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Quick Navigation by Category  The Dr. James Milgram Collection of Western Postal (204)   |  United States (550)   | 
 

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The Dr. James Milgram Collection of Western Postal History continued...

Western Express - Group Lots
LotNo. Symbol CatNo. Lot Description
981       imageWells, Fargo & Co. Express, Outstanding Collection. A wonderful group of 130 Wells, Fargo & Co. Express covers mainly from California, however a few are noted from Nevada, a large number of scarce and rare towns are included, the overall condition is well above and the strikes are generally clear and bold, Very Fine.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

A GREAT LOT FOR THE SPECIALIST WHICH NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED TO BE APPRECIATED.

Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (115MB). (Image1) (Image2) (Image3) (Image4) (Image5) (Image6) (Image7) (Image8) (Image9)

image image

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

Est. $2,000-3,000
Selling for...$1,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
982       imageWestern Express Balance Lot. Small lot of 11 covers (all but one are Postal Entires), express companies including Bamber, Hinckley, Langton's, Northern Pacific, Wells, Fargo & Co., "Wheeler, Rutherford", Whiting, noted in one cover carried by three different express companies (Langton's, Wells, Fargo & Co. & Bamber), some faults, Fine, please inspect.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (14MB). (Image1)

Est. $300-400
Selling for...$150.00
Will close during Public Auction
983       imageWestern Express Covers Balance. Lot of 5 covers: 1.) Cherokee Express, Paid, mostly clear blue oval handstamp on cover to Oroville Cal. franked with manuscript cancelled 1861 3¢; reduced at right, substantial repairs on three sides, heavy horizontal crease, still a scarce express company; 2.) a second Cherokee Express Paid handstamp cover (two strikes) with partial "Wells Fargo Oroville" conjunctive oval, opened and repaired very crudely at right including about 90% of indicium replacement; 3.) Wells, Fargo & Co., Sac Messenger handstamp on cover to Weaverville; 4.) Penny Post San Francisco black circular handstamp repaired cover; 5.) damaged cover (indicium or stamp cut away from envelope) addressed to Panama N.G. per J. L. Stephens (steamer) with Hawes & Co.'s Express SF & NY handstamp on verso; examination of lot suggested, Very Good to Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (1.6MB). (Image1)

Est. $300-400
Selling for...$150.00
Will close during Public Auction
Transcontinental Railroad
LotNo. Symbol CatNo. Lot Description
984       imageCent. Pacific R.R., Aug 11. Partial strike of cds on 3¢ pink (U58) entire with red "Paid, Pacific Union Express Co." printed ribbon frank to La Crosse Wisc.; very light wear, Fine and scarce railroad use.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

As the Union Pacific Railroad was building track from Omaha City westwards, the Central Pacific Railroad was building track eastwards from Sacramento. The Pacific Union Express Co. had a close working relationship with the Central Pacific Railroad. Apparently, this letter was carried by Pacific Union Express to the Central Pacific Railroad, which carried it to the eastern railhead, and subsequently placed in the mails to Wisconsin. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
Selling for...$100.00
Will close during Public Auction
985     U58 imageEnvelope, 1864, Nesbitt 4th Issue, 3¢ pink. Partial strike of cds on 3¢ pink (U58) entire with red "Paid, Pacific Union Express Co." printed ribbon frank to New York, origination light black manuscript postmark "Ukiah [Oregon] Nov 19" with blue merchant handstamp receiving mark upper left; light wear, small piece of backflap missing, F.-V.F.
Scott No. U58; Estimate $200 - 300. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
Selling for...$100.00
Will close during Public Auction
986       image[Central Pacific Railroad] Newcastle C.P.R.R., Jun 30, 1871. Blue double-circle cds on 3¢ green entire with Wells Fargo printed frank to San Francisco, Very Fine and scarce railroad station, Towle No. 976-S-4, Rarity V.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

A total of five Station Agent date stamps are recorded in use between Sacramento City and Ogden by Towle in the 1870s, these being at Newcastle, Penryn, Pino, Tacoma & Verdi. Wells Fargo envelope put onto Route 14701 at Newcastle to be carried 32 miles south west to Sacramento. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
Selling for...$100.00
Will close during Public Auction
987       image[Ephemera], The Central Route from Chicago to San Francisco. Thin cardboard poster 5¾" x 11¼" promoting this route as being 500 miles shorter and says to take the "Chicago and Northwestern Railway from Chicago", etc.; all four corners with repairs, lovely Fine appearance.
Estimate; $100 - 150. (Image1)

Est. $100-150
Selling for...$50.00
Will close during Public Auction
988     U59 imageEnvelope, 1864, Nesbitt 4th Issue, 3¢ pink on buff. Mostly clear strike of Dakota Territorial cds with quartered cork lightly canceling 3¢ pink on buff entire (U59) to New York City with Union Pacific R.R. Office of Superintendent & Engineer of Construction corner card; small sealed tear at top, otherwise Very Fine.
Scott No. U59; Estimate $300 - 400. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
Selling for...$150.00
Will close during Public Auction
989       imageDenver, Col. Ju[x] 25 [ca 1868]. Blue cds yellow cover to Canton, Ohio franked with 1861 3¢ rose (65), tied by matching target killer, reverse with all-over propaganda map showing no less than seven rail lines radiating from Denver (none of which actually existed at the time this promotional cover was printed); slight reduction at right, Very Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

