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Sale 62: Western Postal History

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10 Select Items

Lot 336    

(Eastern Sierra) Kenson's Owens River Express, Paid., black frank (KNS-001) at top center of cover to San Francisco, with "San Carlos Dist., Inyo" circular handstamp used by Kenson's Express (KNS-100), franked with 1861, 3¢ rose (tears) canceled by target handstamp and tied by "Esmeralda, N.T., Feb 24" where the cover entered the mails, manuscript "1398" which is believed to be the postal box for Mr. Doble; stamp and cover flaws including partial sideflap, tear at bottom left and small piece of corner restored at top left, none of which affect the express markings, F.-V.F. appearance, ex-Lichtenstein.
Scott No. 65    Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.

THE UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF THIS KENSON'S OWENS RIVER EXPRESS FRANK IN COMBINATION WITH THE SAN CARLOS DISTRICT HANDSTAMP.

Only one example from each of the two different frank types is known from this very rare Eastern Sierra/Nevada Express. This is considered to be the earlier example frank type of the two known and it is the only one that contains both the Kenson's Frank and Kenson hand stamp. The last time this item was offered in public was the Harmer Silver Sale of 1997. At that time this item sold for $4,250 plus commission. It is the key to any Inyo County Express Collection.

Realized: $8,500

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Lot 361    

(Eastern Sierra) Wells, Fargo & Co. Virginia City Pony Express, 1861, 3¢ pink entire to Willow Springs, Coso (Mining District in Inyo County), with large margin Wells, Fargo & Co. 1862, 25¢ blue (143L8) tied by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., San Frco, Sep 17" circular datestamp, printed frank (WFE-030) at top, with additional manuscript "Care of Kenson's Pony Express" at "Aurora/Esmeralda", "Coll 2/-" (2 bits or 25¢) manuscript Kenson's express fee to collect, sender's manuscript on reverse from Cobb in San Francisco and "Rec Oct 15th"; cover edge flaws, opened on three sides and reduced at left.
Scott No. 143L8+U34    Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.

A REMARKABLE AND UNIQUE DOUBLE PONY EXPRESS USAGE CARRIED BY WELLS, FARGO & CO. VIRGINIA CITY PONY EXPRESS AND THE KENSON'S PONY EXPRESS FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO THE COSO MINING DISTRICT.

Only a few of the Virginia City Ponies are double express usage. The other examples, which are believed to be two, started in the east bay and were carried by Bamber Express and turned over to Wells Fargo. This is the only Virginia City Pony cover known that Wells Fargo turned over to another express. The town of Aurora had just been determine (9/16/1863) by a boundary survey to be in Esmeralda County, Nevada. Before that the town's Post Office was known as Esmeralda and the town was believed located in Mono County, California. This cover traveled from San Francisco by steamer to Sacramento, then to Placerville by train and then by pony over the Sierra's to Carson City, Nevada and then down the back side of the Sierras Mountains to Aurora. The pony run from Placerville to Aurora was a distance of about 160 miles. At Aurora, Wells Fargo turned the cover over to Kenson's Pony Express who then carried it south, passing back into California, running next to Owens Lake to Willow Springs which was located east of Coso Junction, Inyo County. The distance of this second pony run is around 200 miles.

Realized: $8,500

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Lot 265    

Gilbert & Hedges Express, San Diego., blue oval handstamp (GIL-100) on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire to San Francisco, with Wines Express blue fancy boxed "Collect" handstamp (WIN-2020a, four examples recorded, one is found in Wiltsee) applied when turned over to Wines for delivery in San Francisco, penciled street address likely notated by Wines; small cover tone spots, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate    $4,000 - 6,000.

THE UNIQUE GILBERT & HEDGES EXPRESS HANDSTAMP FROM SAN DIEGO - A REMARKABLE COMBINATION USAGE WITH WINES & CO. EXPRESS DELIVERING LOCALLY WITHIN SAN FRANCISCO.

Gilbert & Hedges express operated around 1855 along the California coast from San Francisco south to San Diego. In 1854, the express firn Dillon, Hedge & Co. was located on Kearny St. near Merchant and it is believed that the Hedge of this firm is the same in the Gilbert & Hedges partnership. Only four Gilbert & Hedge's handstamps have been recorded. Two "Monterey" handstamp usages and one "San Francisco" handstamp (Wiltsee Collection) are known.

Realized: $2,500

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Lot 235    

(California Penny Post Co.) Penny Post Co., San Francisco, remarkable bold strike of circular company handstamp on cover to Fitchburg Mass. bearing 1855 10¢ green (14), four margins and rich color, cancelled by manuscript cross-hatch, tied by "San Franciso Cal. 20 Sep" cds, reverse with "Direct answers to Morgans Ranch, San Francisco" endorsement; 10¢ light creases, Very Fine and rare, ex-Emerson, Jessup and Haas; with 2012 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $3,000 - 4,000.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED 10¢ 1855 ISSUE USAGES WITH THE PENNY POST CO. CIRCULAR HANDSTAMP.

