Beekman's Express, Jacksonville Oregon. Ribbon frank on 3¢ red (U10) buff entire to Yreka, Cal., docketed "Rec'd March 24, 1861"; reduced at right, horizontal fold at top, F.-V.F., ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. BEE-001; Estimate $500 - 750.

After the failure of Adams in 1855 which was followed a few weeks later by Cram Rogers, Cornelius Beekman started an express from a base of operation at Jacksonville Ore. Terr. Routes ran to Yreka, Crescent City and Roseburg Ore. Beekman connected with Wells Fargo at Yreka and Tracy at Jacksonville. He left for an east coast during most of 1859, but returned and ran the company until selling out to Wells Fargo in 1863 and becoming the Wells Fargo agent at Jacksonville. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Buchanan & Co.'s Express, over our Dalles & Canyon City Route. Green frank on 3¢ pink (U58) entire cancelled by partial blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Jun 8" oval datestamp to Idaho City, Idaho Terr., Very Fine, WC1502, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. BUC-002; Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

ONE OF ONLY FIVE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS BUCHANAN & CO'S EXPRESS FRANK, ONE OF WHICH IS CONTAINED IN THE WILTSEE COLLECTION.

In 1866, Wells Fargo withdrew from the John Day Mine area by canceling their The Dalles to Canyon City express run. Their agent at The Dalles, A.J. Buchanan purchased the rights from Wells Fargo. He ran his express over the same route for about a year and cased operation in late 1867. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

Hastings' Express. Black pony express rider frank on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire to Portland, Oregon Terr., endorsed "$40" at lower left, Very Fine and choice, WC2472, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. HAS-002; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

ONE OF ONLY FIVE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS HASTINGS' EXPRESS FRANK, ONE OF WHICH IS CONTAINED IN THE WILTSEE COLLECTION AND ANOTHER WITH THE STAMP REPLACED.

E.L. Hasting operated an express service for about a year in Oregon and up the Columbia River. It has been reported that he also operated throughout the Willamette Valley. He connected with Wells Fargo. Seymour Express purchased Hasting Express in the summer of 1859. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

Jones & Edgar's Canyon City Express. Paid. Printed frank on 3¢ pink (U34) entire cancelled by conjunctive "Wells, Fargo & Co., Dalles O., Jan 31" oval datestamp in blue to Yreka Cal., endorsed "Valuable", entire freshened, Very Fine appearance.
Thomas No. JON-001; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

ONE OF ONLY SIX RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS JONES & EDGAR'S CANYON CITY EXPRESS FRANK.

Horatio L. Jones and Addison Edgar ran a semi-weekly express between Canyon City and John Day Mines in central Oregon to The Dalles on the Columbia River. At The Dalles they connected with Wells Fargo. The partnership broke up with Jones becoming the Wells Fargo agent in latter 1864, and Edgar becoming the Wells Fargo agent in 1865. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

Jones & Edgar's Canyon City Express. Paid. Printed frank on uncancelled 3¢ pink (U35) buff entire to Dalles, Oregon, manuscript Sep. 17th docketing on reverse, Very Fine, One of only six recorded examples of this frank.
Thomas No. JON-006; Estimate $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

McBean & Co.'s Middle Fork Express. Printed frank and conjunctive Wells Fargo frank on 3¢ pink (U59) buff entire cancelled by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Canon City, Nov 21" oval datestamp to San Francisco Cal.; restored at right with paper added, Very Fine appearance.
Thomas No. MCB-002; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS MCBEAN & CO'S MIDDLE FORK EXPRESS FRANK AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS, ONE OTHER IS CONTAINED IN THE WILTSEE COLLECTION.

For a brief period from 1865 to 1866, Frank W. McBean ran an express operation between Canon City, Oregon, and the Middle Fork of the John Day River in Oregon. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

Oregon & California R.R. Express, Portland "James McCraken, Portland, Oregon". Turquoise double-circle with manuscript endorsement, on 3¢ green (U84) cream entire cancelled by "Portland Ore., Jul 11" cds duplexed with cork cancel to San Francisco Cal., Very Fine, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. ORC-600; Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED USE EXAMPLES OF THE OREGON & CALIFORNIA R.R. EXPRESS DOUBLE-CIRCLE HANDSTAMP, THE OTHER IS CONTAINED IN THE WILTSEE COLLECTION.

Virtually nothing is known about this express. Construction of the Oregon & Railroad began 1870-71, and it is thought that its rails were completed between Portland and Roseburg by 1873. James McCraken was a well-known Portland merchant. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

Rundell & Jones' Canyon City Express. Paid 50 Cents. Printed frank on light buff cover to Dalles City, Ore., Very Fine, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. RUJ-001; Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE RUNDELL & JONES' CANYON CITY EXPRESS "PAID 50 CENTS" FRANK.

In 1863, George Rundell and Horatio Jones formed a partnership for an express operation between The Dalles, Oregon and the gold fields in the John Day and the Canyon City mining area of Oregon. In October of the same year, Jones formed a partnership with Addison Edgar that began operation over from The Dalles to the mines of John Day and Canyon City. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

Tracy & Co.'s Express. Fancy printed frank on 3¢ red (U9) Nesbitt entire cancelled by bold blue "Tracy & Co's Express, Dalles" oval handstamp to Portland Ore., Very Fine and choice, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. TRA-004; Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

A RARE AND BEAUTIFUL TRACY & CO.'S EXPRESS USE FROM DALLES TO PORTLAND, OREGON.

