Sale 1326 — 2024 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Thursday, 27 June, 2024
Category — Western Postal History
Mountain Springs Cal. to Sweden. 10c Pale Green on Buff Nesbitt entire (U18a) cancelled by balloon-style "Mountain Springs Cal. Apr. 27" (1856) circular datestamp and addressed to Ronneby, Sweden, magenta "Paid 19c" at top indicates part of postage paid in cash, red "N. York Am Pkt. 7 Paid May 31" 7c credit datestamp at left, additional strikes of New York June 1 datestamp, red framed "Aachen Franco" and "Franco Preuss./ resp:Vereinsh:Ausl-1'd" prepaid transit marking, red "3" credit handstamp struck out by grid, manuscript "2f" (blue) and "3or" markings, boxed Stockholm backstamp, some slight wear, Very Fine and rare use, Mountain Springs Cal. was founded in Placer County in 1854 and was later renamed Gold Run, accompanied by note from Stanley B. Ashbrook who states the "ore" marking is unusual on a letter this early as it only came into use in June 1856 and stamps of the skilling value continued to be used as late as 1858
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Tied by "Empire Ranch Cal. Dec. 5" circular datestamp on cover to Foxcroft Maine with illustrated 6-Horse Stagecoach design, coach and banner reading "OVERLAND MAIL TO ALL PARTS OF THE UNION FROM SAN FRANCISCO VIA LOS ANGELES", imprint of A. Randall & Co., Marysville, very minor edgewear, still Very Fine and beautiful design, ex Haas and "Edwards" (Grombacher), illustrated in Neinken's 10c book, with 1991 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Tied by part strike of "San Francisco Cal. ? 18, 1861" circular datestamp on cover to Oswego N.Y., with small illustrated 4-Horse Stagecoach design in blue with "OVERLAND VIA LOS ANGELES U.S. MAIL" on the coach and rare caption "THE STAR OF THE UNION - California", from the Turrill correspondence, Extremely Fine, remarkably choice, ex Grunin, with 1988 P.F. certificate
3c Rose (65). Tied by circle of wedges cancels and affixed over part of caption of "OVERLAND—via—Los Angeles” hand-colored illustrated 4-horse stagecoach design, "Benicia Cal. Mar. 4" double-circle datestamp on cover to Bridgewater Mass. and forwarded to Boston, "Bridgewater Mass. Apr. 3" circular datestamp, "Via Los Angeles" portion of lettering on the coach is crossed out and stamp is placed over the same words below, cover slightly reduced at right, small corner mend at top left, still Fine and beautiful design, it is unclear if the 3c paid the forwarding postage (and if so, how the transcontinental rate was paid) or if it was applied in Benicia (over the route) and paid the 3c rate, ex Pearce and Haas
10c Green, Type V (35). Horizontal strip of three, tied by two bold strikes of “San Francisco Cal. Feb. 17, 1860” circular datestamp on illustrated railroad propaganda cover to Stade, Prussia, text above steaming locomotive has stagecoach route directive “PER OVERLAND MAIL STAGE, VIA LOS ANGELES.” and in small letters the railroad promotional slogan “In hope of the [train],” San Francisco publisher’s imprint below woodcut illustration “Published by Hutchings & Rosenfield, 146 Montgomery St.”, red “N. York Am. Pkt. Paid 7 Mar. 17” 7c credit datestamp—carried on the Inman’s Glasgow from New York on March 17, arriving in Queenstown on March 30 and Liverpool on March 31—entered Prussian mail system at Aachen with partly clear red “AACHEN [2/4?] FRANCO” framed transit datestamp, blue “Stadt 3/4” (April 3) receiving backstamp, small piece of backflap missing and very slightly reduced at top
Very Fine strip and cover. The only recorded California railroad propaganda cover to another country—a fantastic piece of Western Americana with an impressive provenance.
Illustrated in Coburn Letters of Gold (p. 136). Ex White, Gibson, Wagner, Baker, Grunin, “Sevenoaks” and Gross. With 1987 P.F. certificate. See https://siegelauctions.com/legacy/49.pdf for history and commentary.
