United States and Confederate Stamps Postal History continued...

VERY FINE. ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING INTACT SHEETS OF THE ADAMS & CO. CALIFORNIA EXPRESS STAMP -- INITIALLED BY L. REED, A PARTNER IN THE ADAMS FIRM. A TRULY REMARKABLE EXHIBITION ITEM.

The California branch of the Eastern express company founded by Alvin Adams was established late in 1849, following the discovery of gold that led to the great Gold Rush. Under the direction of Daniel H. Haskell, the Adams firm prospered as an express company and banking house in California. In 1855, in the midst of a national banking crisis, the firm was dissolved, and its express business was taken over by Freeman & Co. Isaiah C. Woods, whose name appears in the minute copyright inscriptions along the sides of the design, left for Australia after the Adams California branch folded. Haskell's portrait appears on the different Adams stamps, which were used to prepay express charges on letters carried by Adams & Co. Their rarity suggests that they were not issued until soon before the firm collapsed (the copyright is dated 1853). (Image)

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. FEWER THAN A HALF-DOZEN EXAMPLES OF THIS SURPRINTED FRANK ARE REPORTED TO EXIST ON ANY OF THE NESBITT ENTIRES.

If contemporary, the Adams & Company stamped envelopes -- 25c and 50c values on 3c and 6c Nesbitt entires or cut-outs used as adhesives -- must come from the period from 1854 to the collapse of the firm in March 1855. Their rarity could be attributed to the sudden failure of the Adams firm. However, at least one student of the subject has recently argued that these stamped envelopes and cut-outs were created in the 1890's by the notorious forger Wuesthoff. The controversy has not been resolved.

With 2002 P.S.E. certificate. Scott Retail $15,000.00 for No. 1LU4 is shown in the used column. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE PHILADELPHIA DESPATCH POST STRIDING MESSENGER STAMP USED ON COVER. ISSUED IN 1843, THIS IS THE WORLD'S FIRST PICTORIAL STAMP.

Ex Emerson, Hollowbush, Schwartz and Gordon N. John. With 2007 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE USE OF THE 1843 PHILADELPHIA DESPATCH POST "STRIDING MESSENGER" ISSUE -- THE WORLD'S FIRST PICTORIAL STAMP. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE TIED BY THE RED CIRCULAR DATESTAMP.

Signed "Genuine Robson Lowe". With 2007 .P.F. certificate (Image)