Edward W. Tracy arrived in Portland Ore. on July 8, 1859 as Wells Fargo's General Agent for the Washington and Oregon Territories. He established the Wells Fargo office and as early as July 22nd formed a partnership with E. Norton Jr. and E.L. James to operate his own express service throughout the interior of Oregon. At first this service ran tri-weekly from Portland through the Willamette Valley to Eugene City Ore. It extended overland from this point to Roseburg, Winchester and Oakland Ore. This southern route would eventually connect with Beckman's Express at Jacksonville and Wells Fargo at Portland. A second route would soon follow based out of Portland following the Columbia River to The Dalles, then up river to Walla Walla Wash. From Walla Walla it ran overland to service the mines in the eastern Washington area. When gold was discovered in Idaho Terr., a route from Walla Walla was pushed into Lewiston where the mining activity along the Clearwater and Salmon Rivers were supported. In March 1862, the partial with Norton and James dissolved, and Tracy sold his Portland to Idaho express service to Wells Fargo. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

Tracy & Co. Oregon Express. Rare printed frank on 3¢ pink (U34) entire with "Tracy & Co." ribbon frank (TRA-007) at left and struck with blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Portland" oval handstamp to Bodago, Sonoma County, Cal.; edge wear and flap missing, F.-V.F., A rare conjunctive use.
Thomas No. TRA-207; Estimate $500 - 750.

The "One Dollar" printed frank is the rarest of the Salmon River & Nez Perces Express franks. During 1861 and 1862, this company carried between the Salmon River and Nez Perces Mines and Walla Walla, Washington Territory where it connected with Wells, Fargo & Co. as well as Tracy & Co. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Tracy & Co's Oregon Express. Four-line printed frank in conjunction with Wells Fargo & Co. paid frank on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire addressed to Hon. L.F. Grover at Salem Ore., Very Fine, WC2880, ex-Pearce, Haas.
Thomas No. TRA-100; Estimate $750 - 1,000.

THIS COMBINATION FRANK IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE TRACY & CO. OREGON EXPRESS FRANKS WITH ONLY THREE EXAMPLES RECORDED. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

Tracy's & Co. Express, Dayton. Bold oval handstamp and blue "Tracy & Co., Portland, Sep 15" double-circle datestamp on 3¢ red (U27) buff Star die entire to Champoeg, Oregon, black Tracy & Co. Oregon Express company scroll frank (TRA-007); light cover toning and right edge repaired including small portion of indicia, Fine appearance, A wonderful cover showing the only recorded example of the Dayton handstamp, illustrated in the Forster book.
Thomas No. TRA-101d; Estimate $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Tucker's Siskiyou Express. Double-rectangle handstamp frank on 3¢ pink (U58) entire addressed to Byron Cole, Oregon Road; wear and light staining, Fine.
Thomas No. TUC-100; Estimate $500 - 750.

ONE OF FOUR RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS TUCKER'S SISKIYOU EXPRESS FRANK HANDSTAMP.

This cover is addressed to Byron Cole, co-owner of Cole's Roadhouse located on the "Oregon Road". Listing books record Louis Tucker as having operated his express for a short while in 1858, but we now believe this to be 1868 operating along the stage route north from Yreka into the area that is now Southern Oregon. Afterwards, he worked as a stage driver for other companies. This entire though proves that he must have gone into business for himself after 1864. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Wells Fargo & Co., S.S. Oregon Messenger. Violet oval handstamp (type 8-4) cancels 2¢ red entire to Portland Ore., printed Wells Fargo & Co. domestic frank and red San Francisco origin datestamp; reduced at right, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $100 - 150. Est. $100-150 (Image)

Est. $100-150

Tracy. &. Co. Express, Walla. Walla. Sharp bold strike of oval frank on legal-size orange cover front to Washington D.C. bearing two 10¢ green (68) singles tied by "New York, Aug 4, 1862" duplex, "Department of the Interior, Aug 5 1862, Pension Office" shield receiver; file folds affect 10¢ stamps, otherwise Very Fine, WC2882, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. TRA-101n; Estimate $200 - 300.

Although Isaac Mossman is generally acknowledged as the first expressman (with a known franking), E.W. Tacey, Wells Fargo & Co.'s agent in Oregon and Washington Territory from 1861 established his own express company and also extended the lines of Wells Fargo & Co. into the Nez Perces and Salmon River mining regions.

"The discovery of gold in 1860 at Pierce City created a boom in Walla Walla. There was no quick way to Pierce City. Mail from San Francisco came north by sea to Astoria, Oregon. Thence, by sternwheeler up the Columbia River to the Dalles, Oregon. Here everything had to be taken overland above Celilo Falls and put on another sternwheeler, Colonel Wright, to Old Lewistown, then Washington Territory." partially excerpted from La Posta May 2006. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300