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Quick Navigation by Category  The United States Civil War (1)   |  United States (473)   | 
 

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United States Postal History continued...

Western Express Covers
LotNo. Symbol CatNo. Lot Description
2021       image"Estill & Co Express". Manuscript endorsement on 1850 buff cover from along the overland trail addressed to Oskaloosa, Iowa, entered mails with "Weston Mo. Aug 16" cds and matching red "10" cents due handstamp, pencil "Jun 19 - 50" origin and manuscript "Received August 26th 1850" receipt docketing on reverse reveals a rather lengthy ten-day delay from Weston to Oskaloosa; few minor stains and cosmetic repairs, still Very Fine for a journey in a saddle bag.
Estimate; $5,000 - 7,500.

ONE OF ONLY SIX RECORDED COVERS ALL FROM THE ONE TRIP ARE KNOWN, TWO OF WHICH ARE ENSCONCED IN THE WELLS FARGO HISTORY ROOM WILTSEE COLLECTION.

Colonel James M. Estill made a single round-trip on the Oregon-to-California Trail between Weston, Missouri and Pacific Spring, in the Sweetwater River Valley of present day Wyoming. His idea was to promote a transcontinental express service in lieu of the US mail by collecting the mail along the emigrant trail for a fee of 50¢ per letter. Estill reportedly deposited 4000 letters into the US mail system at Weston, Missouri on Aug 16, 1850. Only a handful of Estill Express covers are known to survive, all sent collect 10¢. Accompanied by scanned newspaper clippings concerning the company and fees.

References: Pictured in Winter's "Nebraska Territory Postal History" on page 48. (Image1)

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

Est. $5,000-7,500
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction
2022       imageLangton's Pioneer Express/Marysville. Blue oval handstamp with 2nd strike with oval "Paid" applied over Marysville used as a provisional frank on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Timbuctoo, used in 1857, Very Fine and rare.
Estimate; $500 - 750. (Image1)

Est. $500-750
SOLD for $575.00
Will close during Public Auction
2023       imagePacific Express Co./Marysville. Blue oval handstamp with additional strike of oval "Paid" at center used as a frank on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire to San Francisco, second type Pacific Express Co./Marysville oval applied, flap missing, Very Fine, a rare cover with handstamp used as a provisional frank, ex-Barkhausen.
Estimate; $400 - 600. (Image1)

Est. $400-600
SOLD for $375.00
Will close during Public Auction
2024       imagePacific Express Co., Paid. Blue horse and rider frank (PAC-700) on cover addressed to Easingwold, England, franked with four margin 1855, 10¢ green, types III-IV-III three singles (15 & 16 position 86L1) affixed over express frank, all tied by "Sacramento City, Cal., Aug 4, 1857" cds's, red 3 credit handstamp and British "Paid, Sp 18, 1857" entry cds, receiving backstamp; stamps lifted and placed back, center type IV stamp with small flaws and cover with some edge wear, Very Fine appearance, with 2011 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

AN EXTREMELY RARE USAGE OF THE 1855 10¢ TYPE IV RECUT ISSUE ON COVER TO ENGLAND ON A PACIFIC EXPRESS CO. BLUE FRANK COVER.

This Pacific Express blue frank is very rare with only one example is listed in Thomas PAC-700 census. (Image1)

Est. $2,000-3,000
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction
2025       image(Pony Express) California Pony Express, Paid. Red oval handstamp of New York applied on 1860 3¢ Star Die entire and address to "Messrs Crosby & Dibbler" in San Francisco, manuscript directive "Pony Express" at bottom left and "Paid" at upper left, Pony Express pencil rate "500" indicating that the double $2.50 rate had been paid, oval handstamp of The Central Overland California & Pike's Peak Express Company, St. Joseph, Mo., Oct. 18 applied on the date of departure of the Westbound Pony arriving in San Francisco on October 30, 1860, flap missing and tiny mended tear at top, Extremely Fine.
Estimate; $7,500 - 10,000.

A STUNNING PONY EXPRESS COVER PAYING THE DOUBLE RATE DURING THE SECOND PERIOD FROM THE FAMOUS CROSBY-DIBBLER CORRESPONDENCE.

