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The John Drew Collection of Arizona Postal History continued...

Mail Routes continued...
LotNo. Symbol CatNo. Lot Description
641       image(Desert Dispatch) Los Angeles, Cal, March. Bold cds (LOS-5670, R5) with matching "Paid 3" in circle handstamp, overstruck with "Paid 6" handstamp, on circa 1855-56 buff cover addressed to Lieut. Du Barry at Fort Yuma, "via San Diego" routing endorsement, Very Fine, ex-Knapp.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

A RARE USAGE TO FORT YUMA CARRIED BY U.S. MAIL AND THE "DESERT DISPATCH".

Carried by U.S. Mail between LA and San Diego. At that point the U.S. Mail service turned it over to a military express or to the Desert Dispatch express that operated between Fort Yuma and San Diego as no mail service was establish between the two locations. Samuel Warnock and Joseph Swycaffer, retired U.S. Army, accepted a contract to carry mail and government dispatches from Old Town San Diego to Fort Yuma, and back. This was the earliest private mail express to New Mexico Territory (Arizona Territory in 1863) from the West.

Fort Yuma was established in 1852 to protect settlers and to keep the Southern Emigration route safe. It was located on the eastern side of the Colorado River with corrals, shops and government storehouses, etc. It was the grand depot for all posts in Arizona Territory. The Yuma post office was established on October 16, 1866. The Wells Fargo & Co. station at Fort Yuma was located in the Hinton & Hooper Store in Yuma City. The military records show Fort Yuma as being in California, the U.S. Government records show Fort Yuma as being in Arizona Territory until 1874 when the old fort was determined to be in California.

References: Illustrated in "By Way of Desert Dispatch or Military Express", Oscar Thomas, Western Express, Sep. 2016, pp. 49. (Image1)

Est. $1,000-1,500
SOLD for $1,050.00
Will close during Public Auction
642       image(Incoming Mail) Santa Cruz, Cal, 28 Mar. Sharp cds on cover bearing 3¢ rose (65), two strikes of leaf cancel, on cover addressed to William H. Russell at Hardyville, Arizona Territory over mail route 17201 via San Bernardino, forwarded back to Los Angeles via San Bernardino, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

Due to the Confederate Army occupation of Arizona in 1862, there was no U.S. mail delivery. The U.S. Army established a Military Express between Arizona and the major post office at Los Angeles, Cal. (April 1862 to 1865) to carry this mail. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction
643       image(Jackass Mail) "Office of the San Antonio and San Diego Mail Line, San Diego, Mar 23rd 1858". Datelined folded letter settling of moneys due as the result of the death of James E. Birch and the closing down of his stage line between San Diego and Tucson on the "Jackass Mail" route; some light staining at top, otherwise Very Fine and excellent collateral item.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

James E. Birch Stage Line (1849-51) was the earliest stage line from Coloma Ca. to Sacramento Cal. In 1853, Birch established the California Stage Line, and later, the California-Arizona Stage Line. In 1857, Birch founded the San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line, also known as the Jackass Mail. It was the earliest overland stage coach and mail operation from the Eastern United States to California.

On July 9, 1857, just 17 days after Birch concluded his contract, the first mail left San Diego. Birch died at sea while the first mail was still en-route. His mail contract was transferred to Giddings and Doyle. The service to Fort Yuma was taken over by the Butterfield Overland Mail Co. on September 20, 1858. (Image1)

Est. $400-600
SOLD for $500.00
Will close during Public Auction
Arizona Expresses - Arizona & N.M. to Tucson and Tombstone Stage Line
LotNo. Symbol CatNo. Lot Description
644     ARI-001 imageArizona & New Mexico Express Co. Black company frank on 3¢ green (U163) entire canceled by perfect blue "A. & N.M. Ex. Co., Prescott. A.T., Mar 17" oval (ARI-100a) to San Francisco, Cal.; reduced slightly at right, Extremely Fine and choice, ex-Emerson, Darlington, Dike, Jarrett, Tatham.
Thomas Nos. ARI-001; Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.

