36, 1857 12c Black, Plate 1, single tied by nice strike of blue "Pony Express, San Francisco, Nov. 10" Running Pony oval datestamp with an adjacent "Saint Joseph Nov 24" double circle arrival date stamp, addressed to "G.W. Schenkberg, Esq." on Broad St in NY City, ms "Pr Pony" at upper left, backstamped with a well struck black "Pony Express, St Joseph, Nov 23" Running Pony oval date stamp, lightweight envelope opened at top with couple of inconsequential edge breaks, Very Fine in every respect, one of just three Pony Express covers franked with the 1857/59 12c Black issue; 1966 Philatelic Foundation certificate

Carried on the eastbound trip that left San Francisco on November 10 and arrived at St. Joseph on November 23. FKW Census E39, Trip ET47.

Provenance: Judge Robert S. Emerson (Daniel F. Kelleher Sale 396, 1938)

Marc Haas (Private Transaction)

Louis Grunin (Christie's Robson Lowe, 1988)

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143L3, Wells, Fargo and Co. Pony Express, 1861 $1 Red, tied on 1860-61 10c Green on buff envelope with red Wells, Fargo Paid printed frank (U33) by strong strike of blue "Pony Express San Francisco Sep 11" (1861) Running Pony oval date stamp, indicial cancelled by "Atchison Kan Sep 23" double circle date stamp, addressed to "Henry Wetherbee" in Saratoga Springs NY and forwarded to NY City, well-struck "Saratoga Springs N.Y. Oct 4" date stamp and nice "Forwarded 3" handstamp (3c due for forwarding), docketing on back indicates letter received "Oct 5th/ 61", stamp clear to full margins top and right, margins to in the other sides, Very Fine and quite unusual with the auxiliary due marking (Scott $12,500)

The FKW census records only 25 covers sent through Atchison. The transcontinental railroad reached Atchison by September 1861 and from that point on it became the post office entry point for Pony Express mail. This cover was carried on the first trip utilizing the Atchison office as a transfer point for eastbound mail. FKW Census E159. Trip ET-134.

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Pony Express, St. Joseph. May 13 (1860), incredibly crisp and well-struck strike of the Running Pony oval handstamp on envelope, "Milton S. Latham U.S.S." free frank (government postage), addressed in his hand to "George Wallace/ Secretary to Mr. Downey/ Sacramento Cal." (California's Governor John Downey), also endorsed "Per Pony Express" in Latham's hand, additional ms "Paid $5.00", payment of Pony Express fee written in another hand, with original contents datelined "Washington, May 8/60" entirely in Latham's hand (interesting letter including comments on the 1860 Democratic Convention in Charleston which, in the end, failed to nominate a candidate), envelope neatly opened at top, Extremely Fine in every respect and with a magnificent strike of the famed "Running Pony" handstamp; one of six Pony Express covers signed by Sen. Latham and the only one on which there was express fee charged; illustrated in Nathan & Boggs "The Pony Express" on page 10. rnThis cover left St. Joseph on May 13 and arrived by Pony Express at Sacramento on May 24 and is one of the earliest westbound Pony covers recorded. FKW Census W3; Trip WT-7.rnMilton Latham (1827-82), previously a member of the House of Representatives and collector for the Port of San Francisco, was elected Governor of California at age 32 as a Lecompton (pro-Southern) Democrat, and his election to the office of Governor was opposed by those who feared that he would make California a pro-slavery state. Two days after Latham took the oath of office, the legislature agreed to elect him to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. Many believe that Latham ran for Governor because he wanted the available seat of Senator Broderick, who had been killed in a duel. When he took his seat in the Senate, Latham was its youngest member and served until 1863 but was unsuccessful in his bid for re-election. While there he was a strong supporter of the Pony Express and was one of the few individuals who could use the service free of charge.

John Downey (1827-94) was born in Ireland and came to be California's Governor after serving just five days as Milton Latham's Lt. Governor.