This cover was featured in an article ("Denver Railroad Map Cover") by James W. Milgram, M.D. in the March, 2019 issue of Western Express. (Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. $300-400
Selling for...$475.00
Will close during Public Auction
990       imageEarliest East-To-West Cover Carried Over the Newly Completed Railroad From Coast-To-Coast. Black "Danbury, Conn. 11 May" [1869] cds with cut cork killer tying 3¢ 1861 issue (65) on yellow cover to San Francisco; docketed at left "Danbury May 11/69, S. F. [May] 20" with original business enclosure datelined "Danbury Conn. May 11, 1869"; reduced irregularly at right, F.-V.F., an exceptional item, purported by the consignor to be the earliest east-to-west cover carried over the newly completed railroad from coast-to-coast, as evidenced by the nine-day transit time based on docketing (see article in March, 2008 issue of Western Express for additional details).
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

THE EARLIEST RECORDED EAST TO WEST COVER CARRIED ON THE RECENTLY-COMPLETED TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD LINE.

The railheads of the transcontinental railroad met at Promontory Point, UT on May 10, 1869. Prior to that, Overland Mail Company carried the mail between the railheads, and transit times gradually shortened. The rail line was completed the day before this cover was mailed from Danbury to San Francisco. (Image1)

Est. $750-1,000
Selling for...$375.00
Will close during Public Auction
991       image(Earliest West-To-East Cover Carried Over the Newly Completed Railroad From Coast-To-Coast). Postmarked "San Francisco, Cal. May 13" [1869] bold black cds with cork partly off folded business letter, written in French, datelined "San Francisco 13 Mai 1869" addressed to Barbezieux, France; merchant's handstamp at left "Abel Guy [San Francisco] May 13, 1869" with arrival and forwarding rated black datestamp "18 New York May 22"; tear to internal sheet, Very Fine, an exceptional item, purported by the consignor to be the earliest west-to-east cover carried over the newly completed railroad from coast-to-coast, as evidenced by the nine-day transit time and the dates of departure and arrival., ex-Walske.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

THE EARLIEST RECORDED COVER CARRIED ON THE RECENTLY-COMPLETED TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD LINE.

The railheads of the transcontinental railroad met at Promontory Point, UT on May 10, 1869. Prior to that, Overland Mail Company carried the mail between the railheads, and transit times gradually shortened. When this cover was sent from San Francisco, the rails had been joined only three days earlier. (Image1)

Est. $1,000-1,500
Selling for...$500.00
Will close during Public Auction
992       imageOriginal CDV Showing Connection of the Lines [May 10, 1869]. Photograph with contemporary manuscript notation on back "The junction of the Pacific RR tracks where the little white flag appears in centre of picture", printer's purple handstamp "Savage & Ottinger, Fine Art Gallery, Great Salt Lake City, Utah", Very Fine and rare.
Estimate; $400 - 600. (Image1)

Est. $400-600
Selling for...$200.00
Will close during Public Auction
993     U58 imageEnvelope, 1864, Nesbitt 4th Issue, 3¢ pink. Bold strike of blue double circle (Thomas PAU-601) on one of two Pacific Union printed franks on U58 (Thomas PAU-001) each with double circle "Pacific Union Ex. Co., San Francisco Aug 20" (Thomas PAU-100) used as paste-ups making up double-rate on legal size envelope to Batterman & Co., Virginia City; with two original enclosures datelined "Aug 20, 1868" from San Francisco regarding power of attorney; carried by Pacific Union from San Francisco to Sacramento, where the route agent applied the CPRR handstamp by train to Reno, then by stage or wagon to Virginia City; sealed tears at left, backflap damage, F.-V.F., ex-Lichtenstein & Tatham.
Scott No. U58; Estimate $200 - 300. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
Selling for...$100.00
Will close during Public Auction
994       imageU. Pacific R.R. Jul 23 [1868]. Decipherable black cds and matching large "A" on 3¢ pink on white entire (U58) with Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank; original business enclosure datelined "Boise City, July 13th, 1868" signed Ephraim P. Rice; carried by Wells, Fargo & Co. from Boise City to their station on the railhead in Utah with "Bear River July 17th/68" manuscript station agent's marking (not a postal manuscript, as the Bear River, Utah post office was open from Sep 2, 1868 to Jun 12, 1869; thus, this express station agent's manuscript predates post office establishment); Wells, Fargo & Co. turned the letter over to the Union Pacific's agent with their cds for delivery to New York; sealed tear at top into printed frank, some toning; a second (damaged) cover is included posted "East River Con. Dec 19", franked with a 3¢ 1861 issue (65) and addressed to "Mr. S.H. Chittenden, Business Office U.P.R.R., Bear River City, Utah Territory" showing an in-bound example to the "Hell on Wheels" known as Bear River City, Fine and rare.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

A VERY RARE WELLS, FARGO & CO'S STATION AGENT MARKING, SHOWING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THAT COMPANY AND THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD.

