Lot
3218 
F. Rumrill & Cos. Express, Connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co., blue double-oval handstamp and manuscript "Coll 1.00" rating on small gray lady's cover with red "Georgetown N.Y. Feb 7" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp and manuscript "6" cent rating to Marysville Cal., small "Farewell!" label affixed, Very Fine and scarce use. Thomas No. RUM-104 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Frank Rumrill operated an express between Marysville and Downieville from 1851 until he sold to Sam Langton in April 1855. He connected at Marysville at first with Gregory's Express and then with Wells Fargo & Co. Nathan reported that his frank was in use from January through April 1854. This letter illustrates his $1.00 fee.
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Realized: $850
Lot
3219
Spargur's Honey Lake Express. Paid., printed frank with ornate frame on buff cover with "Quincy Cal., Jul 6" cds and manuscript "Paid 10" rating to Boston Mass., endorsed "Via Panama", Very Fine; signed Bartels. Thomas No. SPA-001 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS SPARGUR'S HONEY LAKE EXPRESS FRANK.
H.L. Spargur operated an express service from Oroville to Quincy, California that may have extended to the Honey Lake area.
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Realized: $4,250
Lot 3220 *
Stolp's Express, Nevada, oval handstamp on blue folded letter datelined "Washington, June 11, 1854" to Oriskany N.Y., entered mails with "Nevada City '5' 26 Jun" integral-rate cds with proper "10" rating handstamp, Very Fine, ex-Clifford.Thomas No. STO-100 Estimate $500 - 750.
ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE STOLP'S EXPRESS NEVADA CITY OVAL HANDSTAMP.
Cornelius Stople ran en express service to the mining camps north of the Bear River. This run would include the camps of Red Dog, You Bet and Little York.
Realized: $1,050
Lot
3221
Tibbett's & Co's, Excelsior Express, Paid., printed frank with fancy ornate frame on 3¢ pink (U59) buff entire cancelled by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Dutch Flat, Apr 18" oval handstamp to San Francisco Cal.; slightly rough opening at right, Very Fine, ex Dale-Lichtenstein. Thomas No. TIB-001 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE TIBBETT'S & CO'S EXCELSIOR EXPRESS FRANK, ONE IS CONTAINED IN THE WILTSEE COLLECTION.
William Tibbett started running an express operation between Nevada City and Dutch Flat Cal. From Dutch Flat he extended his route on to the Excelsior mining district around Meadow Lake. In 1866 this operation became Organ & Tibbett Express.
Realized: $2,200
Lot
3222
Wells & Co's, Moore's Flat and Eureka Express, printed frank with fancy frame, on 3¢ pink (U59) buff cover cancelled by "Nevada City, Cal. Jun 13" duplex to New York City, Very Fine, WC4062, One of only five recorded examples of this Well's & Co's "Moore's Flat and Eureka Express" frank.. Thomas No. WEC-005 Estimate $400 - 600.
L.H. Wells sold one-half interest in his express to Absalom W. Herring and this operation became Wells & Company. This operation ran over the same route from Nevada City to Lake City, North Broomfield, Moore's Flat, Woolsey's Flat, Orleans Flat and Eureka South. They connected with Wells Fargo at Nevada City.
Realized: $1,100
Lot
3223
Wells & Herring's, Moore's Flat and Eureka Express, printed frank with fancy frame on 3¢ green (U82) entire cancelled by conjunctive "Wells Fargo & Co., Nevada" oval datestamp in blue to Santa Cruz Cal., Very Fine, WC4066, ex Dale-Lichtenstein. Thomas No. WEH-006 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED USED EXAMPLES OF THIS WELLS & HERRING'S MOORE'S FLAT AND EUREKA EXPRESS FRANK.
L.H. Wells took on Absalom W. Herring as a partner in March 1870 and operated as Wells & Co. In July 1871, this operation started referring to itself as Wells and Herring Express. They operated over the same route as Wells & Co.
Realized: $2,100
Lot
3224
J.P. Wharton's Express., printed frank with fancy border on orange cover bearing 3¢ rose (65), tied by two strikes of "Holland & Wheeler's Express, La Porte" double circle handstamp to Folsom Cal., "Wells Fargo & Co., Marysville, Mar 1" double-oval datestamp; trivial stain affects 3¢, reduced slightly at left, Very Fine, Thomas WC5950, ex Dale-Lichtenstein. Thomas No. WHA-001 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS J.P. WHARTON EXPRESS FRANK, A RARE TRIPLE CONJUNCTIVE USE WITH WELLS FARGO & CO. AND HOLLAND & WHEELER EXPRESS.
James P. Wharton purchased William Ford's express route that operated out of Gibsonville Cal. and ran into Plumas County camps. This included La Porte, Jamison City and the camps along Hopkin's Creek, Poorman Creeks, Nelson Point and Richmond Hill. He connected with Wheeler Express at La Porte, Cal. In 1864, this operation was sold and became Garland Express.
Realized: $3,250
Lot
3225
Wheeler, Rutherford & Co.'s Express, printed ribbon frank (Haller FW11) on 3¢ pink (U59) buff entire cancelled by light strike of blue Wheeler's Express double-circle datestamp to Morristown Cal., printed "W.T. Ellis, Forwarding & Commission Merchant, Marysville" return address, Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $290
Lot
3226
Whiting & Co.'s Feather River Express, banner frank on 3¢ pink (U58) entire cancelled by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Oroville, Dec 14" oval to San Francisco Cal., Very Fine and scarce. Thomas No. WHI-009 Estimate $300 - 400.
This express was a major force in Northern Plumas County and the Magalia Ridge area of Butte County. From a base at Quincy, this express connected with the Everts expresses, who would move material to Marysville for connection with Wells Fargo.
Realized: $1,500
Lot
3227
Wood & Co's Express., fancy straightline ribbon frank on 3¢ pink (U58) entire cancelled by sharp "Wells, Fargo & Co., Oroville, Jan 7" datestamp to Sacramento Cal.; reduced at right, Very Fine, WC6062, ex Dale-Lichtenstein. Thomas No. WOO-004 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS WOODS & CO.'S EXPRESS FRANK, ONE OF WHICH IS CONTAINED IN THE WILTSEE COLLECTION.
Allen J. Wood Sr. and Jr. teamed up to run a stage and express service for a period of time from Oroville into Plumas and Lassen Counties. This express service, which ran primarily between Oroville and Susanville, was sold to Wells Fargo in 1868.
Realized: $3,250