Provenance: Hall Collection (R.A. Siegel Sale 830, 2000)

Thurston Twigg-Smith (R.A. Siegel Sale 979, 2009)

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California Pony Express New-York Dec 1 (1860) clearly struck greenish-blue oval date stamp on 3c Red on buff envelope (U27), ms "Pony Express" at lower left, addressed to "Messrs Crosby & Dibbler" in San Francisco, small ms"2.50"(rate) adjacent to indicia, backside with well-struck "Pony Express/ St Joseph/ Dec 6" oval Running Pony handstamp in black, envelope opened and slightly reduced at left, light corner bend and a tiny scuff lower right corner, Very Fine, only 12 westbound Pony Express covers carry the California Pony Express dated handstamp with this being the earliest recorded

This cover demonstrates a loophole that allowed westbound mail to be sent in bundles from the East Coast to St. Joseph by mail with only 3c domestic postage (rather than 10c for over 3,000 miles) prepaid. This loophole was eliminated in the Act of February 27, 1861 and required 10c postage on any letter crossing the Rockies.

FKW Census W25; Trip WT59.

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143L7, Wells, Fargo & Co., Virginia City Pony Express, 1862-64 10c Brown, vertical block of six, unused, ample to large margins, Extremely FinernProvenance: Hall Collection (R.A. Siegel Sale 830, 2000)

Thurston Twigg-Smith (R.A. Siegel Sale 979, 2009)

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143L8, Wells, Fargo & Co., Virginia City Pony Express, 1862-64 25c Dark blue, vertical block of eight, pos D3-4/5-6/7-8/9-10, deep rich color, unused, full to huge margins, a tiny spot on one stamp, still Extremely Fine

Provenance: Hall Collection (R.A. Siegel Sale 830, 2000)

Thurston Twigg-Smith (R.A. Siegel Sale 979, 2009)

Get Market Data for [United States Collection]

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143L8, Wells, Fargo & Co., Virginia City Pony Express, 1862-64 25c Dark blue, position B6, tied by splendid strike of blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Express/Aurora" oval handstamp which also cancels the 3c Pink entire (U34), Wells Fargo & Co. printed frank, addressed to "Clara C. Crittenden" in San Francisco from her son Howard (a mill superintendent in Aurora), stamp clear to ample margins, envelope opened at bottom and tiny sealed edge tear at right, Very Fine and choice cover from the famed Crittenden correspondence (Scott $4,750)

Provenance: "D.K." Collection (R.A. Siegel Sale 862, 2003)

Thurston Twigg-Smith (R.A. Siegel Sale 979, 2009)

Get Market Data for [United States Pony Express]

143L8, Wells, Fargo & Co., Virginia City Pony Express, 1862-64 25c Dark blue, position B6, tied by splendid strike of blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Express/Aurora" oval handstamp which also cancels the 3c Pink entire (U34), Wells Fargo & Co. printed frank, addressed to "Clara C. Crittenden" in San Francisco from her son Howard (a mill superintendent in Aurora), stamp clear to ample margins, envelope opened at bottom and tiny sealed edge tear at right, Very Fine and choice cover from the famed Crittenden correspondence (Scott $4,750)

Provenance: "D.K." Collection (R.A. Siegel Sale 862, 2003)

Thurston Twigg-Smith (R.A. Siegel Sale 979, 2009)

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Wells, Fargo & Co., Die Proof for 1897 Reprint in black, composite proof, 10c frame only adjacent to full $1 design, additional numerals at each side, slightly reduced at left, still Fine and rare.

