March Internet Auction

Adams & Co. Marysville, Jan 9, light red company oval handstamp on blue 1853 folded business letter datelined "Grand Island, Colusi County Jan 7/53" to San Francisco Cal.; light toning on folds with minor edge wear, F.-V.F.

Thomas No. ADA-101   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $75 - 100.

Adams & Co. San Francisco, Jan 25, blue double-circle datestamp with additional partial strike of blue San Francisco "rope oval" handstamp (Thomas ADA-104) on blue folded personal letter without dateline to Stockton Cal.; whitening at folds, with one section of folded letter separated from rest, Fine and unusual.

Thomas No. ADA-101   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $50 - 75.

It is unclear why two different San Francisco handstamps would have been used on this folded letter, very unusual as a result.

Adams & Co. Sonora, Mar 7, small black company handstamp with additional manuscript sender's directive " Pr Adams & Co.'s Express 1st March 1854 " and Adams' pencil notation " Collect 25 cts, Jack " at lower left on legal-size blue folded cover to San Francisco Cal.; minor paper nick, otherwise Very Fine.

Thomas No. ADA-101   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $150 - 200.

Adams & Co.'s Express Benicia, large blue company oval handstamp with starbursts with ms. " Coll 25 cts " express due rating on blue folded business letter datelined "Benicia Aug 19th 1853" addressed to Hon A.P. Catlin, Mormon Island Cal., Fine, one of about eight examples known of this handstamp from Benicia .

Thomas No. ADA-102   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $100 - 150.

Adams & Cos Express, Iowa Hill, blue oval company handstamp on orange buff cover to San Francisco Cal.; light edge wear at right including minor paper erosion at upper right corner, some math doodling on front, F.-V.F., the only reported example in the Thomas census. .

Thomas No. ADA-105   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $200 - 300.

Adams & Co.s Express San Francisco, blue oval company handstamp with "star bursts" at ends of oval on blue folded outer lettersheet with docketing in French "1853 Febr 18"; horizontal file fold, F.-V.F.

Thomas No. ADA-102   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $100 - 200.

"Per Adams & Co. Express", manuscript sender's directive on blue folded stampless personal letter datelined "Nov 14, 1852" with docketing on side flap "Murphy's Post Office, Vallecitos, Calaveras Co., Cal.", carried by Adams & Co. to Stockton where it entered the mails with their blue "Stockton Cal. Nov 30" (1852) cds and manuscript "20" (double rate letter) with smudged out errant rate, to New Bedford, Mass.; slight discoloration along vertial file fold with minor tear and paper loss at top, Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $75 - 100.

"Per Adams & Co's Xpress", manuscript sender's directive at lower left of orange cover originating (pencil notation at left) from "Don Pedros Bar 1854"; entered the mails with "San Francisco Cal. 15 Jan" cds and "10" rate handstamp to New Hampshire; blue embossed New York hotel card on backflap; light edge and corner wear, F.-V.F.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $50 - 75.

Adams & Co.'s Express was one of the first established in California in Sept, 1849. Adams & Co's banking business closed on Feb 23, 1855 as a result of a run on the bank. A few offices struggled to stay open for a few days, but eventually all closed and were reformed into the Pacific Express Company.

Adams & Co.'s Express, bank draft on bluish paper, "Adams & Co. San Francisco" with manuscript " Marysville " over San Francisco, dated Aug 30th 1853; several pressed out file folds as exist on virtually all these bank drafts, still Very Fine and rare.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $100 - 200.

Alta Express Company, Sacramento, two strikes of blue company oval with second type of black Alta Express Co. printed frank (Thomas ALT-002) on 3¢ red (U10) Nesbitt buff entire to Ione Valley, Cal.; sealed backflap tear, very light edge and corner wear, still Very Fine.

Thomas No. ALT-106   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $150 - 200.

Alta Express Company, San Francisco, red company oval handstamp on buff stampless cover to Sacramento Cal.; the lack of a company printed frank and any indication of payment of the required postage, lead on to believe that this was used very early in the existence of this express company (which operated from July, 1857 until Nov 10, 1858), accompanied by original clipped newspaper advertisement from the Oroville "North California" issue of Sept 24, 1857; couple tiny toned spots, light corner wear, F.-V.F.

Thomas No. ALT-106   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $100 - 150.

Alta Express was formed from the remnants after the failure of Pacific Express Co. in July, 1857 and operated until Nov 10, 1858, when it was purchased by Wells, Fargo & Co.