Realized: $4,000

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Lot 618    

(Siskiyou) Wells, Fargo & Co., Oro Fino, Nov 4, oval forwarding datestamp ties 1¢ blue (63) and 3¢ rose (65), top margin pair and single on cover originally from Suncook N.H. to Salmon River Ore. forwarded to Oro Fino and finally to San Francisco, "Suncook N.H. Aug. 30" cds with matching cork cancels on stamps, black "Collect 50cts" oval handstamp; 1¢ corner faulty, Very Fine, ex-Hackett.
Estimate    $3,000 - 4,000.

A REMARKABLE TRANSCONTINENTAL USE FROM SUNCOOK N.H. TO SALMON RIVER ORE., FORWARDED BY WELLS FARGO & CO. TO SAN FRANCISCO.

Realized: $2,200

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Lot 330    

Washburn's Express, News Agency, Camptonville, remarkable bold strike of blue oval handstamp (WAH-100) on small lady's enamel cover to Camptonville Cal. with manuscript "Russian River, Cal Feb 18" postmark and bearing 3¢ dull red (11A), four margins, cancelled by matching pen stroke; minor edge wear and aging not mention on certificate, Very Fine; with 2015 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $3,000 - 4,000.

A STUNNING WASHBURN'S EXPRESS USE WITH GREAT EYE APPEAL BEARING THE 3¢ 1852 ISSUE.

According to Thomas, this express is believed to have worked the mining camps along the northern Yuba River. He may have operated between Marysville, California and Camptonville, Cal. Most of the known examples of this express handstamp are he correspondence from Russian River to William H. Trimble.

Realized: $3,500

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Lot 259    

Farley's Express, Camptonville, sharp strike of blue fancy framed handstamp on buff cover Burnham Me., "Camptonville Cal Dec 17" cds with matching "Paid" and circled "10" rating handstamps, original enclosure datelined "Indian Creek Cal Dec 13 /57" with minor mining news mentioning limited snow but considerable rain: "plenty of water, the most important element in mining…", Extremely Fine and choice.
Estimate    $3,000 - 4,000.

THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THE FARLEY'S EXPRESS CAMPTONVILLE HANDSTAMP.

Realized: $6,000

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Lot 810    

Junction House, C T Nov 10, manuscript postmark tying 1861 3¢ rose (few blunt perfs) on 1865 cover to St. Louis, Mo., Extremely Fine and rare, One of Three Recorded Covers From This Office (this being the finest example), illustrated in Jarrett's Colorado book, ex-Persson.
Estimate    $2,000 - 3,000.

The Junction House post office was located just west of where Beaver Creek meets the South Platte River. Only a month after it opened in December 1864 the office found itself encircled by the Arapaho, Cheyenne and Sioux raids which followed the Sand Creek battle. Beaver Creek stage station, five miles away, was burned on January 14, 1865, and on the overland road stage stations and telegraph lines were destroyed for 75 miles downriver, all the way past Julesburgh. The Junction House post office became Fort Morgan on July 16, 1866.

Realized: $2,300

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Lot 1    

(Illustrated Envelopes) Miner's Envelope, illustrated miner's mountain scene showing bear and tent, "F.C.M. Fenn, San Francisco, Cal." imprint, on reverse of orange buff cover to New Canaan Conn. bearing 3¢ dull red (11), margins to just in, tied by bold "New-York Nov 7" cds; cover with repaired corners and top edges, Very Fine, ex-Jessup, Haas, Kutz; with 2008 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $2,000 - 3,000.

A REMARKABLY RARE F.C.M. FENN MINER'S ENVELOPE DESIGN WHICH IS UNIQUE.

Realized: $3,000

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Lot 862    

Sanderson & Co. Overland Stage & Express Co., Principle Office, Pueblo, Col., printed corner card with illustrated design showing Six Horse Stage on Mountain Road, Stage with "Overland U.S. Mail, S. & Co." imprint, on cover to Del Norte, Col., franked with 1873, 3¢ green tied by quartered cork handstamp, matching "Pueblo, Colo., Jul 4" handstamp alongside, some minor toning on reverse, Very Fine and choice; with 2011 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $2,000 - 3,000.

AN EXTREMELY RARE ILLUSTRATED CORNER CARD FROM THE SANDERSON & CO. OVERLAND STAGE & EXPRESS CO.

Established by Vermont men, Jared L. Sanderson and Bradley Barlow during the Civil War, the Barlow-Sanderson Overland Mail Company first carried the mail and operated a stage line between Sedalia and Warrensburg, Missouri and by 1863, was also operating a line from Kansas City, Missouri to Fort Scott, Kansas. In 1866, they began to expand westward and transferred their headquarters from Kansas City to Junction City, Colorado. By 1867, the two entrepreneurs had established a route from Missouri to California over the Santa Fe Trail and changed the name to the Barlow and Sanderson Company. The company continued to grow in Colorado, becoming the largest stage line in the area and in 1874, the headquarters moved to Granada, Colorado. Two years later, despite rumors of bribery and corruption within the company, the stage line continued to expand. However, buy 1878, Bradley Barlow withdrew and the name of the comapny changed to J.L. Sanderson and Co. Overland Stage and Express Line.

Realized: $2,700

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