Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

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The New Helvetia Collection of Western Expresses continued...

Western Expresses: Adams & Co. thru Swift & Co. continued...

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

J. Hawes & Cos. Express S.F. & N.Y. Double-circle handstamp on back of 6c Green on White Nesbitt entire (U13) to Alvin Adams (of express company fame) in Boston, notation "C. C. Bowman", perfect bold strike of "New-York Ship May 3" (1855) circular datestamp cancels embossed stamp, lightened stain spot at center, some minor cosmetic edge improvements, opened for display, Fine appearance, carried by Hawes to San Francisco and placed on board the Vanderbilt Line's Uncle Sam (depart April 9, 1855, arrive San Juan del Sur, April 21), then carried by Vanderbilt Star of the West from San Juan del Norte to New York (dep. Apr. 22, arr. May 2), entered mails in New York City, covers carried by Hawes & Co. are extremely rare (four reported), ex Knapp and Barkhausen (Image)
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E. $ 750-1,000

SOLD for $1,700.00
Will close during Public Auction

Hawley & Co's Express. Perfectly struck shield handstamp with "FROM SAN FRANCISCO" straightline below on folded eter to Warren & Co. in Sacramento, originally datelined Sep. 2, 1850, postscript "Wednesday Afternoon" indicates writer became ill and was unable to send it, probably carried on the regularly-scheduled Wednesday departure of the People's Line Senator, immaculate condition

EXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT STRIKE OF THE RARE HAWLEY & CO. FANCY SHIELD EXPRESS HANDSTAMP, OF WHICH FIVE ARE REPORTED, INCLUDING TWO WITH THE "FROM SAN FRANCISCO" STRAIGHTLINE.

By the end of 1849 the steamboat route between San Francisco and Sacramento was serviced by two major operators: the People's Line and the Union Line. Hawley & Co.'s Express had exclusive rights to carry mail on the two People's Line steamboats, the Senator and New World, which departed on alternating days of the week.

Ex Dale-Lichtenstein and Walske (Image)

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E. $ 3,000-4,000

SOLD for $4,750.00
Will close during Public Auction

Hunter & Cos. Express. Double oval handstamp with horse and rider at center, clearly struck on brown homemade envelope to William H. Ware in Sacramento, originated with "Spencersburg Mo. Nov. 25" manuscript postmark and "10" rate, manuscript "Big Bar Hill 1.35" $1.35 express charge and destination, additional currency notation of uncertain meaning, pencil "Greenwood Valy" on back, with original letter dated Nov. 24, 1851, from a father to his son, who is prospecting for gold in California, includes mention of mails and cautions son to be careful with his money around "strangers", some splits in letter, but the cover is in excellent condition

VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE DISTINCTIVE HORSE-AND-RIDER HANDSTAMP OF HUNTER & COMPANY'S EXPRESS ON A COVER TO A GOLD PROSPECTOR AT BIG BAR, CALIFORNIA.

Alexander Hunter started his semi-weekly express in May 1851 and served all forks of the American River, including Big Bar. Hunter sold his business to Wells, Fargo & Co. in July 1854 and became their Placerville agent. Approximately ten examples of this horse-and-rider marking are reported, this being among the more desirable in terms of use and quality.

With 1988 P.F. certificate (Image)

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E. $ 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $1,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

Forwarded by Hunter & Cos Express Auburn. Large blue shield handstamp sharply struck with all letters perfectly clear and shield frame mostly complete (left edge was not impressed beyond edge of the letter content, which is no longer present), manuscript "New Castle 1.25" express company charge on buff cover to Sacramento Cal. and carried by Hunter & Co. to Secret Diggins Ravine mining camp near New Castle and Auburn, originated in Maine with "Avon Me. March 21" (1852) manuscript postmark and "Free E. M. Towle, P.M." postmistress' free frank by Electa M. Towle, addressed to her husband Daniel Towle, who left Avon to seek his fortune in California, with receipt docketing "Received at Secret Diggins ravine May 5th 1852 D. Towle"

VERY FINE. ONE OF TWO REPORTED EXAMPLES OF THE HUNTER & COMPANY AUBURN OFFICE HANDSTAMP. A WONDERFUL GOLD RUSH ERA EXPRESS COVER, WITH THE DESTINATION MINING CAMP "SECRET DIGGINS RAVINE" NEATLY DOCUMENTED ON THE COVER BY THE ADDRESSEE, WHO WAS THE FEMALE POSTMASTER AND WIFE OF THE ADDRESSEE.