Alta Express Company, San Francisco, red company oval handstamp with black company printed frank (Thomas ALT-001) on 3¢ red (U9) Nesbitt entire to Downieville Cal.; light waterstaining at right, most of backflap missing, tear at top just into indicium, Fine.

Thomas No. ALT-106   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $75 - 100.

American Express, Paid, black illustrated "dog and safe" printed frank with company manuscript " Watsonville " on 3c red (U10) Nesbitt buff entire to San Francisco Cal.; significant portions of cover chipped away due to brittle paper at left, including small portion of printed frank, Good, One of only about ten examples from this company, this being one of the four AME-004 covers.

Thomas No. AME-004   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $40 - 60.

The west-coast American Express was only in operation from January, 1857 to September, 1857.

Bamber & Co.'s Express S.F., May 1, red double-circle company handstamp with manuscript " Pd 25¢ WF&Co " applied by Wells, Fargo & Co. to indicate prepayment of the express fee; exchanged with Bamber's at San Francisco for delivery to the San Lorenzo Cal. office across the Bay; trimmed at left, upper left corner repaired, light creasing lower left, Fine and scarce conjunctive use.

Thomas No. BAM-102   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $40 - 60.

Barlow & Sanderson C. & O. Coast Overland Mail Company, Yreka, Cal., printed advertising corner card (Thomas OVM-408, listed under Barlow, Sanderson & Co) with illustration of six horse stage "Overland U.S. Mail" and "B. S. & Co." on side, cover entered mails with "Yreka Cal. Aug 1" cds and cork killer both tying 3c green banknote adhesive cover to Jacksonville, Oregon; opened roughly at top impacting corner card and design (virtually all Coast Overland Mail covers are this way), Fine appearance.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

Thomas records this company as having operated from roughly 1868 to 1888. This example is circa 1870.

Beekman's Express Jacksonville Oregon, black printed frank on 3¢ pink (U35) buff entire to Yreka, California; light whitening at left side, small tear at top not affecting printed frank or indicium, Fine appearance.

Thomas No. BEE-001   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $150 - 200.

Beekman's Express Jacksonville. O.T., sharp strike of red company oval handstamp on 3¢ red (U9) Nesbitt entire to "Shereff of Eureka or his Deputy" with handwritten note at top from Cornelius C. Beekman himself stating " Dick, Please delivery immediately & oblige, Beeks " (Dick must have been Beekman's Express agent at Yreka); several small repaired tears, backflap damaged, a few edge tears and small piece missing at right center, Fine.

Thomas No. BEE-100   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $75 - 100.

Cornelius Beekman began his own express in Nov, 1855, months after the failure of Adams & Co.'s Express and Cram Rogers Express. He operated out of a base of at Jacksonville Oregon Territory and had a route that ran to Yreka, Crescent City and Roseburg (Oregon). He connected with Wells Fargo at Yreka and with Tracy's Express at Jacksonville. He sold out to Wells Fargo in 1863.

Berford & Co. Letter & Package Express, California, readable red company shield handstamp with matching " B & Co Collect " handstamp (Thomas BER-202e1) on circa 1852 brown cover which likely originated on the East Coast, addressed to San Francisco "Care of J. Mattoon & Co"; somewhat toned overall making the red markings difficult to discern against the brown cover background, light edge wear, Fine, only eight examples of this red shield handstamp recorded in Thomas .

Thomas No. BER-100   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $100 - 150.

Downieville and Howland Flat Express, Paid, black printed frank on 6¢ pink (U62) legal-size entire to Eureka Cal.; slightly reduced at right just into indicium, with small tear at right, also into indicia, otherwise fresh and Very Fine, Thomas records only six examples of express-carried examples from this company, this being one of the four known of this type printed frank.

Thomas No. DOW-001   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $300 - 400.

A RARE DOWNIEVILLE AND HOWLAND FLAT EXPRESS COVER.

The Downieville & Howland Flat Express operated between the two towns noted in the express' name, a distance of about 12 miles. It is thought to have operated for only about a year, from 1866 to 1867.

This cover sold in Rumsey Sale #56 Lot 586 for $525 hammer.

Per English Express, manuscript sender's directive (unlisted in Thomas) at lower left on 3c pink(U35) buff entire to Whartenby at Nevada City, California, docket "July 3 / 65" at left; professionally restored along right edge into indicia, small tears at left, Very Fine appearance.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED COVERS FROM ENGLISH EXPRESS.

