March Internet Auction

L. Blum & Co., Santa Cruz, light tan shaded ad on 3c pink on white 1864-65 entire (U58) with Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank vertically at left and readable strike of blue company oval (Thomas WFE-101) to San Francisco; merchants handstamp on verso in blue dcds "I Blum & Co. Santa Cruz Jun 4, 1870"; water staining on lower 2/3 of cover, otherwise, Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $40 - 60.

Breeze & Loughran, San Francisco, light pink shaded ad cover on 3¢ green (U82) entire to Stockton Cal.; pencil "Nov 18/1875" docketing on verso, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

F. Chevalier, Sacramento, on Pacific Union Express Co. red printed ribbon frank vertically at left (Thomas PAU-001a) entered mails with mostly illegible San Francisco postmark and cork killer on 1864-65 issue 3c pink on buff entire (U59) to San Francisco; Very Fine and choice.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

Ryan Baum's article "Update to Shaded Advertising Covers of the Western Express Era" appeared in the July, 2025 issue of Western Express, which included a census of the known examples of these covers.

Jackson Lewis, San Jose, light green shaded ad cover with Wells, Fargo's standard printed frank vertically at left and partial black oval datestamp (Thomas WFE-105) from San Jose on indicium of 1870-71 issue 3c green on white entire (U82) to White Pine, Nevada; reduced at right into indicium, repaired at right to seal tears, Fine appearance.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $100 - 150.

Marks & Weintraub, San Francisco, with Pacific Union Express red ribbon printed frank vertically at left (Thomas PAU-001a) on 1864-65 issue 3c pink on buff entire (U59) to Roseburg, Oregon; entered mails with "Sacramento Cal. Apr 7" (1869) dcds with two strikes of "Due 3" in circle; overall shaded ad cover for Marks & Weintraub; messy ink "Due 3" manscript unfortunately obliterates part of the shaded ad verbage, with original business enclosed datelined "San Francisco April the 6/69"; opened at bottom, sound overall, Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

Pacific Union Express Company only existed for about 18 months, operating from June 1, 1868 to Dec 1, 1869, helping to date this cover to 1869.

The July 2025 issue of Western Express provided a detailed article and census of these shaded ad covers.

J.C. Meussdorffer, Sacramento, light blue shaded ad cover on 3c pink on white 1864-65 entire (U58) wth Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank vertically at left to San Francisco; indicium canceled by standard Wells Fargo blue oval for Sacramento; lower right corner chipped, light wrinkling, F.-V.F.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

Sroufe, Sweeney & Co., San Francisco, light brown shaded ad cover with Wells, Fargo's standard printed frank vertically at left on 1874-1886 issue 3c green on white entire (U163) to Stockton; Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $100 - 150.