THE FINEST ARIZONA & NEW MEXICO EXPRESS CO. USE.

In March of 1875, several newspapers reported the establishment of a new stage and express service that operated across Arizona and New Mexico. Henry Wells was listed as President and the General Superintendent was his son, Charles H. Wells. Stock certificates were created, a company was formed and line operations began to take shape. In late December 1875 or January 1876, this stage and express service started to operate over a route between Prescott, Phoenix, Tucson and the Terminus of the Southern Pacific Railroad. Despite its name, the company never got as far as New Mexico. By 1876 the express folded due to lack of funding, having lost its usefulness as the railroad pushed further east. (Image1)

Get Market Data for [United States ARI-001] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

Est. $3,000-4,000
SOLD for $4,250.00
Will close during Public Auction
645     ARI-001 imageArizona & New Mexico Express Co. Printed franked frank on 6¢ vermilion (U181a) legal-size entire canceled by partial blue "Wells Fargo & Co., Los Angeles, May 10" oval to San Francisco Cal.; restored top left corner, light soiling, Fine and rare, The only recorded 6¢ entire with the printed Arizona & New Mexico Express Co.
Thomas Nos. ARI-001; Estimate $400 - 600.

Oscar Thomas reported this cover was sent from Tucson, A.T. by Company Director James C. Truman addressed to J. G. Rowland, the Vice President of the Arizona & New Mexico Express Co. (Image1)

Get Market Data for [United States ARI-001] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

Est. $400-600
SOLD for $475.00
Will close during Public Auction
646       image(Arizona and New Mexico Express Co.) "Tubac A.T. Feb. 11th 1875". Manuscript Arizona Territory postmark cancels 3¢ green entire to J.C. Truman, care C.H. Wells, Supt. A & N.M. Ex Co., Tucson, Arizona, endorsed "C.H. W., Please forward to Truman if you know his address, J.C.S."; reduced slightly at left, restored at right, F.-V.F. appearance.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Letter from Tubac, Arizona Territory where the Salero Mining Co. were reopening 44 old mines discovered and worked by Jesuit Missionaries in the early 1700. Letter sent by J.c. Schemerhorn, who was superintendent of the Salero Mining Co. to J.C. Truman, Director of the Arizona & New Mexico Express and the Managing Director of the Salero Mining Co. C.H. Wells, son of Henry Wells, the President of both the Arizona & New Mexico Express Co. and the Salero Mining Co. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
SOLD for $350.00
Will close during Public Auction
647       image"From the Miner Office/via Dukes Express". Manuscript express endorsement at top right on cover to Charles City, Iowa, entered mails bearing pen canceled 3¢ rose (65) and matching "Wilmington Cal, Aug 22 - 64" postmark, pencil "Free" notation at left; small stamp flaws, some edge wear and reduced slightly at right, Very Fine and rare.
Estimate; $5,000 - 7,500.

THE ONLY RECORDED COVER CARRIED BY L. DUKES & CO.'S EXPRESS.

L. Dukes was a Jewish sutler who served the Fort Mojave garrison beginning in 1863. When the steamships did not make it upriver to the fort with supplies, Duke's store was very popular among the soldiers. Expanding his entrepreneurial activities, he decided to go into the express business. He chose to take the Mojave Road northwest out of Prescott to Fort Mojave.

As advertised in the July 20, 1864 Arizona Miner, L. Dukes and Co. Express was planned to leave Prescott about the 1st and 16th and Mojave on the 10th and 25th of the month. At Fort Mojave, Dukes Express would connect with a government express assigned to carry the mail across the Mojave Desert and on to Los Angeles. The ad named Rev. H.W. Read, Postmaster as the Prescott agent for Dukes. One of the first private express companies within Arizona Territory carrying letters and other mail, L. Dukes & Co. operated from July 26, 1864 until a U.S. Mail Contract began on March 1, 1865 after which service was discontinued.

