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2020 Rarities of the World continued...

California and Western Postal History including Pony Express
Lot Sym. Lot Description  
263 c Image"Salt Lake Cal. Oct. 11" (1849)--Babbitt's Special Contract Mails. Manuscript postmark with "Paid 10" on folded letter datelined "Great Salt Lake City Sept. 22, 1849", addressed to Edina, Missouri, letter is from a gold miner passing through and includes "I intend staying at this place until spring than I am going on to the gold diggins...600 miles from this place there is a range of mountains called the ser-en-a-vade, there is where fremonts men perished in snow", some minor bleaching and small edge tear

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE SALT LAKE CITY GOLD MINER'S LETTER TO MISSOURI, CARRIED IN BABBITT'S SPECIAL CONTRACT MAILS.

Babbitt's Special Contract Mails was established in 1849 by Almon Babbitt, a Mormon expressman, to carry mails between Salt Lake City and Kanesville, Iowa (which lacked a regular postal route). This letter was carried on the John Taylor trip of October 19, 1849, from Salt Lake City, arriving Kanesville December 10. While there is no express fee indicated, the sender likely paid an additional 40c for Babbitt's service.

Illustrated in Mails of the Westward Expansion on p. 87. Ex Walske (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States Salt Lake City]

E. $ 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $1,800.00
Will close during Public Auction
264 c ImageCamp Floyd, Utah Territory, to Panama (1859). Manuscript "Camp Floyd U.T. Feby. 7" (1859) postmark ties 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26) on cover to Assistant Surgeon L. C. Lane aboard the USS Decatur in care of the U.S. consul at Panama, endorsed "Via California", 3c was insufficient postage for the rate to Panama so cover was held for additional postage which was paid in cash, manuscript "Paid 20c" and additionally struck with the new "Camp Floyd April 18" rimless arc datestamp, gently cleaned to remove band of toning at left

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE COMBINATION OF MANUSCRIPT AND HANDSTAMP POSTAL MARKINGS FROM CAMP FLOYD, UTAH TERRITORY, ON A COVER TO PANAMA SENT VIA THE CHORPENNING MAIL ROUTE.

This was carried by the weekly Chorpenning Mail stagecoach that left Salt Lake City (northeast of Camp Floyd) on April 18, 1859. The stage arrived in Placerville, California, around April 30 and the cover then went to San Francisco for the May 5 sailing of the PMSS steamer Golden Gate, arriving Panama around May 15. The cover is addressed to an officer on the 16-gun sloop-of-war USS Decatur, which ironically had been ordered back to San Francisco on March 23. Although the cover lacks a forwarding notation, it no doubt made its way back to San Francisco. The Decatur had a storied career with service in both the Mexican and Civil Wars and was also the ship that evacuated U.S. citizens connected with the filibustering expedition of William Walker.

Illustrated in Mails of the Westward Expansion on p. 142. Ex Risvold and Walske (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States Camp Floyd]

E. $ 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $3,250.00
Will close during Public Auction
265 c ImageStockton-Kansas City Route, Santa Fe Contract Mail (1859). "Dutch Flat Cal. (Jan.) 21" (1859) circular datestamp with bold "10" and "Paid" in circle handstamps on cover to Albany Wis., neat manuscript directive "Overland via Stocton" and carried on the Stockton-Kansas City contract route, some edge and corner wear, couple inconsequential small stains

THE ONLY RECORDED COVER CARRIED ON THE STOCKTON-KANSAS CITY OVERLAND MAIL ROUTE. A GREAT RARITY OF WESTERN MAILS.

