Adams & Co. Printed Over Our California and Coast Routes frank at left on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire with manuscript "Don Pedro's Bar, Aug. 24th Cal." postmark to San Francisco Cal.; backflap with some adhesive staining and couple tears, small edge tear at bottom, Very Fine, ex-Lyons.
Thomas No. ADA-001a; Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.

ONE OF ONLY SEVEN RECORDED ADAMS & CO. PRINTED FRANKS, ONLY TWO OF WHICH ARE PRINTED AT THE LEFT SIDE.

The Adams & Company's printed paid franks were produced in 1853, making them the earliest franks actually printed on envelopes or stamped entires. Their function was to facilitate the deposit of mail in letter boxes after the normal business hours of the express, or in lieu of waiting in line during normal hours similar to prestamped mail. There are a total of seven printed Adams & Co. franks in three slightly different formats on plain envelopes (two printed vertically at left), both stamped and stampless, and on the 3¢ Nesbitt entire. Est. $3,000-4,000 (Image)

Est. $3,000-4,000

Adams & Co., Grass Valley, April 5. Sharp strike of red oval datestamp on blue folded letter datelined "Grass Valley, April 4 1854" to Tandler & Co., San Francisco, endorsed as enclosing draft, Very Fine.
Thomas No. ADA-101e; Estimate $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Adams & Co., Sacramento, Aug 11. Blue double-circle datestamp on light buff cover to San Francisco Cal. with "Miner's Coat of Arms" illustrated Barber & Baker design showing miner and bear hold up cross with various miner implements; some edge tears and wear, Very Fine, ex-Dale-Lichtenstein.
Estimate; $1,200 - 1,500.

ONE OF THE FINEST OF ONLY TWELVE EXAMPLES OF THIS SCARCE DESIGN RECORDED BY KUTZ.

Until its failure in the financial panic of February 1855, Adams & Co. Express was one of the largest and most successful express companies in California. One of its strongest hubs was Sacramento City. Est. $1,200-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,200-1,500

Anthony & Co's, Northern Express, Paid. Wonderful strike of oval frank handstamp on orange buff cover to San Francisco Cal., pencil "X" marking, Very Fine and choice.
Thomas No. ANT-100; Estimate $500 - 750.

ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED USED EXAMPLES OF THE ANTHONY & CO'S NORTHERN EXPRESS OVAL.

This express operated between San Francisco, Benicia, Sacramento and the Northern Mines. It had an office in Sacramento and may have carried the mail only as far as Marysville and Nevada City. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Bamber & Co's Express. Printed ribbon frank on 3¢ pink (U58) entire to San Francisco Cal., printed "Ehrman & Bachman, General Store, Mission San Jose, Cal." corner card; small edge tear, Very Fine.
Estimate; $100 - 150.

By 1858, John J. Bamber had consolidated R.T. Lockwood's Contra Costa Express, W.F. Herre's Contra Costa Express and Hoag & Co. Express under the heading of Bamber & Co. and began operating throughout the eastern bay area of present day Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. He exchanged with Wells Fargo & Co. at San Francisco. Bamber & Co. sold out to Whitney & Co. on December 31, 1873. Est. $100-150 (Image)

Est. $100-150

J. Bamber & Cos. Contra Costa Express, W.K. Bacon's, Oakland Office, Paid. Bold strike of oval handstamp on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire to San Francisco Cal., endorsed "P.D.G., B & H"; some edge wear, Very Fine, WC0980.
Thomas No. BAM-105; Estimate $400 - 600.

ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS J. BAMBER & CO. OAKLAND OFFICE OVAL. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

J. Bamber & Cos. Express, Bacon & Hardy, Oakland Office. Shaded frank on 3¢ pink (U35) buff entire cancelled by blue J. Bamber & Cos. Express, S.F., Dec 20" double-circle datestamp to San Francisco; small edge tear and no flap, Very Fine.
Thomas No. BAM-005; Estimate $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Bamber & Co's Express. Printed frank at left of legal-size 12¢ lake & brown on buff (U42a) mint entire, Very Fine.
Scott No. U42a; $1,250; Estimate $300 - 400. Scott $1,250
Est. $300-400 (Image)