This is an outstanding usage with two very interesting features. Westbound Pony covers are rarer than eastbound with only twelve listed in the Frajola-Kramer-Walske census with the red New York oval "California Pony Express, Paid" handstamp. This cover demonstrates the under 3,000 miles loophole that allowed westbound mail to be sent in bundles from the East Coast to St. Joseph by mail with only 3¢ domestic postage prepaid. This loophole was closed by the Act of February 27, 1861 that eliminated the mileage provision and required 10¢ postage on any letter crossing the Rocky Mountains. (Image1)

Est. $7,500-10,000
SOLD for $5,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
2026       imagePony Express "Free W. H. Russell" Free Frank. Manuscript endorsement at upper left on 1860, 3¢ Star Die entire (U27) addressed to "Wm. A. Carter Esq., Fort Bridger, Utah" in Russell's hand, bold oval "The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, St. Joseph, Mo., Sep 30" origin date stamp, reverse with Carter's "Rec'd. Oct. 6th/60" docketing on reverse showing six days of travel from St. Joseph, Mo. to Fort Bridger, Utah Territory; cover opening reduction at right slightly into indicia and a few minor edge tears, F.-V.F., Frajola, Walske and Kramer census #W15A, illustrated in Coburn's Letters of Gold (page 254), ex-Haas & Kramer.
Estimate; $7,500 - 10,000.

ONE OF THREE WESTBOUND PONY EXPRESS COVERS RECORDED WITH THE PONY EXPRESS FOUNDER WILLIAM H. RUSSELL'S FREE FRANK SIGNATURE - ADDRESSED TO PROMINENT FORT BRIDGER BUSINESSMAN AND PONY EXPRESS STATION AGENT, WILLIAM A. CARTER.

This cover was sent to William Alexander Carter (1818-1881), who was born in Virginia and came to Fort Bridger with Johnston's army in 1857 during the so-called Utah War. Since goods and people traveling west passed through Fort Bridger, Carter was at the center of economic activities on the frontier. Making the most of his situation, Carter opened a general store. He carried on a brisk trade with soldiers, scientific expeditions, miners and mountaineers, Indians, and emigrants on the Overland Trail. He also served as postmaster, Pony Express agent, probate judge and justice of the peace until 1881. He was considered one the most important individuals at Fort Bridger at the time and was known as "Mr. Fort Bridger" and to many contemporaries Fort Bridger was "Carter's Fort". (Image1)

Est. $7,500-10,000
SOLD for $12,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
2027       imageReynolds & Co.'s Express. Black oval handstamp on 1850 cover postmarked New York/Dec 11/40 cds to San Francisco, small cover repair at bottom, Very Fine and superb strike of this scarce express company, ex-B. Pearce.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

This early express was started by Angevine Reynolds in January 1850. It ran from Sacramento and Stockton to the camps of the Southern Mines. (Image1)

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

Est. $750-1,000
SOLD for $600.00
Will close during Public Auction
2028       imageReynolds & Co.'s Express, San Francisco, Stockton & Sonora. Blue oval backstamp with matching "Not Paid" in oval handstamp on cover from Angouleme, France to San Francisco Cal., red "Angouleme 13 Juin '51" origin cds with "PD" and "P.P." framed handstamps with manuscript "2.80" 2fr80c paid rating on reverse for transit fees via Panama by West Indies route, red London (6.16) transit, carried by RMSPC Medway from Southampton Jun. 17 to Chagres arriving Jul. 11, San Francisco red "20" cents due rating, Extremely Fine, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED 28 DÉCIMES RATES VIA PANAMA TO CALIFORNIA WITH EXPRESS COMPANY HANDLING.

Letter endorsed for British route to Panama, a 2 Franc 80 centime rate for eight months only, and paid in cash (manuscript on reverse). Empire City Line steamer Constitution carried letter from Panama City to San Francisco. French prepayment was to Panama only leaving 20¢ postage due for American contract steamer transit to San Francisco. Letter carried from San Francisco to the northern gold fields by Reynolds & Co. Express for an additional charge of $1.00. (Image1) (Image2)

image

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

Est. $1,000-1,500
SOLD for $1,900.00
Will close during Public Auction
2029       imageRhodes & Whitney's Express/Weaverville. Bold blue oval handstamp on scarce 1853-55 6¢ green entire to San Francisco from the "Tandler" correspondence, part of flap torn away, Very Fine and attractive, a scarce usage of the 6¢ entire.
Estimate; $400 - 600. (Image1)

