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Sale 79: The George J. Kramer Collection of Western Trails and Routes

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Western Express - California - Northern Mines (Holland to Zach's)

Lots 3198-3207 Lots 3208-3217 Lots 3218-3227 Lots 3228-3229

Lot 3208    

Langton's Pioneer Express, fancy printed paid frank on 3¢ red (U10) buff entire cancelled by red "Langton's Pioneer Express, Downieville" oval handstamp to San Francisco Cal., conjunctive blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Marysville, Nov 01 " double-oval datestamp, Very Fine.
Thomas No. LAN-008    Estimate $100 - 150.

Realized: $220

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Lot 3209 (*)   

Langton's Pioneer Express from Marysville, two black on off-white illustrated labels showing stagecoach and steamboat, along with two "Wells, Fargo & Co's Express from San Francisco" black on orange labels and Wells Fargo & Co. "C.O.D." black on yellow label, all used on large piece of package front addressed to Downieville Cal., endorsed "COD" at top right; some creasing, Very Fine.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Sam Langton was surely the most outstanding of the independent expressmen, operating various routes for almost 15 years. His relationship with Wells, Fargo & Co. at Marysville is illustrated here.

Realized: $525

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Lot 3210    

Langton's Pioneer Express, Paid, printed frank on 3¢ pink (U34) entire to Downieville Cal. cancelled by blue "Langton's Pioneer Express, Virginia City" oval, additional blue "Langton's Pioneer Express, Marysville" oval; restored at right, Fine appearance, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. LAN-002a    Estimate $500 - 750.

Samuel W. Langton was a major force in the Northern California express business. The express business he formed stretched across northern California and into Nevada, extending from the Comstock area up to the Humboldt Mines. He died as a result of a buggy accident in Silver City, Nevada in August 1864.

Realized: $500

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Lot 3211    

Morley, Caulkins & Co's, Paid, Daily Express, printed rectangular frank on 10¢ green (U18) buff Nesbitt entire to Point Pleasant Oh., entered mails with bold "Strawberry Valley, Cala., 'July 2' " cds with manuscript dating and matching ms. canceling indicia; repaired, Very Fine appearance.
Thomas No. MOR-001    Estimate $300 - 400.

George W. Morley and Silas Caulkins combined to service the mining camps of the Gibsonville Ridge area from La Porte, California. From La Porte they would have ran to Marysville for an exchange of express material with another express company. This partnership dissolved when Morley formed an express operation with Homer B. Holland. The newly formed operation became Holland, Morley & Company.

Realized: $1,050

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Lot 3212    

Mumbly & Co.'s Express, two strikes of blue oval on orange buff cover to San Francisco Cal., endorsed "Palmer & Cos Express" at top, Very Fine, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. MUM-100    Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE MUMBLY & CO.'S EXPRESS HANDSTAMP.

Joseph H. Mumbly and Henry Reed combined to carry express material between San Francisco, Sacramento and Marysville. Joseph Mumbly had started in the express business as a messenger for Palmer & Co. It appears that he relied on Palmer's as a connection for eastern cities. Palmer got out of the California express business in early 1851 and it appears that Mumbly carried on for a short while and then sold out to Freeman in the summer of 1851.

Realized: $1,600

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Lot 3213    

Nevada City and Meadow Lake Express, printed paid frank on 3¢ pink (U58) entire to Gold Run, Placer County Cal.; cover cleaned and edges strengthened, Very Fine appearance, WC2276, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. NCM-001    Estimate $500 - 750.

ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED NEVADA CITY AND MEADOW LAKE EXPRESS FRANKS.

Between 1866 and the summer of 1867, the town of Meadow Lake Cal. was established below Donner Summit at an elevation of over 7,000 feet. From this location ran an express to Nevada City where it connected with Wells Fargo. The small amount of gold found at this location and the heavy snow fall in the winter ended the mining activity and the need for an express after the first year.

Realized: $900

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Lot 3214    

Organ & Tibbetts, Excelsior Express, Paid., printed frank with fancy ornate frame on 3¢ pink (U58) entire cancelled by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Dutch Flat, Oct 18" oval handstamp to Gold Run, Placer County, Cal.; some minor cover restoration, Very Fine appearance, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. ORG-001    Estimate $750 - 1,000.

William Tibbett and an express man named Organ ran an express service from Nevada City to Dutch Flat, California and on to the Excelsior mining district around Meadow Lake.

Realized: $1,900

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Lot 3215 *   

Oroville & Quincy Express Co. and Wells, printed illustrated frank showing six-horse stage, on 3¢ green (U164) amber entire cancelled by conjunctive "Wells Fargo & Co., Oroville, Jun 3" oval datestamp in blue to San Francisco Cal., Very Fine and rare, WC2290, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. ORO-002    Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

This express operated between Oroville and Quincy, Cal. From Quincy they serviced the upper area of Plumas County. They connected with Wells Fargo at several locations within Plumas.

Realized: $4,000

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Lot 3216    

Pauly & Nohrman's Express, printed fancy paid frank on 3¢ pink (U35) buff entire cancelled by partial blue "Wheeler's Express, La Porte" double-circle to Port Wine, Sierra Co., Cal., manuscript "Ansd Nov 14/64" docketing; edge restoration, Very Fine appearance, WC2330, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. PUN-002    Estimate $750 - 1,000.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS PAULY & NOHRMAN'S EXPRESS FRANK.

Nicholas O. Pauly and G.H. Nohrman combined forces to form an express operation for the Gibsonville area. This express serviced the mining camps along the Gibsonville Ridge. This operation connected with Pacific Express.

Realized: $1,100

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Lot 3217    

N.O. Pauly's Express, printed frank on 3¢ pink (U58) entire cancelled by partly readable strike of blue "Wheeler's Express La Porte" double-circle handstamp to Quincy Cal., straightline "Eureka & Jamison" beneath frank (PUL-101) and "Gibsonville Apr. 16" straightline (PUL-100) across embossed stamp; repaired at left with part of frank's border added, Very Fine appearance.
Thomas No. PUL-003    Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

Reference: Illustrated in Nathan.

Nicholas Oscar Pauly operated an express in the GIbsonville area for a short period before forming a partnership with G.H. Norman (Nohrman) that resulted in Pauly & Nohrman Express. Pauly bought out Nohrman in 1866 and again operated for a period of time as a single express operator.

Realized: $1,350

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Lots 3198-3207 Lots 3208-3217 Lots 3218-3227 Lots 3228-3229

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