A mobile "Hells on Wheels" was born each time the a new camp was established as the railroad was being built across the country in the late 1860s. When Bear River City was established in Utah Territory in 1868, Brigham Young assured the shocked Mormons that it wouldn't last long. (Image1)

Est. $750-1,000
Selling for...$375.00
Will close during Public Auction
995       image(Union Pacific R.R.) Gen. Jack Casement. Legal size blue cover franked with two 3¢ 1867 grilled adhesives (defective) with blue cork killers matching blue cds "Chicago, Ill. Feb 17" with enclosed letter datelined "Chicago, Feb 16/69" requesting a pass for travel, cover with very interesting and very lengthy address, "General Jack Casement, is the Boy I must find, Don't know where he is and hence 'go it blind', He's in the Pacific (RR) that leads to the Sea, Astride of an Engine, or under a tree. Wherever he is, he's a jolly good fellow, And, likes a good toddy, but never gets mellow, Can build a big rail road, without a big fuss, Tell a good story, or 'fight like a cuss', If such one you find, youre sure on the track, Approach and salute him, with 'how are you Jack', If he's the right man, quite certain I think, He will greet you 'old chap, let's have a drink", And when you have 'smiled' deliver this letteer, And, return me his answer, the sooner the better."; vert. cover fold, opened roughly on back; also included is 2½x4" CDV of the General printed by J.F. Ryder, Photographist, Cleveland, O., F.-V.F., this is the subject on an article in the American Philatelist (June 1984) by Dr. Milgram.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

A WONDERFUL ADDRESS TO THIS IMPORTANT FIGURE WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRANS-CONTINENTAL RAILROAD.

John Stephen Casement (nickname "General Jack") was a general and brigade commander in the Union Army during the American Civil War and a noted railroad contractor and civil engineer. He directed the construction of the Union Pacific's section of the Transcontinental Railroad, which linked the Western United States with the East. (Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. $500-750
Selling for...$425.00
Will close during Public Auction
996       imageUnion Pacific R.R. [xxx] 12, [ca. 1868]. Legible blue cds with duplex "A" killer on 3¢ pink on white entire (U58) with Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank and partly off-cover strike of "Wells, Fargo & Co. Sacramento" oval at top, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
Selling for...$100.00
Will close during Public Auction
997       imageUnion Pacific Rail Road, Office of Genl Superintendent, Omaha, Nebraska. Printed corner card on cover franked with 1861 3¢ rose (65) cancelled by small circle of wedges and postmarked "Omaha, Neb Jan 20" black cds, addressed to Connecticut; original enclosure datelined Omaha Neb, Jan 18, 1868 on stationery of the Union Pacific Railroad Office of Genl Supt, Very Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

Construction began in October 1863. From the east, The Union Pacific Railroad Company based its operations in Omaha, Nebraska. (Image1)

Est. $150-200
Selling for...$80.00
Will close during Public Auction
998     U59 imageEnvelope, 1864, Nesbitt 4th Issue, 3¢ pink on buff. 3¢ pink on buff entire (U59) postmarked "Salina, Kan Sep 10" [1867] cds with bullseye killer addressed to Indiana with original enclosure datelined "Salina, Kansas Sept 9, 1867" giving an account of the progress of the UPRR railroad construction, in part, "…The Union Pacific Railway Eastern Division is completed 75 miles west of us, and is being extended at the rate of 1½ miles pr day, notwithstanding Indian depradation, Cholera & C…J.M. Anderson"; opened irregularly along top edge, F.-V.F.
Scott No. U59; Estimate $200 - 300. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
Selling for...$100.00
Will close during Public Auction
999       imagePair of Union Pacific Railroad Covers. First with black "Union Pacific R.R." (illegible month/day) cds and light cork on grilled 3¢ 1867 issue on orange cover to New York; second with origination cds "Brooklyn, N.Y. Dec 9" tying 3¢ rose 1861 issue (65, defective) with cut cork killer addressed to "Rawlings Springs, Wyoming Territory, U.P.R.R." with receipt docketing at upper left "Dec 17 '68", both opened a bit irregularly at right, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $100 - 150. (Image1)

Est. $100-150
Selling for...$50.00
Will close during Public Auction
1000       image[Union Pacific Railroad] O. To C. U. Pacific R.R., May 11. Bold strike of route agent cds with matching "N" lined fancy cancel on 1864-65 3¢ pink (U59) entire with Wells Fargo printed frank and blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., San Francisco, May 6" oval datestamp to Seabrook N.H.; light stain at top, Very Fine and choice strike of this rare route agent cds, Towle No. 932-D-1. Rarity IV, The Towle Listing Example.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Nesbitt Die 26 Wells Fargo envelope put onto Route 14834 for Cisco. Stage coach to Ogden and Cheyenne. Put onto Route 14451 at Cheyenne for Omaha and the east. Posted May 11th 1868 when mail car was operating from Cheyenne to Omaha. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
Selling for...$150.00
Will close during Public Auction

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