The sender of this cover was Tisdale Hand, editor of the Arizona Miner, back to his future wife Mary D. Cheney in Iowa.

References: "Tisdale Hand, L. Dukes, and Prescott's Dukes Express cover" by Marjory J. Sente, The Roadrunner, Vol. 35, No. 3, August 2020, pp. 8-10. (Image1)

Est. $5,000-7,500
SOLD for $3,250.00
Will close during Public Auction
648       imageFort Whipple, Arizona, Apr. 26, 1864. / By Military Express. } Red two-line handstamp at left on legal-size "Territory of Arizona, Office of the Governor" imprint cover to Washington D.C. with manuscript "Las Cruces N.M., May 14 /64" postmark and matching ms. cancelling 3¢ rose (65) pair and single, faults, prepaying three-times the 3¢ letter rate; edge flaws, Fine and rare use.
Estimate; $3,000 - 4,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED RED STRIKE OF THE EXTREMELY RARE FORT WHIPPLE TWO-LINE MILITARY EXPRESS DATESTAMP.

Only one other example of this Fort Whipple Military Express datestamp is reported, also incompletely struck in black.

There is another Las Cruces N.M. use dated Apr. 30th 1864 (Dike Collection, Frajola sale 18, lot 443) with a descriptive letter headed "Fort Whipple, Arizona" that mentions "We have no mail facilities and … have to send out an express". (Image1)

Get Market Data for [United States Collection] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

Est. $3,000-4,000
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction
649       imagePacific Union Express Co., Yuma, A.T. Blue "Yuma, A.T." cds and matching with target cancel 3¢ pink (U58) entire with red "Pacific Union Express Co." printed frank to Auburn Cal.; reduced at left with small repair top left, otherwise Very Fine and rare use, ex-Birkinbine.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED PACIFIC UNION EXPRESS FRANK USED FROM ARIZONA TERRITORY.

Pacific Union Express briefly expanded their service territory to Yuma. Their office was located in the Hooper & Whiting Mercantile Company Store. (Image1)

Est. $2,000-3,000
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction
650     PED-002 imagePedro Aguirre & Co. Black printed frank with six-horse stage below on 2¢ red (U232) entire canceled by "Tucson, Ariz. Mar 11, 1884" duplex to Harrisburg Pa., Mar. 22nd arrival backstamp; tiny corner flaw bottom left, some soiling and stain spot, Fine and exceptionally rare.
Thomas Nos. PED-002; Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED USED EXAMPLE OF THIS PEDRO AGUIRRE & CO. PAID EXPRESS FRANK.

In 1873 gold was discovered south of Arivaca near the Mexican border which led to a Gold Rush in that area. This led Pedro Aguirre in 1878 to start a route of stages and mail service from Tucson to Arivaca and then south to the Oro Blanco mining camp. This continued until he sold the company in 1886 and retired. (Image1)

Get Market Data for [United States PED-002] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

Est. $3,000-4,000
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction
651     PED-001 imagePedro Aguirre & Co. Printed frank on paste-up 3¢ green (U63) entire with pencil "Logan City" address, part of buff envelope adhered on reverse; reduced slightly at left and couple minor stain spots, F.-V.F. and rare printed frank.
Thomas Nos. PED-001; Estimate $200 - 300.

Pedro Aguirre (1835-1907) was a Mexican by birth, frontier refugee by political turmoil, and American by the Gadsden Purchase. Aguirre, in spite of Apache depredations and the death of his elder brother, ran a freighting, stagecoaching, and mail contract empire south and west of Tucson from 1878 to 1886. (Image1)

Get Market Data for [United States PED-001] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

Est. $200-300
SOLD for $400.00
Will close during Public Auction
652     TON-400 imageTombstone and Oso Negro Stage Line, Sime Gallen, Proprietor. Fancy ribbon frank on 2¢ green on amber entire canceled by "Tombstone Ariz., Jul 12, 1890" cds to Utica N.Y., docketed "Ans July 21/90" at left; tiny corner tear, otherwise Very Fine and rare.
Thomas Nos. TON-400; Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.