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Well-centered, light creases in margin at left, tied by "San Francisco Cal. Sep. 6, 18(60?)" circular datestamp on "Via Panama" illustrated steamship cover to Mobile Ala., tiny corner mend at bottom right and faint stain at upper left, still Very Fine and scarce illustrated design, with 1988 P.F. certificate
Adams & Cos Express, Don Pedro's Bar, Paid. Clear strike of large blue oval handstamp on buff cover with "Long Tom" illustrated miner's design depicting miners working a sluice box, to Columbia Cal., minor wear
VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE AND VERY SCARCE "LONG TOM" MINER'S ENVELOPE USED WITHIN CALIFORNIA AND CARRIED BY ADAMS EXPRESS FROM DON PEDRO'S BAR.
According to Ken Kutz in Gold Fever: "The early miners formed syndicates and worked as a group using 'Long Toms' to extract the gold. In essence it was an elongated sluice box with riffles or sacking in the bottom to catch the gold. A continuous current of water washed the gravel through the Long Tom, leaving the contained gold behind." Only a half-dozen examples of this design are reported by Kutz (with and without Noisy Carrier imprint).
Adams & Company set up its California and Oregon business in December 1849 under the direction of William B. Dinsmore of New York and Daniel H. Haskell of Boston, with Alvin Adams as a third partner. Dinsmore left shortly thereafter. In 1852 I. C. Woods joined the firm and two years later became a partner. Its business in the shipment of gold, merchandise, parcels and letters flourished, and its related banking operations established Adams & Co. as a major force in the economic development of the West. All of this figuratively turned to dust in February 1855 with the failure of Page, Bacon & Company, a prominent banking firm. Two days later Adams Express collapsed as depositors rushed to withdraw their gold from a concern that was already weakened by competition (source: Wiltsee, The Pioneer Mule and The Pack Mule Express).
Mossman's Express. Bold strike of oval handstamp in dark watery ink with matching "PAID 50" in double-lined shield with four stars rate handstamp on yellow cover to Salem Ore., blue "Wailepta W.T. Jul. 25" Washington Territory circular datestamp at top with manuscript "Paid 3" rate, opened at right with slightly rounded lower right corner
VERY FINE. A REMARKABLE EARLY EXAMPLE OF MOSSMAN'S EXPRESS. ONE OF THE RAREST AND MOST DESIRABLE OF EXPRESS MARKINGS FROM TERRITORIES IN THE NORTHWEST PACIFIC MINING REGION.
In April 1861, Isaac Van Dorsey Mossman, a pony rider, started an express company in Oregon, Idaho and Washington territories. Wailepta was an early name for Walla Walla. Mossman charged 50c per letter. Printed franks are known, including a table of distances and charges. The Thomas Western Express Companies book lists one other cover with both markings and one with the shield only but neither are illustrated.
Ex Crocker (Nov. 23, 1938 Harmer, Rooke sale, lot 796).
The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, St. Joseph, Mo. Nov. 23 (1860). Mostly complete strike of oval datestamp applied on arrival to way-mail cover carried on the Pony Express trip that started in San Francisco on Saturday, November 10, 1860, and arrived in St. Joseph on November 23, addressed to Charles White, Whitestown, New York, sender's directive "By Pony Express", 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26) affixed by St. Joseph office over manuscript "1/4" quarter-ounce weight notation ($2.50 rate), cancelled by grid with matching "Saint Joseph Mo. Nov. 24" double-circle datestamp, stamp has margin defects including piece out at lower right, cover slightly reduced at left
VERY FINE OVERALL APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY UNUSUAL PONY EXPRESS COVER WITH UNITED STATES POSTAGE AFFIXED ON ARRIVAL—THE COVER WAS PLACED INTO THE MOCHILLA SOMEWHERE ALONG THE ROUTE OF THE PONY TRIP THAT STARTED IN CALIFORNIA ON NOVEMBER 10, 1860.