Est. $400-600
SOLD for $1,800.00
Will close during Public Auction
2030       image(Snowshoe Thompson) Carson Valley, U.T., May 6. Mostly clear strike of Utah Territory cds on 1855, 10¢ Nesbitt entire (U16) to Middletown R.I.; expert restoration at top, Extremely Fine appearance.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

Several covers were carried by Snowshoe Thompson's express from Carson Valley to Placerville during the winters of 1857-58 and 1858-1859. This cover would have been carried by Thompson from the Carson Valley post office in his role as a Chorpenning's sub-contractor for the mails, from Carson Valley to Placerville. See the article "Across the Sierra Nevada Mountains by Snow-Shoe" by Risvold and Frajola in Chronicle 215 (Aug. 2007, p. 201-211). (Image1)

Est. $500-750
SOLD for $3,750.00
Will close during Public Auction
2031       imageTomlinson & Co Express, Clear Creek. Exceptional strike of bold blue oval handstamp (TOM-400) on 1864 3¢ pink entire to Los Angeles, Cal., Extremely Fine and choice, the unique cover from this rare location in Southern California, ex-Lichtenstein, with 2009 A.P.S. certificate.
Estimate; $4,000 - 6,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED EXPRESS USAGE FROM TOMLINSON & CO. CLEAR CREEK EXPRESS.

This express ran from Los Angeles through Tehachepi to the Clear Creek mining district in Kern County. This is one of the mystery expresses in the 1940 Konwiser list that didn't show up until the final Lichtenstein sale in 2004. This is arguably the most important Southern California express cover. (Image1)

Est. $4,000-6,000
SOLD for $4,250.00
Will close during Public Auction
2032       imageWells, Fargo & Co. Express, S. Frco., Oct 30. Blue cds on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Roseburgh, Oregon, black printed frank at top and fancy "H. Sharp & Co." corner card at left, dropped at the Roseburgh post office with indistinct blue cds canceling indicia, Very Fine and choice, a lovely express usage in combination with printed advertising corner card.
Estimate; $300 - 400. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
SOLD for $300.00
Will close during Public Auction
2033       imageWells, Fargo & Co's, Mohave, Cal., Express. Exceptional strike of purple oval handstamp cancels 3¢ green entire to San Francisco Cal., printed black Wells Fargo paid frank, Extremely Fine and scarce strike, no doubt, one of the finest extant.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000. (Image1)

Est. $750-1,000
SOLD for $2,900.00
Will close during Public Auction
Western Covers
LotNo. Symbol CatNo. Lot Description
2034       image(New Mexico) Ft. Union, N.M., May 3, 1864. Manuscript postmark with matching "Pd 3c" rating on cover to Harrisonville, Mo., with original enclosure datelined "Ft. Union N.M., August 9th, 1864" with interesting content regarding the second and third fort…the Old & New forts are about a half mile a part yet both placed are in charge of one & the same Quarter Master. Capt Evans is the quarter master at this post, and interesting new regarding Indian troubles…The Indians have become very troublesome on the road & have robed several trains & killed some men last week. There was a train came in that lost 10 men out of the train that was killed by the indians & one came in to day that lost 2 men. This train fought the indians & prevented them from taking the train or any train stock. The Commander at this post sent 2 Companys down on the road to protect the trains & mail but I fear those solgers (soldiers) will not by sufficient to quel the Indians and…I fear the mail has been stopped between Harrisonville & Kansas City & am fearful that you all are in hot water in the States. The stage conducker (conductor) here says the indians have run off all the stage stock on the road between this place & Council Grove but 4 mules., Very Fine, a wonderful cover and letter from Fort Union, New Mexico.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000. (Image1) (Image2)

image

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

Est. $750-1,000
SOLD for $1,150.00
Will close during Public Auction
2035       image(New Mexico) "Tubac A.T. Dec 9". Manuscript Arizona Territory postmark applied by Postmaster Thomas M. Yerkes with matching "X" cancel on 3¢ rose (65), small flaws, on yellow cover to Gertrude Cranston, Lima, N.Y., endorsed "Via Santa Fe" at left (Routed to Prescott, then Santa Fe) up the Santa Fe trail; reduced slightly at left, fresh and Very Fine use, ex-Risvold.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