According to Mails of the Westward Expansion, the Post Office Department signed a four-year contract for Route 15050 with Jacob Hall on May 28, 1858, calling for monthly service between Kansas City, Missouri, and Stockton, California, via Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Ft. Mohave. Hall transferred his contract to Barrow, Porter & Crenshaw they had been partners on another Santa Fe mail contract). Westbound service began on October 1, 1858, from Kansas City, arriving without incident in Stockton on November 24. The first eastbound trip was not so lucky. After departing Stockton with 50-60 letters on November 1, they encountered hostile Indians and were forced to return home. In total only six successful trips were completed under the contract. The cover offered here was carried on the fourth successful eastbound trip, which left on February 1, 1859, and arrived in Kansas City around March 29. This is the only surviving cover from any of the Stockton-Kansas City contract trips. The contract was terminated as of July 1, 1860.

Illustrated in Mails of the Westward Expansion on p. 183. Ex Risvold and Walske (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States Stockton-Kansas City Rout]

E. $ 3,000-4,000

SOLD for $5,250.00
Will close during Public Auction
266 c Image10c Green, Ty. V (35). Outstanding centering with wide margins, deep rich color, tied by two strikes of "Benicia Cal. Oct. 25" (1860) circular datestamp on cover to Neponsett Mass. with "Overland--via--Los Angeles" hand-colored illustrated four-horse stagecoach design, Sanborn correspondence, absolutely fresh and pristine

EXTREMELY FINE GEM STAMP ON A SUPERB COVER BEARING THE HAND-COLORED "OVERLAND VIA LOS ANGELES U.S. MAIL" STAGECOACH DESIGN.

Ex Judd and White. With 1988 P.F. certificate (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States 35]

E. $ 3,000-4,000

SOLD for $4,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
267 c Image(San Francisco to Germany, 1860) "Overland Mail, Via Los Angeles" Illustrated Railroad Propaganda Envelope. Rare design with locomotive in ornate oval frame with route stated above (this design does not have a publisher's imprint), on bright oatmeal cover to Bremen, Germany, red "San Francisco Cal. Paid Jun. 4, 1860" circular datestamp, red crayon "30" rate, red "N.York Am. Pkt. 7 Paid Jun. 30" 7c credit datestamp, no receiving markings, Extremely Fine -- this left San Francisco on the June 4, 1860, eastbound Butterfield stagecoach trip, arriving at Springfield, Missouri, June 24; probably carried on the HAPAG Hammonia, which departed New York on June 30, 1860, and arrived at Hamburg July 15 (there was also an Inman Line sailing on the same day, June 30, and an NGL departure on July 7) -- the depiction of a locomotive on covers that were carried by stagecoach or steamship was an attempt to rally public and legislative support for railroad construction in the West and across the continent, we are aware of only three other examples of this design (including two used from Vancouver Island), any railroad propaganda cover to a foreign country is a great rarity -- with 2012 P.F. certificate (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States Railroad Propaganda]

E. $ 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $13,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
268 c ImageTodd & Co's Express Stockton. Perfectly clear strike of double-line oval handstamp (Thomas TOC-106) and manuscript "Free" on folded cover to Gov. John McDougall in San Jose, sender's routing "Per Todd & Co. & Berford's Express" and notation "Stockton Journal", conjunctive use with "Berford & Cos. Express San Francisco Cal." double-oval handstamp (Thomas BER-101a) and matching "FREE" handstamp, pencil notation "Jan. 20/51" presumably referring to contents which are no longer present, part of one flap removed, light file folds, Very Fine, carried by Todd & Co. from the Stockton mining region to San Francisco, then by Berford & Co. south to San Jose, it appears that Todd carried mail free for the Stockton Journal and other publishers, a virtually identical cover is pictured in Nathan (p. 24), ex W. Parker Lyons, Dale-Lichtenstein and Lyons, with 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States Todd & Co.]

E. $ 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $2,200.00
Will close during Public Auction
269 c Image12c Black, Diagonal Half Used as 6c (17a). Bottom right diagonal half, ample margin to just touching frameline, well-tied across the cut by "STEAM/SHIP" two-line handstamp, clear strike of red "VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS." octagonal handstamp on blue linen-lined cover to D. & A. Kingsland & Sutton in New York City, sender's route directive "Via San wan de Niceragua" (sic), no dated markings

VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING BISECTED USE OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE WITH A REMARKABLY CLEAR STRIKE OF THE "VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS" LETTER BAG OPERATOR HANDSTAMP.