Joseph Randall English operated his express from early 1864 until Feb, 1866. His route ran from a base at Nevada City to mining camps on the Washington Ridge (Washington, Alpha, Omega) and later expanded into the Bear Valley region (South Fork of Yuba River). This cover falls neatly into the timeframe he operated.

Thomas records only one example from English's Express (a printed frank) in his book. This manuscript directive example may be the only other cover known carried by this short-lived express.

Everts & Cos Express Feather River, inverted blue three-line company handstamp (Thomas EVE-101 or EVS-101, used by both company partnerships) on brown cover addressed to Sacramento City Cal. originating with decipherable "Rochester N.Y. Jun 26" circa 1852 cds with ms. " 6 " due rating, additional red "Paid" handstamp, Everts notations include pencil " 125 " for $1.25 express fee due and " BrV " for Brown Valley or Brownsville, the location of addressee Mr. Worden; overall light wear typical of the Worden correspondence, repaired corner upper left, F.-V.F. appearance.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

Frank Everts was involved with many partnerships in the express business, all of which bore his name from 1850 to 1862. This three-line handstamp was one of his earliest, used both during the Everts & Co.'s Express period (1850 to Mar, 1852) and the Everts Snell period (Mar, 1852 to July, 1854).

Everts, Davis & Co. Daily Express, Paid, black printed frank on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire to Quincy, Plumas Co., Cal.; likely carried from somewhere on Everts, Davis & Co.'s route on the Gibsonville Ridge into Quincy;; ironed out diagonal crease, very light toning, F.-V.F., the only printed frank type known from Everts, Davis.

Thomas No. EVD-001   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $300 - 400.

Everts, Davis & Co. was one of the short-lived partnerships of Frank Everts, lasting from May 10, 1855 to July, 1856.

Everts, Wilson & Co.'s Daily Express, Paid, fancy red printed frank on 10c green (U16) buff Nesbitt entire uprated with additional damaged 10¢ green (35) , cancelled by matching manuscript for the double weight letter; entered the mails with partial red "La Porte, Cal Dec 2, 1858" cds to Mobile, Alabama; edge toning at right, sealed tear at top, overall top edge wear with small piece of paper missing, Fine appearance.

Thomas No. EVW-006   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $300 - 400.

The Everts, Wilson & Co.'s partnership of Frank Everts was the longest lived, beginning in Sep, 1856 and lasting until Sep, 1862, at which time it was sold to Holland, Morley & Co.'s Express.

Freeman & Co.'s Express San Francisco, red oval company handstamp (Thomas FRM-101) with two-line "Reply By Freeman & Co.'s Express" (Thomas FRM-400) normally found on verso, an unusual example showing this marking on front of small lady's cover with newsy personal enclosure datelined "San Francisco, California July 15th 1855", addressed to "Brooklyn L.I." (Long Island, NY); tear at upper left from edge about half-way down cover just into the Freemans oval handstamp, F.-V.F. appearance.

Thomas No. FRE-101   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $150 - 200.

Freeman & Co.'s California, Atlantic States and European Express. Paid, black printed frank on circa 1860 buff stampless cover with additional very light red company handstamp "Freeman & Cos Express San Francisco" (Thomas FRM-101) to Teller in San Francisco Cal.; several nicks and small tears at edges, particularly at left, Fine.

Thomas No. FRM-003   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $75 - 100.

The second Freeman's Express operated from June, 1855 to January, 1861.

"Gray's Express", manuscript sender's directive on circa 1850 buff cover postmarked "Stockton, Cal. '12½' Sep 10" integral-rate cds addressed to "Thomas White, Sacramento, Horseshoe Bend, Middle Fork Am River, Grey's Express"; the post office carried this cover from Stockton to Sacramento, where Thomas White was on Gray's Express list, Gray's then carried it from Sacramento to "Horseshoe Bend" (which is near Foresthill); edge wear all around, especially at left with some toning, Fine, Seven covers are known with "Gray's Cal Express" handstamp; this cover with a manuscript directive is unlisted in Thomas. .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

Gray's California Express operated from 1850-1851 and had a service between San Francisco and Sacramento, serving the Northern Mines. They obviously had a route along the Middle Fork of the American River, per the directive on this cover.

Williams lists this Stockton integral rate marking as SAJ-2330, with an estimated earliest known use of Apr 28, 1851; however, this postmark is Sep 20 which means it cannot be 1851 as Gray's was out of business by then; therefore, this cover helps identify an earlier listing of SAJ-2330 to Sep 20, 1850 and dates the cover to 1850.