Provenance: Hall Collection (R.A. Siegel Sale 830, 2000)

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Wells, Fargo & Co., 10c-$4 Pony Express, 1897 Reprint black plate proof on wove, the complete sheet of 25 with the $4 values in first column defaced, vertical creases through 25c and $1 columns, margin reduced at top, Very Fine

Provenance: Hall Collection (R.A. Siegel Sale 830, 2000)

Thurston Twigg-Smith (R.A. Siegel Sale 979, 2009)

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Athens, Georgia; 5X2, 5c Red, Type II, single with bright color tied on folded letter datelined "Athens GA April 8th 1862" addressed to "Messrs. Wilcox & Hand" in Augusta Ga, tied by black circular grid with a matching "Athens Ga Paid Apr 8" date stamp, stamp clear to large marginscover with a horizontal file fold well away from stamp, Very Fine and choice; signed "Guaranteed by Stanley Ashbrook"; one of the finest of the six covers and one "half-cover" recorded franked with the 5c Red provisional (Scott $17,500, CSAHandbook ATH-GA-A05 B, $10,000)

Provenance: Stephen D. Brown (Harmer, Rooke London, 1939)

Harold C. Brooks (Laurence & Stryker, 1943)

Baton Rouge, Luisiana, 11X1, 2c Green, stamp with full balanced margins except (an inconsequential nick barely into design at left) tied on drop letter cover by "Baton Rouge La May 12" date stamp, ms. "Point Couple Light Artillery" return address, contents of the enclosed letter (mended splits) indicates envelope was carried by favor from Memphis and placed in the mails at Baton Rouge, cover nearly separated and shows effects of fire, stamp a light wrinkle, overall a Fine and rare use as only five covers are recorded franked with the 2c Green with this example not listed in Crown (Scott $50,000)

The letter, datelined "Fort Pillow" from a Confederate soldier to his parents, tells of skirmishes with the "yankies" including "The mortar boats lay around the point throwing shells every half hour but doing little damages" and sadness at the news of the fall of New Orleans, indicating the letter was written in 1862. The naval battle at Fort Pillow took place on May 10, 1862between ships of the Confederate River Defense Fleet, which consisted of a number of wooden sidewheel paddleboats converted to naval rams, and ships of the Union Mississippi River Squadron, which consisted of a number of ironclads, approximately four miles above Fort Pillow, Tennessee.

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Beaumont, Texas, 12X3, 10c Black on yellow, the celebrated "Large Beaumont" affixed and very faintly cancelled on yellow envelope addressed to Liberty, Texas, fair strike of "Beaumont Tex" round handstamp at lower left, stamp with large to huge margins, cover slightly reduced at left, the stamp has been moved down slightly from the top edge, the envelope and stamp have been professionally restored to remove gum toning from the stamp, some toning spots mostly in the address area and paper erosion in the lower left corner of the envelope, Very Fine appearance, Caspary's handwritten purchase notation (1929) and "R.H.W. Co." handstamp on back, unique and, in the words of Herbert Bloch when describing this cover in the Caspary sale, "One of the most outstanding items in the collection" (Scott $90,000, CSA Handbook BEA-TX-A03, $75,000)

Of all the icons of Confederate philately—and there are many—the “Large Beaumont” cover might be the most important (or certainly the most famous). Listed amongst Life magazine’s “World’s Rarest Stamps” in 1954, the unique Beaumont provisional stamp on yellow paper measuring 20 by 30mm is wholly unique on or off cover. It was introduced to the philatelic world in an article by George Walcott in the July 1923 of the Collectors Club Philatelist. Since then it has been owned by a number of the most prominent collectors, not just of Confederate material but of worldwide stamps.

As detailed in Charles Deaton’s The Great Texas Stamp Collection, the Beaumont provisionals were issued by postmaster Alexander Hinkle, a Methodist minister who was appointed to the position on December 5, 1863. During his 15-month tenure he issued stamps in two different designs—the plain “Small Beaumont” on yellow and pink paper and the more ornate “Large Beaumont” on yellow paper. After the discovery of the “Large Beaumont” amongst the papers of Colonel William B. Duncan and its subsequent presentation by Walcott to the Collectors Club (where he noted that “nothing received quite as much attention”), the stamp immediately became famed and iconic. For philatelists in the early 20th century the “Large Beaumont” on pink became something of a holy grail, although ultimately no examples ever turned up, leaving the “Large Beaumont” on yellow paper completely unique.