Scott $1,250
Est. $300-400

Berford & Co.'s Express, 1851, 3¢ black, 6¢ green, 25¢ red. One 3¢ black, two 6¢ green singles and one 25¢ red, each cut to oval shape, used to pay 40¢ rate on cover from New York N.Y. addressed to "Capt. Walter Taber, Ship Louisiana, Paita", endorsed "By Express" at lower left, faint pencil docketing on front "Dated August 3, 1852, Received August 30, 1852", cover originated in New York City and was sent by Berford's to Panama where red "Forwarded By Wm. Nelson & Co. Panama" forwarding agent's framed handstamp was applied on backflap, docketed "Augt. 28, 1852" twice on front, once tying a 6¢ stamp, note on reverse in same hand reads "If not in Tambez [Tumbes, Peru] Dr. Oakford will please return this pr first opprty & oblige. Yours truly, A Bathurst, Paita, Aug. 28, 1852, I mean if Cap. Taber has been in and sailed", based on pencil Aug. 30 receipt notation on front, the letter reached Captain Taber in Tumbes; flaps opened and top refolded to flatten both 6c stamps that were affixed over top edge, Fine, ex-Chapman, Mason, Horner, Golden and "DK", with 1983 and 1999 P.F. certificates.
Scott No. 11L1, 11L2 (2), 11L4; Estimate $50,000 - 75,000.

A REMARKABLE THREE-VALUE BERFORD & CO EXPRESS FRANKING FOR THE 40¢ RATE TO THE WEST COAST OF SOUTH AMERICA.

THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED USE OF THE 25¢ STAMP, OF WHICH ONLY TWO STAMPS ARE KNOWN.

Richard G. Berford and Loring L. Lombard operated the Berford & Co. letter-carrying business beginning in 1851. Berford & Co.'s Express primarily served the West Coast of North, Central and South America, but also advertised rates to Hawaii, Hong Kong and China. Although their letter and package express business was fairly large, the adhesive stamps for letter mail are rare. During the course of their operation, there were several bitter clashes with the government over their mail route. They sold out to Wells Fargo & Co. in June 1854.

There are only a handful of Berford & Co's Express stamps recorded for any value. There are four 3¢ (11L1) stamps recorded (two off-cover and two on-cover including the one offered here), seven 6¢ (11L2) and two 25¢ (11L4), there are only two recorded: one uncancelled off cover, ex Caspary, Lilly and Hall, and the stamp on this cover.

Four covers are recorded with Berford & Co. stamps paying the 40c rate from New York to the West Coast of South America. Berford's June 17th 1851 advertisement in the New York Herald announced the "New Postage Law" and included a "Table of Postage" listing this 40¢ prepaid rate to the west coast of South America. In the advertisement, the stamps (3¢, 10¢ and 25¢) are described and various rates are given effective July 1, 1851. Obviously, Berford's was acting in response to the U.S. government postage reforms of the same date.

The Louisiana noted in the address is probably the 1,056-ton screw-vessel registered in 1850 at New York City. Est. $50,000-75,000 (Image)

Est. $50,000-75,000

California Penny Post Co., 1855, 5¢ blue. Usual close-cut margins to slightly in at top, uncancelled with small flaws and tiny ink mark, affixed on 10¢ green (U18) buff entire cancelled by "San Francisco Cal. 5 Jun" cds to Duxbury Mass., Very Fine, ex-Kuphal, Lyons, with 2015 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 34L4; Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.

AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE USE OF THE CALIFORNIA PENNY POST CO. 5¢ BLUE STAMP ON A 10¢ GREEN ENTIRE.

The 34L4 stamp is cataloged by Scott in combination with a 10¢ #14 stamp at $55,000. It is not listed on a 10¢ Nesbitt entire. Est. $5,000-7,500 (Image)

Est. $5,000-7,500

California Penny Post Co., 1855-59, 5¢ black on buff. Impressed on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire with printed directive at left, addressed to Messrs. Tandler & Co. in San Francisco, cancelled by blue "Penny Post Co., Sacramento" circular handstamp; soiling and wear, Fine.
Scott No. 34LU3a; Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE SACRAMENTO CIRCULAR HANDSTAMP IN BLUE.

We offered the other recorded example of the Sacramento circular handstamp in blue in our Sale 45, lot 110, realized $8500 hammer. Est. $3,000-4,000 (Image)

Est. $3,000-4,000

California Penny Post Co., 1855-59, 7¢ vermilion. Impressed on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire addressed cancelled by blue "Monterey Cal., Oct 18" cds to San Francisco Cal., printed explanatory ad text at left listing eight cities and towns where service was offered, manuscript "recd from H.S. Goodwin at 12 O.Clock, Ans on the 20th Oct" who was the proprietor of the Penny Post Co.; tiny pinholes and small scuff, slightly reduced at top, Very Fine appearance, ex-Knapp, Meroni, Boker, Hawley, Kuphal, Walske.
Scott No. 34LU7; $1,750.