According to research by James Allen, the 1st Assistant PMG's first official notice to postmasters that bisected stamps were invalid was published on September 12, 1853 (Chronicle 239). Therefore, this almost certainly originated in San Francisco prior to the official POD announcement. A similar letter from California, arriving in New York on September 25, was treated as unpaid and marked postage due (Siegel Sale 1041, lot 340).

Ex Dr. Robertson. With 2014 P.F. certificate (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States 17a]

E. $ 3,000-4,000

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction
270° c ImagePony Express, St. Joseph, Aug. 16 (1860) Carmine Running Pony Datestamp. Mostly clear strike with manuscript ”1 AM” arrival time next to date on back of cover to ”Capt. James Coffin, Warren R.I. U.S.A.” with instructions ”To be forwarded by Pony Express”, 10c Green, Ty. V (35) tied by blue The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, San Francisco, Cal. Aug. 4” oval datestamp and also by bluish-black St. Joseph Mo. Aug. 17, 1860” circular datestamp

VERY FINE. ONE OF TEN RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE RUNNING PONY HANDSTAMP STRUCK IN CARMINE--THIS IS THE EARLIEST OF THE SIX EASTBOUND COVERS AND ONE OF ONLY FOUR WITH 10-CENT ADHESIVE STAMPS. ONE OF THE FINEST PONY EXPRESS COVERS EXTANT.

The St. Joseph Running Pony handstamp was normally struck in black, but the FKW census records ten covers with this marking struck in the distinctive carmine color. They are dated from August 12 to September 13, 1860, and all but two are struck on the backs of the covers. Four have 10c adhesive stamps (Scott 35), all eastbound with the carmine oval struck on the back as a receiving mark.

This cover was sent from San Francisco on August 4, 1860, after the new recalibrated Pony Express rate of $2.50 per quarter-ounce was announced at St. Joseph. Because news of the rate change took approximately two weeks to reach the West Coast, it was not implemented in San Francisco until the August 15 eastbound trip.

The U.S.A.” designation in the address and To be forwarded” instructions make it almost certain that this cover originated outside the United States, probably from a travelling member of the prominent Coffin family, several of whom were whaling captains.

FKW Census E12. Illustrated in Needham-Berthold article (Collectors Club Philatelist reprint). Ex Dr. Paine, Emerson, Hall, Gruys, Twigg-Smith and Haub. (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States 35]

E. $ 50,000-75,000

SOLD for $52,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
271 c Image10c Green, Ty. V (35). Tied by target cancel applied on arrival in St. Joseph, bold strike of "Pony Express San Francisco Sep. 29" (1860) blue Running Pony oval datestamp, manuscript "Per Pony Express Sep 29 '60" directive at top of blue cover to Eugene Kelly at Fulton Street address in New York City, manuscript "1/4" (quarter ounce, $2.50 express charge), carried on the eastbound trip that left San Francisco on September 29, 1860, and arrived at St. Joseph on October 10, bold strike of "The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, St. Joseph, Mo. Oct. 10" oval datestamp which ties corner of stamp, "Saint Joseph Mo. Oct. 11" double-circle datestamp struck upon entering the mails to New York, half of back replaced along with small part of top right corner of cover, small portion of Running Pony marking drawn in, some slight staining

FINE APPEARANCE. A DESIRABLE EXAMPLE OF EASTBOUND PONY EXPRESS MAIL WITH ALL MARKINGS CLEARLY STRUCK AND A 10-CENT 1859 ISSUE FRANKING.