It was believed that after changing hands numerous times between the 1920s and 1990s the “Large Beaumont” may have been amongst a group of stamps stolen from the late John R. Hill, Jr.’s collection in the late 1990s. At the time Charles Deaton wrote his wonderful book, this cover was still believed to be missing, alongside other icons of Confederate philately. Fortunately, the “Large Beaumont” was safely residing in Germany at the time of the theft. After decades off the market, we are honored and humbled to allow a new collector to own this veritable icon.

Get Market Data for [United States (Confederate States) 12X3]

Charleston, South Carolina, 16X1, 5c Blue, eye-catching horizontal pair tied on envelope by "Charleston S.C. Nov. 5 1861" postmark addressed to "Col. Pettigrew/ 124th N.C. Regiment/ Evansport Va", well margined stamps with nearly full dividing lines each side, some light docketing at left, Very Fine in every respect, the Calhoun census records just four covers franked with a pair of the provisional, pictured in Crown "Surveys of the Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals" (Quarterman edition, page 64) (Scott $5,000, CSA Handbook CHA-SC-A01, $5,000)

Col James Pettigrew joined the 12th North Carolina Regiment (later renamed the 22nd) when the war began, seeing service in Charleston during April of 1861. From September 1861 to March 1862 (period in which he received this letter) he was stationed on the lower Potomac, becoming a Brig. General in February of 1862, one of the few general officers at that early period who had been neither a U.S. Army officer nor an influential politician. Pettigrew was severely wounded and captured soon after during the Seven Pines campaign of May/ June 1862. In July 1863, Pettigrew led the charge up the left side of Cemetery Ridge (part of "Pickett's Charge") at Gettysburg, his division suffering staggering losses, losing 90% of his men. A week later, he died from wounds received in Maryland during the Confederate retreat.

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer, Sale 989, 1956)

Christianburg, Virginia, 99XU4, 5c Green on U.S. Envelope U27, green sawtooth-box "Paid 5 Cents." handstamp with matching green June 18 circular date stamp on 3c Red star die entire (U27) to Doublin, Virginia, neatly opened at left, envelope light corner bend lower left and tiny edge breaks at bottom of no consequence, still Extremely Fine and believed to be unique, this cover served as the basis for the Scott Catalogue listing, an exceptional piece of Confederate postal history that has not been offered in decades (Scott $4,500; CSA Handbook CHR-VA-E03, $3,500)

Provenance: Marc Haas (Private Transaction)

Brian Green (Richard Frajola Sale 30, 1986)

1982 Rarities of the World (Robert A. Siegel Sale 596, 1982)

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Danville, Virginia, 21XU1, 5c Black, entire with the elaborate design in the upper left corner and addressed to Cobham, Virginia yet appears to be unused as there is no postmark or trace of a removed stamp, neatly opened at left, professionally restored to remove some light soiling/ aging spots and some edge faults; Very Fine appearance (Scott $7,000 for used, CSA Handbook DAN-VA-A01, $10,000 for used)

Provenance: Weill Brothers (Christies NY, 1989)

Danville, Virginia, 21XU1 var., 10c Red on orange unissued provisional, entire with design in upper left corner, adhesive stamp and bit of envelope removed from the upper right leaving portion of a town date stamp but otherwise the corner is mostly intact (scarce thus), addressed to Lynchburg, Virginia, some faint toning and tiny bit of lower left corner off, still Very Fine and scarce (about 15 examples recorded) use of a provisional envelope with the added stamp paying the actual postage - noted as such in a Scott footnote; Philatelic Foundation certificate #243688 does not accompany

Provenance: Weill Brothers (Christies NY, 1989)