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2015 Rarities of the World continued...

Western Mails, continued
Lot Sym. Lot Description  
3069 c ImageCopley & Co.'s Miners' Express. Red double-line oval handstamp (Thomas COP-100) perfectly struck on 10c Green on Buff Nesbitt entire (U18) to Sempronius N.Y., entered the mails with blue "Marysville Cal. Paid by Stamps Feb. 4" (1856) circular datestamp, matching rectangular grid of squares cancels embossed stamp

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE CLEAREST STRIKES OF THE FEW KNOWN COPLEY & CO. MINERS' EXPRESS COVERS. A RARE TRANSCONTINENTAL USE WITH THE DISTINCTIVE MARYSVILLE "PAID BY STAMPS" CIRCULAR DATESTAMP.

This express between Marysville and the Gibsonville Ridge and Feather River mining camps was operated briefly in 1855-56 by Jack Copley. Examples of his distinctive "Miners' Express" handstamp are very rare (approximately 12 known). This cover was carried from San Francisco to Panama on the PMSS Oregon (depart February 11, arrive March 11), then by the USMSC George Law from Aspinwall to New York (depart March 6, arrive March 15).

Ex Dale-Lichtenstein, Walske and "New Helvetia" (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. $ 3,000-4,000

SOLD for $4,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
3070 c ImageHunter & Cos. Express. Double oval handstamp with horse and rider at center (Thomas HUN-101), 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.

From our Sale 375 of May 1970 and ex "New Helvetia". With 1988 P.F. certificate (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. $ 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $1,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
3071 c ImageCram Rogers & Cos. Express Weaverville. Remarkably clear strike of blue oval handstamp (Thomas CRA-102c), light strike of red "Adams & Co.s Express" oval handstamp at lower left, on cover to San Francisco, with blue cameo illustration of City Hall in San Francisco with small figures in the street, vertical file fold at left, some slight wear

VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USE OF THE CRAM ROGERS & COS. EXPRESS AND ADAMS EXPRESS CO. MARKINGS ON AN INTRICATE CAMEO COVER DESPICTING SAN FRANCISCO'S CITY HALL. A WONDERFUL WESTERN EXPRESS ARTIFACT.

Cram Rogers was one of the expresses linked to Adams & Co., operating from 1851 until the demise of Adams in 1855.

Ex Lichtenstein (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. $ 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $1,700.00
Will close during Public Auction
3072 c Image3c 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 (Thomas SIN-100) 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 and "New Helvetia" (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. $ 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $1,200.00
Will close during Public Auction
3073 c ImageWells, Fargo & Co. Paid. Red printed frank on 10c Green on Buff Nesbitt entire (U41) to New York City street address, double rate with additional 10c Green (68) tied by large blue "Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express S.Frco. 1 Feb." double-circle datestamp, forwarded to Westfield Mass., two 3c Rose (65) for double rate and 1c Blue (63) for carrier fee tied by "New-York Feb. 27" double-circle datestamp and target, slightly reduced at right

VERY FINE. A REMARKABLE COVER PAYING THE EXPRESS FEE (PRINTED FRANK), DOUBLE-RATE TRANSCONTINENTAL POSTAGE (10-CENT STAMP AND ENTIRE), DOUBLE-RATE FORWARDING POSTAGE (TWO 3-CENT STAMPS) AND A ONE-CENT CARRIER FEE.

A virtual all-in-one display of then-current U.S. domestic rates. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. $ 3,000-4,000

SOLD for $2,400.00
Will close during Public Auction
3074 c Image1c Blue, 3c Rose, 10c Green (63, pair; 65, 68). Tied by matching segmented cork cancels on 1863 buff cover with "J. P. WHARTON/EXPRESS/PAID" Type III printed frank at upper left (Thomas WHA-003), addressed to Osterholz, Germany, mostly clear "Marysville Cal. Jul. 25" double-circle datestamp and red "New York Hamb. Pkt. 18 Aug. 22" credit datestamp, Hamburg receiving backstamp and receipt docketing on back confirm 1863 yeardate, cover with minor soiling, both 1c and 10c stamps with small pieces out

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE TRANSATLANTIC COVER CARRIED BY THE J. P. WHARTON EXPRESS COMPANY. THIS IS ALSO THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS PARTICULAR FRANK IN THE THOMAS CENSUS.

According to an article in the January 1969 Western Express, "The Quincy Union remarks that 'J. B. Wharton, who has recently purchased Ford's Express, seems to afford great satisfaction among his patrons of the old line. His principal office is at Gibsonville and his several routes extend to La Porte, Jamison City, Hopkins and Poorman's Creek and other places in this community. Jim is no stranger in this community and we wish him success.'" He operated from 1862-1864.