THE EARLIEST OF ONLY TWO RECORDED USED EXAMPLES OF THE TOMBSTONE AND OSO NEGRO STAGE LINE FRANK.

Sime (Samuel) Gallen was a teamster who worked at Virginia City, Nevada and Bodie, California. He came to Tombstone, Arizona Territory in 1884. Gallen established his stage line to the Oso Negro Silver Mine near Santa Rosa, Sonora, Mexico in 1890. This 120-mile stage line lasted only a few months.

This cover was carried by Gallen's Stage Line from the Oso Negro Mine to Tombstone where connecting with the mails. (Image1)

Get Market Data for [United States TON-400] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

Est. $3,000-4,000
SOLD for $2,300.00
Will close during Public Auction
653     TUP-400 imageTucson and Patagonia Express. Ingram & Co., Proprietors. Printed frank on 3¢ green (U163) entire canceled by bluish-black "Harshaw, Pima Co., Ariz., Jul 18, 1880" cds duplexed with target cancel to Warrensburgh N.Y., some edge wear, Very Fine, Census #WC6470.
Thomas Nos. TUP-400; Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

THE FINEST OF ONLY TWO RECORDED USED EXAMPLES OF THIS EXCEEDINGLY RARE TUCSON & PATAGONIA EXPRESS FRANK.

A partnership between John Delamore Kinnear and H.C. Walker had resulted in a stage company that ran between Tucson and Tombstone, Arizona Territory. This affair ended around 1881 and each partner formed his own stage line that ran over the same route. It is believed that John Kinnear formed the Tombstone & Patagonia stage line when the partnership with Walker ended that ran from Tucson, Pantano, Benson, Harshaw, Tombstone and Patagonia in Arizona Territory. He competed with John Kinnear's Arizona Mail & Stage Company. The Souther Pacific Railroad construction train reached Tucson, Pantano & Benson by late 1880. By November 1882, there was a regular railroad service between Benson, and the Gulf of Mexico (Guaymas). The railroad, with Wells Fargo, took over the express business in Arizona. (Image1)

Get Market Data for [United States TUP-400] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

Est. $2,000-3,000
SOLD for $2,200.00
Will close during Public Auction
654     TUT-400 imageTucson and Tombstone Stage Line, Stage and Express Business, J.D. Kinnear, Proprietor. Illustrated four-horse stagecoach frank on 3¢ green (U164) entire canceled by "Tucson Ariz. Feb 22" cds duplex to Providence R.I., Mar. 3rd arrival backstamp; small edge flaws and wear, Very Fine and rare, Census #WC6480, ex Dale-Lichtenstein, Whitington.
Thomas Nos. TUT-400; Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS TUCSON AND TOMBSTONE STAGE LINE FRANK, THE ONLY EXAMPLE CANCELED AT TUCSON.

John Delamore Kinnear and H. C. Walker established a stage company which ran between Tucson and Tombstone, Arizona Territory. This affair ended around 1881 and each partner formed his own stage company that ran over the same route. It is believed that John Kinnear formed the Tucson & Tombstone and the Tombstone & Patagonia stage lines when the partnership with Walker ended. At first, service over the 95 mile route between Tucson and Tombstone ran four times a week with a through time of about 17 hours. Times on this route were later reduced to less than 14 hours as roads improved. In early 1883, Kinnear sold his stage lines to Robert Crouch & Company. (Image1)

Get Market Data for [United States TUT-400] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

