville three times a week for Carson Valley… to Genoa or Mormon Station," via T.B. Crandall's Pioneer State Line. This was before the Comstock Lode had been discovered. The Express only lasted a few months.

This cover was picked up by T.F. Tracy and carried to Placerville where it was placed in the U.S. Mail. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

Thomes & Skadan's Express, Susanville & Reno, Connecting with Wells Fargo Co. Black printed frank on 3¢ green entire to San Francisco, slightly reduced at right, F.-V.F.
Thomas No. THO-010; Estimate $500 - 750.

From 1870 to 1874 Thomes & Skadden operated their express between Susanville and Reno, connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750