Illustrated in Nathan, Letters of Gold and Thomas (Vol. 2, page 873). Ex Haas and Edwards. With 1991 P.F. certificate (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. $ 5,000-7,500

SOLD for $26,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
3075 c Image"Red River Nov. 6th 1855". Manuscript postmark in circle on cover to Kilmun, Scotland, with original contents datelined "Fort Alexander-Lac La Pluis District October 27th 1855", endorsed "via Pembina New York" at lower left and routed thru Minnesota Territory, large "Paid 24" handstamp at top right, red "19" credit handstamp, red "Paid/America/Liverpool 14 JA 56" transit datestamp, Greenock backstamp of the following day, top flap reattached, some edgewear and reinforcements

VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE RED RIVER MANUSCRIPT POSTMARK, AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE WITHOUT THE "B.N.A." DESIGNATION. IT IS ALSO THE ONLY EXAMPLE WITH THE "PAID 24" RATE.

According to the Spink-Shreves Risvold catalogue, the Postmaster at the Red River Settlement (now Winnipeg) probably traced the circle with the use of a coin, or some other round object, and then wrote in the postmark. There are eight or nine covers known between the dates of November 10, 1855, and March 10, 1856. This short period of time is explained by the sudden death of Postmaster William Ross in April or May of 1856.

Ex De Volpe, Bilden and Risvold. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. $ 4,000-5,000

SOLD for $5,250.00
Will close during Public Auction
3076 c Image3c Rose (65). Socked-on-the-nose cogwheel cancel, matching "San Francisco Cal. Jan. 28, 1864" double-circle datestamp on cover to Virden Ill. originating in mining camp in British Columbia with British Columbia & Vancouver Island, 1860, 2-1/2p Dull Rose (2) tied by "Paid" oval handstamp, struck again to the left, pencil note indicates letter was dated Dec. 6, 1863 (no longer present), red crayon "10" representing U.S. postage paid at origin but overpaid since the rate was lowered to 3c in July 1863 (U.S. 3c stamp applied by GPO in British Columbia correctly prepays rate), "General Post Office, British Columbia, 20 Jan. 1864" double-circle datestamp on back, certificate notes 2-1/2p has small toned spot and small vertical crease at bottom, as well as light cover soiling

VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE AND EXTREMELY RARE UNITED STATES AND BRITISH COLUMBIA & VANCOUVER ISLAND MIXED FRANKING.

Ex Wilkinson, Walske and "New Helvetia". With 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. $ 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $950.00
Will close during Public Auction
3077 c Image3c Rose (65). Horizontal strip of five, deep rich color, tied by cogwheel cancels, "San Francisco Cal. Mar. 10, 1863" double-circle datestamp on lavender cover from British Columbia to Bowmanville, Canada West, with British Columbia & Vancouver Island, 1860, 2-1/2p Dull Rose (2), wing margin at right, cancelled by Westminster "1" in barred oval handstamp (tied by cogwheel), "Paid" in oval handstamp, red crayon "15" indicating 15c U.S. postage prepaid at origin, "General Post Office, British Columbia, Mar. 4, 1863" and Bowmanville Apr. 6 datestamps on back, 3c stamps small tears at top and one affected from placement at edge of cover, 2-1/2p stamp nicked at bottom and small faults

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE MIXED FRANKING OF UNITED STATES AND BRITISH COLUMBIA & VANCOUVER ISLAND STAMPS ON A COVER ORIGINATING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA AND SENT TO CANADA VIA SAN FRANCISCO, PANAMA AND NEW YORK.

The 2-1/2p stamp paid the British Colonial postage, and the red crayon "15" indicated that U.S. postage was fully paid. The 3c 1861 stamps were affixed in Victoria, and the cover was carried to San Francisco on the PMSS Pacific. After cancelling the U.S. stamps, the San Francisco post office bagged the cover for transport to New York via Panama. It reached its final destination in Canada on April 6.

Ex Wellburn, Mitchell, Wilkinson, Walske and "New Helvetia" (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. $ 3,000-4,000

SOLD for $3,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
3078 c ImageDietz & Nelson's B.C. & V. Express. Blue double-circle handstamp ties British Columbia & Vancouver Island, 1860, 2-1/2p Dull Rose (2; SG 3), matching "Paid" in oval on cover to Victoria with fancy illustrated "Collins Overland Telegraph Via Behring Strait Western Union Extension," design depicts the northern hemisphere of the globe in a cloud with lightning bolts emanating from bottom, stamp affixed slightly overlapping edge so creased at lower right and reinforced from back, still Very Fine and rare combination of this express handstamp on a telegraph cover, from the Wilson Born collection -- Mr. Born speculated that this cover carried an announcement of construction of a telegraph line across the Bering Strait to Russia (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. $ 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $2,200.00
Will close during Public Auction
3079° c ImageBritish Columbia & Vancouver Island, 1869, 50c on 3p Violet, Perf. 12-1/2 (17; SG 26). Tied by numeral grid cancel, "New Westminster B.C. 1869 JUN 11" circular datestamp on cover to Market Harborough, Leicestershire, England, receiving backstamp, few small toned spots

VERY FINE. ONLY FIVE COVERS ARE RECORDED BEARING THE BRITISH COLUMBIA 50-CENT ON 3-PENCE PERF 12-1/2. A PHENOMENAL RARITY.

Of the five recorded covers, four are to England, including one registered use with a 5c perf 14, and one was used within British Columbia. None are known on cover with the perf 14 (Scott 12). This is an especially early use.

Ex Wellburn and Wallace. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. $ 5,000-7,500

SOLD for $4,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

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