This cover was placed in the way-mail pocket of the mochilla that contained the November 10, 1860, mail from San Francisco. Its sender's name and mailing location are not known, but it must have originated within the distance limit for the 3c rate. Postage was probably paid in cash, and upon arrival in St. Joseph, the receiving office applied the November 23 oval datestamp, then affixed the 3c stamp. The St. Joseph post office applied the November 24 datestamp and cancelled the stamp before sending the cover on the eastbound train.
Pony Express way-mail covers are rare. A similar way-mail cover with two 3c stamps is listed as FKW E17, but it differs from the cover offered here in two respects. First, the Fort Bridger office applied a manuscript express marking, establishing the origin point. Second, it is impossible to tell whether the two 3c stamps (double rate) were affixed at Fort Bridger or at St. Joseph. On the cover offered here, the stamp is affixed partly over the St. Joseph oval, which proves it was not on the cover when it arrived at the end of the Pony trip. This is the only cover we have seen on which the adhesive stamp was applied at the receiving office.
FKW census E39A. Ex Kramer. With letter of opinion from Richard C. Frajola stating "it is a genuine usage carried by the Pony Express" and explaining how the 3c stamp was applied by the St. Joseph office before this way-mail cover was placed into the mails.
Wells Fargo & Company Pony Express, $1.00 Red (143L3). Position L1, ample margins, bright shade, small tear at top and diagonal crease at lower right, tied by clear strike of blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Express, Folsom" oval handstamp, bold strike of blue "Pony Express, Sacramento, Jul. 4" (1861) oval datestamp on 10c Green on White Star Die entire (U32) with Wells Fargo & Company printed red frank, addressed to Miss Drucilla A. Beach, Massena, New York, pen cancel on embossed stamp, no post office markings, carried with the mail that left San Francisco on July 3, 1861, the first trip under the new government mail contract—with original letters datelined at Folsom, the first on July 1 from Mrs. E. D. Shirland, cousin of Charles R. Shirland, and the second on July 3 from Charles; Mrs. Shirland writes: "My Dear Cousin, If not cousin now I hope it soon will be as Cousin Charlie has informed me of an engagement existing between yourself and him. He also has told me of his intentions of sending for you to come to California" and warns her to avoid travelers who are "not fit companions for a lady to associate with"; Charles informs Drucilla that he has sent her $50 and another $350 draft (the receipt for this Wells Fargo draft is located in their archives), explains her travel arrangements, and states that it is 2:00 p.m. (on July 3) and "the Pony starts on his journey overland to the Eastern states at 4 o'clock."
EXTREMELY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED PONY EXPRESS COVER FROM FOLSOM, WHICH MADE A JOURNEY IN BOTH DIRECTIONS—24 MILES WEST FROM FOLSOM TO SACRAMENTO, WHERE IT WAS PLACED IN THE MOCHILLA, THEN BACK EAST TO FOLSOM AND ONWARD FROM PLACERVILLE BY PONY EXPRESS ON THE FIRST TRIP UNDER THE NEW GOVERNMENT CONTRACT.
The government awarded the mail contract along the Central Route to the Overland Mail Company on March 12, 1861, effective July 1. The contract paid $1,000,000 per year for mail/passenger service along the Central Route and required the company "...during the continuance of their Contract, or until completion of The Overland telegraph, to run a Pony Express semi-weekly at a Schedule time of ten days eight months of the year and twelve days four months of the year, and to convey for the Government free of charge five pounds of Mail Matter; with liberty of charging the public for transportation of letters by said express not exceeding One dollar per half ounce..."
This period of operation is known as Phase III, which corresponds to Rate Period 4 (July 1-October 24, 1861). On July 1 Wells Fargo & Co. issued new stamps and envelopes to reflect the agreed-upon government contract rate for the Pony Express. The fee for Pony Express service between Placerville and St. Joseph (or Atchison) could not exceed $1.00 per half-ounce. If Wells Fargo & Co. carried the letter by express to or from Placerville (for example, from San Francisco), an extra express fee was charged. If the sender used one of Wells Fargo & Co.'s stamped envelopes with the printed frank and 10c embossed postage, the total amount paid was $1.20 ($1.00 for Pony Express service plus 20c for additional express charge and postage). The Wells Fargo ad noted that "letters not enclosed as above [in government franked envelopes] will be charged at the rate of 25 cents each [in addition to the $1.00 Pony Express fee]." Since the July 1 commencement date of the new contract was known well in advance at both the eastern and western terminal offices, the $1.00 rate went into effect simultaneously, and new stamps were ready for the first eastbound trip.