Greathouse & Slicers Express Yreka, black company oval handstamp on brittle buff cover to "J. Berry, Care of Wells Fargo & Co., San Francisco"; although not shown shown on the cover, it would have been exchanged from Greathouse & Slicers Express to Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express at Shasta for carriage into San Francisco; very brittle cover with tear about 1/3 way down from top, other tears, and portions of paper missing, still rare! Good.

Thomas No. GRT-101   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $100 - 150.

Greathouse & Slicer's Express operated from Oct 1, 1855 to Nov, 1857, ending when Slicer left the partnership.

Only three examples of this oval are reported in Thomas, one being in the Wiltsee collection, one to Rosborough in Weaverville, and this example. Perhaps the only opportunity to own one of the rare oval handstamps from this company.

Greenhood & Newbauer. Northern Express, Paid, printed frank on 3c red (U9) Nesbitt entire canceled by blue " Greenhood & Newbauer Express Weaverville, Cal. " company oval (Thomas GRH-100) and ms. "June 9th" to San Francisco Cal.; couple toned corners with some light wear, F.-V.F.

Thomas No. GRH-001   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $75 - 100.

Green's Express, black company double oval handstamp on 6¢ green (U13) Nesbitt entire entering the mails with "Nevada City, Cal. '5' Mar 28" integral-rate cds (NEV-1200) to Huntington Pa.; a few light toned spots and corner wear, F.-V.F., only six examples of Green's Express covers are recorded in Thomas: four in red and two in black. .

Thomas No. GEE-100   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $750 - 1,000.

Green's Express operated from 1852-1856 out of a base at Nevada City (California) serving the mining camps of Blue Tent, Moores Flat, Snow Point, Washington, Omega and Gold Hill.

The Nevada City postmark (Williams' NEV-1200) is known used from Oct 26, 1852 to Mar 21, 1855, helping to bracket the range of dates of use to being likely 1854.

Gregory's Express Office, San Francisco, blue three-line company handstamp with matching " Not Paid " in oval on blue cover to Sacramento Cal.; the recipient "Hon A. C. Peachy" was a prominent attorney, having arrived into San Francisco in April of 1849 as one of the true '49ers, Very Fine and choice.

Thomas No. GRE-108   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $150 - 200.

Gregory's Express was a dominant force in the movement of early mails in California, operating from Feb, 1850 to May 1, 1853. He produced a plethora of handstamp varieties, making collecting this express especially fun and challenging.

Gregory's Express., sharp blue two-line company handstamp with matching small " Paid " oval on buff cover to San Francisco Cal.; light toning along top edge, couple contemporary ink smudges, Very Fine.

Thomas No. GRE-100   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $150 - 200.

Gregory's Express., blue two-line company handstamp with matching " Not Paid " in small oval on small cover addressed entirely in French to San Francisco Cal.; very light wear, Very Fine.

Thomas No. GRE-100   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $75 - 100.

D.W. Harrier's Express, Paid, black printed frank on 3c pink (U34) entire to San Francisco Cal.; Harriers carried it to Nevada City where it was exchanged with blue " Wells, Fargo & Co. Nevada Sep 9 oval for carriage to San Francisco cal.; opened roughly at right with crude repair into indicium, Fine conjunctive use, a rare item that realized $1000 hammer in the Rumsey Sale #56, lot 620 , ex-Dale-Lichtenstein .

Thomas No. HAR-003   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $500 - 750.

ONE OF ONLY TWO EXAMPLES OF THIS TYPE PRINTED FRANK REPORTED IN THOMAS' BOOK.

Harrier's Express operated from Oct 1, 1864 to Sep 1, 1865 during which time they produced no less than eight varieties of printed franks (obviously to minimize capital outlay for printed franked envelopes with U.S. postage on them).

The Sep 9 date of the Wells Fargo handstamp is outside the dates of operation for Harrier's Express, therefore, this is either a very early use (before Harrier's starting advertising their business on Oct 1, 1864) or it is a very late usage shortly after Harrier sold his stage and express line to Philip and Gregory who began operating over the same route Sep 1, 1865.