Genuine used examples of this entire are extremely rare with 16 entires reported in the Lyons census in July 2005 Penny Post. Remainders were used to create forged Wells Fargo express usages. One of the fascinating aspects of this issue is that both the Penny Post oval and 3c U.S. stamp were embossed in the same color by George F. Nesbitt. Scott $1,750
(Image)

Scott $1,750

City G. & H. Express. Sharp strike of blue double-oval handstamp on orange buff cover addressed locally, Very Fine and choice use, ex-Wiltsee.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

Gahagen & Howe was a city express operating for over one year during 1864 to 1865. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Gillpatrick's Express, Steamer "Parthenius.". Printed frank on 3¢ green entire to Martinez Cal.; restored at left, Very Fine, WC4243, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. GLL-001; Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED USED EXAMPLES OF THE GILLPATRICK'S EXPRESS STEAMER "PARTHENIUS" FRANK.

Isaiah W. Gillpatrick advertised that he would run a daily express service through the use of the Steamer "Parthenius". This express provided a service between San Francisco and the river ports of Vallejo, Benicia, Martinez, Black Diamond landing, Pittsburg Landing and Antioch. He also connected inland to the coal mining towns of Somersville, Nortonville and Clayton. He lasted from May 1871 to about July 1872. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

"pr Gregory's Express Mail". Endorsement at upper left and Gregory's blue "Paid" lined oval handstamp on blue folded letter datelined "San Francisco March 1st 1852" to New York City, content mentions "The mail for tomorrow's steamer being closed, I avail myself of Gregory's Express…", carried per PMSS Northerner from San Francisco Mar. 2nd to Panama arriving Mar. 18th, across the Isthmus on the new Panama Railroad to Chagres, then by USMSS Empire City Mar. 26th to New York arriving Apr. 4th, "Boyd's City Express Post, Apl 14" oval datestamp and matching "PAID / J.T.B." handstamp, Very Fine and scarce Gregory's and Boyd's conjunctive use, This was the first steamer mail carried on the "Panama Railroad" across the Isthmus.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Gregory's Express Marysville. Blue three-line handstamp and matching "Not Paid" oval on orange buff cover to San Francisco Cal., endorsed "pr. Gregory's Express" and "Paid" at top right that was overstruck by the oval, Very Fine, Census WC1915, ex-Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. GRE-117; Estimate $200 - 300.

Joseph Gregory established a very extensive express business beginning in 1850 that lasted until the Spring of 1853. Marysville was his collection hub for the northern mines, from there he carried south to Sacramento and then into San Francisco. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Gregory's Express "Pocket Letter Book". Unused 1851 gold on black glazed letter book, Thompson & Hitchcock imprint, printed by Nesbitt & Co., with original buff envelope, surface scuff, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Gregory's, Express Office, San Francisco. Blue three-line handstamp and matching "Paid." oval on circa 1851 orange buff cover to Port Richmond N.Y., F.-V.F.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

Gregory's Express operated from 1850 until early 1853. Initially Joseph W. Gregory established his express operation between San Francisco and Sacramento and from those two locations pushed into Marysville. He quickly established an east coast operation and extended with use of agents to Hawaii, Europe, Oregon and China. Pressure from Adams & Co. hurt profit and he would dissolve in early 1853, selling assets to Wells Fargo. The "Paid" indicated prepaid postage plus express charges. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

J.W. Hoag's & Cos. San Francisco & Contra Costa Express. Clear strike of double-oval in dark red and matching "Paid" framed handstamp on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire with red manuscript "Haywards" at top right to San Francisco Cal., Very Fine, WC2165, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. HOA-102; Estimate $750 - 1,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED STRIKE OF THIS J.W. HOAG'S & COS. SAN FRANCISCO & CONTRA COSTA EXPRESS HANDSTAMP.

Late in 1855, J.W. Hoag, John Bamber and Charles Gable purchased the Contra Costa Express from R.T. Lockwood. In 1856, the also purchased W.F. Herre's Contra Costa Express. This gave them control of the western Contra Costa and Alameda county area. A July 12, 1858 advertisement announced that John Bamber bought our his other partners and would be operating as Bamber & Cos Express. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

The Holladay Overland Mail and Express Company. Fancy printed ribbon paid frank on 3¢ pink (U58) entire bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by cogwheel fancy cancels duplexed with "San Francisco, Cal. Nov 18" cds to New York N.Y., docketed "Recd Decr. 8th"; edge fault at left, Very Fine appearance, ex-Beals.
Thomas No. HLY-001; Estimate $750 - 1,000.