The first trip under the new contract was an eastbound departure from San Francisco on July 3. It is not known when this mail arrived in St. Joseph, but the Confederate bushwackers' destruction of rail lines and bridges on the Hannibal & St. Louis Railroad had already caused disruptions, presaging the Platte Bridge Railroad Tragedy of September 1861 which prompted the relocation of the eastern terminus from St. Joseph to Atchison. Another cover from this trip is known, with a San Francisco July 3 Running Pony datestamp (FKW E109, Sale 979, lot 30). Both covers entered the mail without datestamps; the July 3 cover was cancelled on arrival with a New York City grid, and this July 4 cover was pen-cancelled.
The unusual east-to-west and west-to-east journey this cover took is probably best explained by the timing. Rather than hold the cover until the Pony mochilla passed through Folsom, it was sent by train to Sacramento to meet the express there. The Sacramento office applied its July 4 oval datestamp and the cover made its way back to Folsom and on to Placerville, where the Pony relay started.
FKW census E110. Illustrated in Coburn, Letters of Gold (page 259) and Frajola-Kramer-Walske, The Pony Express: A Postal History (page 60). Ex Haas and Kramer. With 1982 P.F. certificate.
Wells Fargo & Co. Virginia City Pony Express, 10c Brown (143L7). Large margins to just touched including part of adjoining stamp at bottom, tied by blue "Wells, Fargo & Cos. Express Gold Hill Utah" oval handstamp on 3c Pink entire (U35) with Wells Fargo & Co. printed frank to Eldorado Cal., slightly reduced at left
VERY FINE. A SCARCE USE OF THE VIRGINIA CITY PONY EXPRESS 10-CENT BROWN FROM GOLD HILL.
The Wells Fargo & Co. Gold Hill office continued to use the "Utah" handstamp after the region became part of Nevada in March 1861. The ratio of 10c Brown to 25c Blue covers is 1:3 according to the Gamett census.
Pencil note on back indicates this was in a Nov. 1950 Costales auction.
Wells Fargo & Co. Virginia City Pony Express, 25c Red (143L9). Position A4, full to large margins all around, rich color, tied by blue “Wells, Fargo & Co. Virginia Cty. N.T. Jul. 12” (1864) oval datestamp on 3c Pink on White entire (U34) with Wells Fargo & Co. printed frank to Clara C. Crittenden in San Francisco, 1864 letter enclosed, small gum smear
EXTREMELY FINE. A CHOICE STAMP AND BEAUTIFUL VIRGINIA CITY PONY COVER FROM THE FAMOUS CRITTENDEN CORRESPONDENCE. THE RED 25-CENT VIRGINIA CITY PONY STAMP IS MUCH SCARCER ON COVER THAN THE BLUE.
This cover was sent to Clara C. Crittenden by her husband, Alexander Parker Crittenden, a prominent West Coast attorney, while he was residing in Virginia City. The move to Nevada became necessary after California passed a law prohibiting the practice of law by anyone who would not take the loyalty oath. “Parker” Crittenden was a pro-Southerner who chose to relocate to Virginia City, rather than swear allegiance to the federal government. His wife stayed in San Francisco for some time, and the two corresponded frequently while he was away. A few years later, on a ferry in front of his wife and son, Crittenden was shot dead by his mistress, Laura D. Fair. In one of the most sensational criminal trials in American history, Fair claimed she was "insane" when she committed the act, due to a particularly difficult menstrual cycle. She was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. However, with the support of famous suffragettes, she won on appeal and her conviction was overturned on the basis of "prejudice" in the original trial.
Ex “D.K.” Collection, Twigg-Smith and Ambassador Middendorf. With 1981 P.F. certificate.