U.S. and Possessions Treasures of Philately from the Irwin Weinberg Inventory continued...

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY SIX RECORDED COVERS WITH THE KELLOGG'S PENNY POST STAMP, AND THE ONLY ONE ADDRESSED TO A FOREIGN DESTINATION.

Kellogg's Penny Post & City Despatch was a relatively short-lived local post in Cleveland. It is believed that the post existed in 1853 and 1854. A cover dated June 28 (1853) and a piece dated April 7 (1854) are the earliest and latest recorded dates of use for the 92L1 stamp. Carrier service in Cleveland began in December 1853, which probably forced Kellogg's out of business by mid-1854.

Our records contain the following six Kellogg's covers, arranged by date (including assumed year dates)

1) Jun. 28 (ca. 1853) Cleveland datestamp ties 3c 1851, 92L1 cancelled by pencil on New England Hotel corner card cover to West Fairlee Vt., ex Caspary, Schenck, Skove, Golden (sold after the auction)

2) Jul. 11 (1853) Cleveland datestamp with "24" in circle tying 92L1 on folded cover to Mrs. Cowell, Sherborne, England, offered here

3) Jul. 29 (1853 contents) Cleveland datestamp, tied by ms. cancel on folded letter originating in Cincinnati to New Orleans, carried to Cleveland and given to Kellogg's, ex Boker

4) Sep. 1 (ca. 1853) Cleveland datestamp on cover to Newark O., one 92L1 remains from strip of three (other two torn off), ms. "Charge Johnson House" hotel notation, ex Knapp, Middendorf

5) Sep. 27 (ca. 1853) Cleveland datestamp and grid tie 92L1 and 3c 1851 on Waverly House corner card cover to Canton O., discovered in 1997, Siegel 1997 Rarities sale

6) Jan. 21 (ca. 1854) Cleveland datestamp with black grid tying 92L1 to Painesville O., ex Hall, D.K. Collection and Geisler (Siegel Sale 965, lot 1219).

In addition to the six covers, there are at least six 92L1 stamps known off cover. All of the surviving Kellogg's covers were delivered to the post office (three from hotels); no city-delivery covers are known. We wonder if it is possible that Kellogg's post was incorporated into the Cleveland carrier department started by Henry S. Bishop on December 21, 1853. Bishop left the carrier department on July 1, 1854, to become an employee of the Cleveland post office (source: Elliott Perry). Bishop's move roughly coincides with the end of Kellogg's post; however, no official records are known to us that confirm Kellogg's involvement as a carrier. (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE WELLS FARGO & CO. SACRAMENTO OFFICE’S LARGE DOUBLE-CIRCLE DATESTAMP USED TO CANCEL A PONY EXPRESS STAMP.

Sacramento was the original western terminus for the actual Pony ride. The mail was usually carried between Sacramento and San Francisco by river steamer. As the Sacramento Valley Railroad line was extended further east, the terminus was moved to Folsom (starting July 7, 1860). On July 1, 1861, it was moved to Placerville. Nonetheless, Sacramento remained an important gathering point for Pony Express mail.

Beginning with the Phase III period (April 1 to June 30, 1861), Wells Fargo & Co. served as agents for the Overland Mail Company and The Central Overland California & Pike’s Peak Express Company in operating the Pony Express. It was during this period that Wells Fargo & Co. introduced stamps and envelopes for prepayment of Pony Express fees.

A special oval Pony Express Sacramento” datestamp was typically used by Wells Fargo & Co. on Pony Express mail originating at their Sacramento office. However, in this case, the large double-circle datestamp that was usually applied to letters carried over Wells Fargo & Co.’s regular express routes was used on a Pony Express letter. This is the only recorded example of the double-circle datestamp on Pony Express mail.

FKW Census E78. Trip ET-99. Ex Twigg-Smith. With 1963 P.F. certificate (prior to restoration). (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. THE DISCOVERY EXAMPLE OF A NESBITT IMPRINT ON THE FAMOUS $1.00 PONY EXPRESS GARTER STAMP, THE PRODUCT OF GEORGE F. NESBITT & CO., THE PROMINENT NEW YORK PRINTER WHO PRODUCED THE NESBITT SERIES OF UNITED STATES POSTAL STATIONERY.

George F. Nesbitt & Company is best known for its extensive work in printing books, trade cards, advertising materials and the first U.S. government stamped envelopes. Although Nesbitt was identified as the maker of the franked envelopes and Garter issue in an 1867 article about the Pony Express stamps, subsequent writers mistakenly attributed the Garter printing to Britton & Rey, the San Francisco printers who produced the Horse & Rider issues. Around the year 2000 the Garter stamp offered here was found, bearing the imprint G. F. Nesbitt & Co. N.Y.” and providing conclusive evidence of the printer.

Ex Gruys and Twigg-Smith (Image)

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VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MIXED FRANKING COVER FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA TO OREGON.

Ex Wilkinson. (Image)

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