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Sale 41: Western Postal History

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Western Express - Adams to American

Lots 467-476 Lots 477-486

Lot 467    

Adams & Co. Express. Interoffice letter on printed letterhead (one page on partial sheet, no cover) from San Francisco to Stockton, dated "October 26, 1854", and announcing the introduction of Adams stamps, letter reads in part "To facilitate our business operations we have commenced the use of Express Postage Stamps… there is no direct profit in them to anyone. You will please cash them whenever presented at the rate of 25c each and sell them at the same rate to pay postages and make small remittances. You will therefore please persuade parties sending small sums to use them… At present the arrangement extends to Cal. + Oregon only please [do] not use them in the Atlantic States business.", soiled and some missing paper at the edges, Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Adams first stamps (Scott 1L3) were printed in black on pink paperboard and featured a likeness of D. H. Haskell, the co-owner and general manager of the western company. The stamps came to be popularly known as "poker chip" stamps. This letter clearly indicates that the stamps were meant to serve as a substitute for coinage, which tended to be in short supply in early California. It bears noting that this letter does not convey in any way that Adams stamps were intended as franks to be affixed on letters.

Realized: $550

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Lot 468    

Per Adams & Co. Express. Manuscript endorsement at bottom of collect express cover to Melbourne, Australia, with "Advt'd" endorsement, cover reduced at right, F.-V.F., a rare Adam's transpacific express usage.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $220

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Lot 469    

Adams & Co's/Express/Benicia. Light strike of blue oval handstamp on folded letter datelined "Benicia, California, 9 September 1854", to Sacramento, light file folds through Adams handstamp, otherwise fresh and Very Fine, letter requests that recipient "please look into the Post Office at your City (Sac) and have all letters and papers that are directed to me, forwarded to me at this place…".
Estimate    $75 - 100.

Realized: $40

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Lot 470    

Adams & Co./Grass Valley. Light but readable red express co. handstamp on folded letter dated "August 20th, 1853", to Sacramento, manuscript directive "pr Adams & Co's Express", light vert file fold through marking, F.-V.F., the Adams Grass Valley cancellation is an extreme rarity.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $210

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Lot 471    

Adams & Co's Express/Mormon Island. Full double-lined black express company handstamp on cover originating from Boston with black "Boston 10 Cts" cds to San Francisco, forwarded to to Mormon Island where Adams handstamp was applied for final delivery to "Mur(derers) Bar", with manuscript "1.00" express charge, some light stains & soiling on front of cover, otherwise Very Fine, an exceptional strike of the Adams Mormon Island handstamp and a classic Gold Rush usage.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $400

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Lot 472    

Adams & Co's Express/Murphys. Clear blue express company oval on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire with Nesbitt Seal on backflap, addressed to Stockton, flap tear & three vertical opening tears at top, two of which extend slightly into the Adams handstamp, Fine.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

The Adams Murphys cancellation, from the Calaveras County town of Murphy's Camp, is a great rarity, and this example, although with some minor faults, is arguably the best of the few known.

Realized: $200

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Lot 473    

Adams & Co's Express/Rattlesnake Bar. Bluish green oval handstamp with matching boxed "Paid" handstamp on cover to Mormon Island, cover has been crudely repaired including portion of Rattlesnake Bar handstamp being added, extensive staining remains both on front and rear and cover is in need of professional restoration to arrest further deterioration, Fine.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

This cover is the only example of the Adams Rattlesnake Bar cancellation known to Philately.
.

Realized: $425

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Lot 474    

Adams & Co./Sacramento/Dec. 15. Two clear blue circular handstamps, one of which is double-struck, on blue folded letter dated "Dec. 13, 1853" to San Francisco, additional blue Adams boxed "Paid" handstamp boldly applied over double struck Adams Sacramento handstamp, apparently to definitively denote payment of applicable express charges, Very Fine.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

Realized: $50

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Lot 475    

Adams & Co's/ Express/San Francisco (point of origin) blue express handstamp on on folded letter dated "Sept. 9, 1852", addressed to Georgetown, Cal. with manuscript directive of sender "Care of Mr James Arnold Volcano Bar Middle fork American River", additional Adams agent's manuscript endorsement "G H Slide $1", indicating express charges for carriage first to Adams' Yankee Jim's office, then to Georgia Hill Slide with blue Adams & Co's/Express/Yankee Jim's handstamp, light overall soiling, file folds affecting express markings, F.-V.F., but a classic example of the tenacity of the Gold Rush expresses.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $300

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Lot 476    

Adams & Co./Express/San Francisco. Blue oval handstamp on 1853 folded letter sheet to Sacramento forwarded to San Francisco, with blue "Wells, Fargo & Co/Express/Sacramento" oval handstamp, with Marysville docketing on backflap, Very Fine, a scarce early combination usage.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $425

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Lots 467-476 Lots 477-486

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