By 1866, Ben Holladay controlled a vast stage and express empire that extended from the Missouri River into Idaho, Montana, Washington and Oregon. Holladay had eliminated all competing stage and express operations and his empire blocked the movement of express material east for Wells Fargo. On November 1st 1866, Wells Fargo purchased this empire from Holladay that gave them control of virtually all of the major stage lines from the Pacific to the Missouri River. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

Kennedy & Co.'s Half Moon Bay & Pescadero Express. Blue printed rectangular frank on 3¢ pink (U58) entire cancelled by "San Francisco Cal., Jul 30" duplexes to local address, "Returned -To- Writer" handstamp; reduced slightly at left; small tear at right just into indicia, F.-V.F., WC2212, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. KEN-003; Estimate $400 - 600.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS KENNEDY & CO.'S HALF MOON BAY & PESCADERO EXPRESS PAID FRANK.

M.G. Kennedy and F.M. Utter operated this express service between San Francisco and Half Moon Bay. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

Leland & McCombe's Express, San Francisco. Red double-oval handstamp and matching diamond "Collect" handstamp on legal-size blue cover to George Fisher, Secy. of the U.S. Land Office, San Francisco Cal., manuscript "Los Angeles April 30th, Wells Fargo & Cos. Express" and matching "75cts" express rating, pencil "75¢ Paid" at left; reduced slightly at top, slight edge toning, Very Fine.
Thomas No. LEL-100; Estimate $300 - 400.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE LELAND & MCCOMBE'S EXPRESS SAN FRANCISCO OVAL AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS, TWO ADDITIONAL ARE CONTAINED IN THE WILTSEE COLLECTION.

Beginning in late 1853, Leland & McCombe's Express operated in a circular fashion from San Francisco south to Santa Clara and then up to Alamo. They had an additional route by ship up to Crescent City and other towns in Humboldt Bay. The company lasted about eight months. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Nichols & Co.'s Express. Sharp printed illustrated frank showing train and steamboat, on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire cancelled by blue "Nichols & Co's Express, San Francisco" oval handstamp (NIC-101a) to San Francisco Cal.; right edge strengthened and staining cleaned, Very Fine, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. NIC-001; Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

In early 1858, C.P. Nichols and Edward Ludlow formed a daily express to run between San Francisco, San Mateo, Belmont, Redwood City, Santa Clara and San Jose, and semi-monthly to run by way of steamer from San Francisco to Oregon and Washington. They connected with Alta Express for the northern and southern mines and Freeman for the Atlantic States. After about a year of operation, the express was sold or changed its name to the American Express of California. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

From the Noisy Carriers' Publishing Hall, San Francisco, Cal. Black on pink label, affixed on light buff cover bearing 10¢ green 1855 issue, rich color, large margins to in at top, tied by "San Francisco, Cal., 20 Mar" cds to Wilmington Del.; entire restored at bottom left and bottom flap added, Very Fine appearance, with 2005 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

A RARE USE OF THE NOISY CARRIERS' LABEL.

Charles Kimball operated a bookstore for a few years in the mid-1850s. His Noisy Carriers was a private express company located on a wharf near the San Francisco Post Office. His label is known used to and from river locations. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

From Noisy Carrier's, Mail, 77 Long Wharf S.F. Cal. Clear strike of fancy rectangle handstamp in green on front and as flap seal, on 6¢ green (U14) buff Nesbitt entire to Philadelphia Pa. bearing 1¢ blue (9), vertical strip of three and single, top stamp position 7R1L, recut state of Type I from plate 1E, strip large margins to barely in, single in at top, tied by light strikes of "San Francisco Cal. Jun 1" cds; small part of flap missing, stamps with some excess gum at edges removed, F.-V.F., ex-Knapp, Grunin.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

A COLORFUL AND RARE COMBINATION OF THE GREEN NOISY CARRIER HANDSTAMP AND 1¢ 1851 ISSUE FRANKING ON A 6¢ NESBITT ENTIRE PREPAYING THE 10¢ RATE.

The Noisy Carriers handstamp was applied by Noisy Carriers Publishing Hall to indicate or advertise their handling of mail put on steamers departing for Nicaragua or Panama. It is scarce in green and very rare on 6c entires uprated with the 1c 1851 Issue. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000