The Tubac Post Office was established on February 21, 1859 while then in Dona Ana County, New Mexico Territory. It became part of the Arizona Territory on February 24th, 1863. Tubac was an Indian village and was first garrisoned by the Spanish as early as 1752 with a fine Mission Church being built in those early years. During the history of Tubac four national flags Spain - Mexico - Confederate States and United States have flown over this small but important town. The area today has become one of Arizona's more important artist colonies. (Image1)

Est. $400-600
SOLD for $230.00
Will close during Public Auction
Railroad and Ship & Inland Waterway Covers
LotNo. Symbol CatNo. Lot Description
2036       image(Syracuse & Utica Railroad) RAIL ROAD. Red small letter straight line handstamp similar to the rare "RAIL ROAD. UTICA." marking (two known), on 1841 folded letter sheet from Utica to Bath, N.Y., blue manuscript "12½" rating, Very Fine and very scarce, ex-Hicks & Hahn.
Estimate; $500 - 750. (Image1)

Est. $500-750
SOLD for $600.00
Will close during Public Auction
2037     635 imageSteamer Illinois, Cleveland, Detroit & Lake Superior Line. Strong complete strike of red oval handstamp tying 1861, 3¢ rose (65) on cover to Detroit, Mich., entered the mails with "Detroit, Mich., Jun 26" cds additionally tying stamp, matching "Steamboat, Due 2 Cents" oval handstamp; some trivial cover soiling not mentioned on cert., Very Fine, a scarce packet marking and Detroit steamboat due marking, with 2022 P.F. certificate.
Milgram No. 635; Estimate $600 - 800. (Image1)

Get Market Data for [United States 635] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

Est. $600-800
SOLD for $550.00
Will close during Public Auction
2038       imageExamined at Halifax by Admiralty Prize Court 1806. Entire dated "Philadelphia le 12 aout 1806" and put onto the Ocean Gay for Bordeaux. Intercepted by the British Navy and taken to Halifax, Nova Scotia for examination by the Admiralty Prize Court. After examination reverse was endorsed "Ouverte á l’ Aumirautè de Halifax" and the letter was released with the ship. Arrived (from filing note) at Bordeaux 7th January 1807 to receive that offices "COLONIES PAR / BORDEAUX" stamp and charged 2 decimes being the ship letter rate for letters addressed to port of landing; some toning along horizontal file fold, Very Fine.
Estimate; $5,000 - 7,500.

During the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815) neutral America continued to trade with both Britain and France, as well as their ever-shifting European allies. The U.S. cartel ships sailed under flag of truce, which at least in theory protected them from both military attack and capture by the privateers who roamed the seas under letters of marque. They were, however, subject to being stopped and searched to ensure that they carried no prohibited cargo nor intelligence. This cover is an extremely rare example of censored mail from that era. (Image1)

Est. $5,000-7,500
SOLD for $6,250.00
Will close during Public Auction
Free Franks
LotNo. Symbol CatNo. Lot Description
2039       imageDaniel Webster. Free frank "Danl Webster, U.S. Senate" as State Senator from Massachusetts, on 1839 folded letter from Paris, France to his brother on La Salle, Ill., entered the mails with "Paris, 29 Oct, 39" origin cds, manuscript "pr. B. Queen via London" ship endorsement at lower left, red "Paid Ship Letter, London, 1 No, 1839" oval transit date stamp with magenta "2/-" rating and arched "Foreign Paid" handstamp at left, enter the U.S. mails with red "New York, Ship, Nov 24" entry cds, with lengthy 7½ letter enclosure; some minor tone spots, Very Fine.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

A RARE FREE FRANK USAGE FROM SENATOR DANIEL WEBSTER SENT FROM PARIS, FRANCE. (Image1)

Est. $750-1,000
SOLD for $800.00
Will close during Public Auction
2040       imageJames Monroe (1758-1831) 5th President of the United States, 1817-1825, Secretary of State 1811-1817. Free frank "Jas Monroe" as Secretary of State on circa 1816 folded cover endorsed "Dept of State" and addressed to Joel R. Poinsett, Philadelphia Pa., "Washn. City Jul 15" cds; no left flap, Very Fine and choice, ex-Richard Graham.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

The addressee, Joel Poinsett, was in South America 1809-1816. He also served in the South Carolina legislature 1816-20, U.S. Congress 1821-25 and Secretary of War 1837-41. (Image1)

Est. $750-1,000
SOLD for $850.00
Will close during Public Auction

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