FKW Census E22. Illustrated in Ashbrook's Special Service on p. 274. Ex Krug and Walske. Signed Ashbrook. With 2006 P.F. certificate (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States 35]

E. $ 7,500-10,000

SOLD for $7,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
272 c ImagePony Express, St. Joseph, Aug. 30 (1860). Mostly clear strike of Carmine Running Pony oval datestamp struck on back of cover, manuscript "Placerville Cal. Aug. 19" postmark and "Paid $2.50" in same hand on 10c Green on Buff Nesbitt entire (U16) to Fredonia N.Y., "Saint Joseph Mo. Aug. 31, 1860" circular datestamp struck upon entering the mails, expertly restored around edges with some paper extension at left, but the back with the Carmine Running Pony handstamp is original

FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF TEN RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE RUNNING PONY HANDSTAMP STRUCK IN CARMINE.

The St. Joseph Running Pony handstamp was normally struck in black. The Frajola-Kramer-Walske census records ten covers with this marking struck in the distinctive Carmine color. They are dated from August 12 to September 13, 1860, and all but two are struck on the backs of the covers. Six are eastbound trips. This cover was picked up as way mail along the route at the Placerville station and carried on the eastbound trip that left San Francisco on August 18, 1860, arriving in St. Joseph on August 30.

FKW Census E14. Ex Walske. With 1966 P.F. certificate (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States Pony Express]

E. $ 4,000-5,000

SOLD for $3,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
273 c ImagePony Express, The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, St. Joseph, Mo. Aug. 8 (1861). Large oval within circle datestamp on cover with "M. S. Latham U.S.S." free frank and his directive "Pony Express", to George Wallace, secretary to Governor Downey of California, at Sacramento -- pencil forwarding to San Francisco -- with letter datelined "Washington D.C. 31st July, 1861" from a military officer applying for appointment as lieutenant-colonel to organize a regiment to protect the overland mail route against Confederate forces, carried on the Pony Express trip that left St. Joseph on August 8, 1861, arriving San Francisco August 19

VERY FINE COVER WITH A CLEAR STRIKE OF THE ST. JOSEPH SPECIAL PONY EXPRESS” DATESTAMP AND FREE FRANK OF SENATOR MILTON LATHAM. ONE OF SIX RECORDED PONY EXPRESS COVERS FRANKED BY LATHAM AND A FASCINATING MILITARY AND OVERLAND MAIL ROUTE CONNECTION DURING THE EARLY MONTHS OF THE CIVIL WAR.

The letter states (in part): "I think I can safely assert California will soon be called upon for a Brigade of 5000 men, to proceed to Texas, via the Gadsend Purchase (Arizona) [sic] to reestablish the authority and laws of the U.S. & to occupy that State...it is the Lieut. Colonelcy of the Regiment to protect the overland route I want. I do not wish to go to Texas."

Senator Milton S. Latham went to California in 1850 and was elected to Congress on the 1852 Democratic ticket. After his term expired, he declined to run for re-election and served as collector for the port of San Francisco. In 1859 he was elected governor, but he resigned five days after taking office to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant when Senator David C. Broderick was killed in a duel. The addressee, George Wallace, was secretary to California governor, John Downey.

Senator Latham was a friend of William H. Russell, the Central Overland California & Pike’s Peak Express Co. president, and a strong supporter of COC&PP in their effort to secure the contract for the Central Route. He was among the few individuals later permitted to send Pony Express letters free of charge. In this case Senator Latham’s free frank applied to the $1.00 Pony Express rate, Wells, Fargo & Co.’s 10c charge for service between Placerville and San Francisco, and 10c U.S. postage (for a total of $1.20). There are 15 recorded Pony Express covers with any form of free frank for postage or express charges. Of these, six are signed by Latham (FKW E94, W3, W5, W7, W48 and W62). The eastbound cover (E94) has the San Francisco Running Pony oval. Three of the westbound Latham covers have the St. Joseph Running Pony oval (W3, W5 and W7), and two have the oval within circle datestamp (W48 and W62).

FKW Census W48. Ex Hall and Walske. With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States Pony Express]

E. $ 7,500-10,000

SOLD for $6,250.00
Will close during Public Auction

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