This cover was sent by railroad from Maine to New York, where it was placed on board the USMSC Georgia for Havana (depart March 24, arrive March 30). It was carried from Havana to Chagres on the USMSC Cherokee (depart March 31, arrive April 5), then by the PMSS California from Panama to San Francisco (depart April 8, arrive April 28). Between April 28 and the receipt date of May 5, it was carried outside the mails by Hunter & Co., whose Auburn office applied the handstamp and $1.25 charge to New Castle, located near the Secret Diggins Ravine.

For information about the Towle family of Avon, Maine, go to http://quod.lib.umich.edu/c/clementsmss/umich-wcl-M-2888.12tow?view=text

Ex Kutz and pictured in his book Gold Fever (p. 48). Ex Walske. With 1985 P.F. certificate (Image)

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E. $ 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $2,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

Langton's Pioneer Express. Ornate printed frank (Haller FL3, Ty. 4) on 10c Yellow Green on Buff Nesbitt entire (U18a) to Alton Ill., blue "Marysville Cal. Paid by Stamps Jun. 4" circular datestamp and matching large rectangular grid cancel on embossed stamp, slight wrinkling around edges, Very Fine, scarce use of distinctive Marysville "Paid by Stamp" datestamp on Langton's Express entire (Image)

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E. $ 200-300

SOLD for $140.00
Will close during Public Auction

3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Large bottom margin but other sides close to slightly in, tied by blue "Pacific Express Co. Stockton Oct. 9" oval datestamp with matching "PAID" in double-line frame on 1855 blue folded letter from Stockton to Sacramento, Very Fine, scarce use of 3c 1851 adhesive stamp by Pacific Express Co., by the time this company was founded in 1855 the conversion to postal stationery entires was widespread (Image)

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E. $ 750-1,000

SOLD for $600.00
Will close during Public Auction

(W. E.) Singer & Co.'s Feather River Express Connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co. Blue oval handstamp -- it appears that "W. E." has been removed from device -- clearly struck on 3c Red on Buff Nesbitt entire (U10) to Bidwells Bar Cal., Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank (Haller WF-B) crossed out with pen lines with matching ".254" of uncertain meaning, partly clear strike of "Wells, Fargo & Co. Express Steamboat" blue ornately-framed handstamp, 1855 docketing on back, Very Fine, carried by Wells, Fargo & Co. on steamboat from San Francisco to Marysville, then by Singer & Co. to Bidwell's Bar, one of two reported conjunctive uses, ex Lichtenstein, Barkhausen, Vogel and Walske (Image)

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E. $ 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $1,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Full margins to clear at top, "W.E.S. & Co." manuscript precancel, used with blue "W. E. Singer & Co's Feather River Express, Connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co." oval handstamp on brown cover to Bidwell's Bar Cal., receipt docketing "Wells Fargo & Co. Mvlle March 23" (1855) on back, Very Fine, one of five expresses operated by the colorful Capt. William E. Singer over a seven-year period, all of which carried mail between the Feather River mining camps and the base town of Marysville, only two examples of the Singer & Co. precancel are reported, ex Walske (Image)

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E. $ 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $1,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

W. E. Singer & Co's Feather River Express, Connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co. Blue oval handstamp perfectly struck on 3c Red on Buff Nesbitt entire (U10) to Bidwell's Bar Cal., Apr. 15, 1855 receipt docketing on back, Extremely Fine, a superb example of this express marking, ex Parker, Haas and Jarrett (Image)

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E. $ 500-750

SOLD for $1,300.00
Will close during Public Auction

Swift & Co.'s Express. Printed frank (Haller FS12, Ty. 2) on 3c Red on Buff Nesbitt entire (U10) to San Francisco, McKay correspondence, circa 1855 conjunctive use with "Wells, Fargo & Co. Express Steamboat" blue oval handstamp, part of backflap removed

VERY FINE. ONE OF TWO REPORTED EXAMPLES OF THIS SWIFT & COMPANY EXPRESS FRANK, AND A DESIRABLE CONJUNCTIVE USE WITH WELLS, FARGO & COMPANY'S STEAMBOAT SERVICE.

Swift & Co. operated in San Francisco, Bodega, Petaluma and Santa Rosa. They connected with Wells, Fargo & Co. for service on other routes. This was carried from Petaluma to Bodega, then by Wells, Fargo & Co. steamboat service to San Francisco.

Illustrated in Nathan and Letters of Gold. Ex Lichtenstein, Barkhausen, Haas and Edwards. (Image)

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E. $ 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $2,400.00
Will close during Public Auction