"Care of Heston's Express, Visalia, Tulare Co., Cal.,", manuscript sender's directive as part of address on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire conjunctive use with Wells, Fargo printed frank and blue " Wells, Fargo & Cos Express S. Frco 21 Dec " double-circle cds; Wells Fargo carried this cover from San Francisco to Visalia, where it was exchanged with Heston's for delivery to Stephen Franklin at "White River" (a mining district around Millerton); slight reduction at left, small white paper adhesion on front at lower left, otherwise Very Fine and rare Heston Express conjunctive use, Only three Heston's covers are recorded in Thomas: two Visalia handstamps and one manuscript directive. This cover is not the one recorded in Thomas.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

Heston's Express maintained offices at Visalia, Millerton, and Hornitas; they connected with Wells, Fargo first at Stockton, then at Hornitas, and finally at Visalia. His first period of operation (applicable to this cover) was from mid-1855 to Nov, 1859.

Hopkinson's Express. Paid, black printed frank on 3¢ pink (U58) entire to Whartenby, Nevada City, Cal., 1866 docketing at left as virtually all Whartenby covers have "James Holmes, Feby 2/66 $403.25"; slightly reduced at right, light waterstaining at left and top, Fine.

Thomas No. HOP-004   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $300 - 400.

Hopkinson's Express produced at least 12 different types of printed franks during their seven year operational period (Mar, 1862 to late, 1868 or early, 1869).

Hunter & Co's Express, black oval company handstamp with left-facing horse and express rider with Hunter's manuscript " Humbug $2. " indicating where the recipient was on Hunter's route and the express fee due; folded letter datelined "Flint Township July 20th 1852" entered the mails with red-orange "Griggsville, Ill. Jul 21" cds and manuscript " 10 " rate marking addressed to Sacramento City Cal.; overall soiling and toning, light edge wear at folds, Fine, ex-Kutz, Blaine ; with 1981 P.F. certificate.

Thomas No. HUN-101   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $500 - 750.

PERHAPS THE FINEST STRIKE OF THE TEN OR SO KNOWN EXAMPLES OF HUNTER'S "RUNNING PONY" HANDSTAMP.

Alexander Hunter was the principal proprietor of the first of the two Hunter & Co.'s Expresses, announced as a new express on Feb 5, 1851, serving the mining camps on the South, Middle, and North Forks of the American River. Alexander Hunter left the firm in the spring of 1852 and departed for the Eastern States, at which time eight individuals (none from the original company) were co-partners under the name of Hunter & Co.'s Express. Hunter & Co.'s Express sold out to Wells, Fargo & Co. effective Jul 1, 1854.

Humbug was a very small mining camp severed only by express operators. This cover was picked up by Hunter in Sacramento and delivered to Humbug at the upper north fork of the American River.

References: Illustrated in Kutz's Gold Fever.

Hunter & Co's Express, fancy blue cameo corner card with small black company handstamp oval " Hunter & Co.s Express Placerville " (Thomas HUN-106) and manuscript " Free " on buff cover franked with damaged 3¢ dull red (11A) uncanceled to Sacramento City Cal.; brittle paper, apparently fire-damaged (perhaps one of the Lichtenstein fire covers), small pieces of paper missing, especially backflap, Good, One of only two examples of this fancy corner card recorded in Thomas, as well as being one of only three examples of the Placerville oval.

Thomas No. HUN-401   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $75 - 100.

Hunter's Express was in operation from 1851 to June, 1854 serving the mining camps around Placerville.

Kennedy & Co.'s Half Moon Bay & Pescadero Express, blue printed frank on 3¢ pink (U59) buff entire to San Francisco Cal.; no other markings, indicating carriage by Kennedy's Express alone; accompanied by contemporary newspaper clipping; slightly reduced at left, toning along top edge, lower right corner repaired, F.-V.F. appearance, One of seven recorded examples of this printed frank in the Thomas census. , ex-Barkhausen .

Thomas No. KEN-001   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $100 - 150.

Kennedy's Express ran from San Francisco to Half Moon Bay and Pescadero on the San Mateo Coast from 1864-1868.

Lamping & Co.'s Express, lot of two covers, both with black printed frank and partially struck black oval company handstamps " Lamping & Co's Express Downieville " (Thomas LAM-100) and partial exchange markings of " Wells, Fargo & Co., Marysville " blue oval datestamps; both on 3¢ pink (U58) entire addressed to Daneri in San Francisco Cal.; first with repairs along top edge, second with several tears and piece missing top, Fine pair.

Thomas No. LAM-001   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $100 - 150.

Lamping & Co.'s Express was in operation less than a year, from Nov, 1865 to Aug, 1866.