Est. $3,000-4,000
SOLD for $2,600.00
Will close during Public Auction
Arizona Expresses - Wells, Fargo & Co.: A-N Towns
LotNo. Symbol CatNo. Lot Description
655       imageWells, Fargo & Co's Express, Ash Fork, Ariz. Faulty black on red label affixed and blue "Wells Fargo Co's Express, 25" intaglio handstamp on cover with preprinted address to J.R. Garrett, Marysville, Cal., Fine, The only recorded Wells Fargo use from Ash Fork.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

R. Holloran was the Wells Fargo agent (1883) in Ash Fork in Yavapai County. Garrett & Elder was a groceries and liquors merchant located on 144 3rd Street in the 1882 and 1886 Marysville census. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
SOLD for $280.00
Will close during Public Auction
656       imageWells, Fargo & Co's Express, Benson, A.T., Sep 5, 1883. Bold magenta oval cancels 3¢ green entire with black "Wells Fargo & Co." paid frank to Whitewater station, N.M. Territory; reduced at right, a Very Fine strike of the Benson, Arizona Territory oval.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

George H. Davis was the Wells Fargo agent of Benson, Cochise County in 1883. (Image1)

Est. $500-750
SOLD for $500.00
Will close during Public Auction
657       imageWells, Fargo & Co's Express, Bowie, A.T. Purple oval cancels 2¢ brown entire with printed "Wells, Fargo & Co's Express" frank to Tombstone, Arizona Territory; repaired top edge faults, F.-V.F. appearance.
Estimate; $400 - 600. (Image1)

Est. $400-600
SOLD for $375.00
Will close during Public Auction
658       imageWells, Fargo & Co's Express, "Bowie, A.T." . Black on orange express label with town handstamp, used on 2¢ carmine entire with printed "Wells, Fargo & Co's Express" 1883 Train frank to El Paso, Texas, manuscript "Col. 2" express rating, reverse with magenta "Wells, Fargo & Co's Express, El Paso, Tex. Jan 3, 1884" receiving oval; entire repaired at right, Fine appearance.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

Bowie, Arizona Territory, Cochise County was named for Col. George W. Bowie of the Fifth California Infantry Volunteers. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
SOLD for $190.00
Will close during Public Auction
659       imageWells, Fargo & Co's Express, "Brisbee, A.T." . Black on orange label with town handstamp, affixed on 2¢ Columbian (U349) entire with blue printed 1892 Wells Fargo Columbian frank to San Francisco Cal., blue "Wells, Fargo & Co's Express, San Francisco, Cal., Mar 7" arrival oval; reduced slightly at right, Very Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1)

Est. $150-200
SOLD for $450.00
Will close during Public Auction
660       image(Wells Fargo & Co.) Buenos Ayres, Jun 14, 1901 (Pima). Cds (Meyer 2) on 2¢ brown on amber entire to St. Louis with black "Wells Fargo & Co.'s Express" express frank at top, reverse with Tucson (1.18) transit and St. Louis (6.22) arrival cds; some edge wear and bit of back flap missing, F.-V.F., the only known express use from Buenos Ayres.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

In 1864, Pedro Aguirre Jr. established a homestead on the Grasslands near the present-day City of Arivaca, A.T. He dug a well and built an artificial lake for irrigation purposes. He called his ranch Buenos Ayres (Good Winds). The ranch expanded over time to include rooms For Rent, a School House (built in 1879), Cooks Quarters, and a Post Office (1892-1903 Mrs Beatriz Aguirre P.M.). By the Fall of 1879, he was running 15,000 Head of Sheep. In 1878, he established his Stage Line and in 1883 He Purchased a New twenty-two passenger Concord Stage For the Tucson-Arivaca Route. Aguirre extended his stage line an additional 60 Miles From Tucson to Quijotoa in 1884.

Pedro Aguirre Jr. died February 21, 1907 in Tucson at 72 years old. His Daughters sold the Buenos Ayres Ranch. Today the Buenos Ayres 119,341 Acre Ranch is owned and operated by the united States Department of Interior as a Wildlife Refuse. (Image1)

Est. $750-1,000
SOLD for $550.00
Will close during Public Auction

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