Lot
3269 
Kennedy & Co.'s Half Moon Bay & Pescadero Express, blue printed rectangular frank on 3¢ pink (U58) entire cancelled by "San Francisco Cal., Jul 30" duplexes to local address, "Returned -To- Writer" handstamp; reduced slightly at left; small tear at right just into indicia, F.-V.F., WC2212, ex Dale-Lichtenstein. Thomas No. KEN-003 Estimate $400 - 600.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS KENNEDY & CO.'S HALF MOON BAY & PESCADERO EXPRESS PAID FRANK.
M.G. Kennedy and F.M. Utter operated this express service between San Francisco and Half Moon Bay.
Realized: $525
Lot
3270
Leland & McCombe's Express, San Francisco, red double-oval handstamp and matching diamond "Collect" handstamp on legal-size blue cover to George Fisher, Secy. of the U.S. Land Office, San Francisco Cal., manuscript "Los Angeles April 30th, Wells Fargo & Cos. Express" and matching "75cts" express rating, pencil "75¢ Paid" at left; reduced slightly at top, slight edge toning, Very Fine. Thomas No. LEL-100 Estimate $300 - 400.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE LELAND & MCCOMBE'S EXPRESS SAN FRANCISCO OVAL AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS, TWO ADDITIONAL ARE CONTAINED IN THE WILTSEE COLLECTION.
Beginning in late 1853, Leland & McCombe's Express operated in a circular fashion from San Francisco south to Santa Clara and then up to Alamo. They had an additional route by ship up to Crescent City and other towns in Humboldt Bay. The company lasted about eight months.
Realized: $425
Lot
3271
Nichols & Co.'s Express, sharp printed illustrated frank showing train and steamboat, on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire cancelled by blue "Nichols & Co's Express, San Francisco" oval handstamp (NIC-101a) to San Francisco Cal.; right edge strengthened and staining cleaned, Very Fine, ex Dale-Lichtenstein. Thomas No. NIC-001 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
In early 1858, C.P. Nichols and Edward Ludlow formed a daily express to run between San Francisco, San Mateo, Belmont, Redwood City, Santa Clara and San Jose, and semi-monthly to run by way of steamer from San Francisco to Oregon and Washington. They connected with Alta Express for the northern and southern mines and Freeman for the Atlantic States. After about a year of operation, the express was sold or changed its name to the American Express of California.
Realized: $1,050
Lot
3272
From the Noisy Carriers' Publishing Hall, San Francisco, Cal., black on pink label, affixed on light buff cover bearing 10¢ green 1855 issue, rich color, large margins to in at top, tied by "San Francisco, Cal., 20 Mar" cds to Wilmington Del.; entire restored at bottom left and bottom flap added, Very Fine appearance; with 2005 P.F. certificate. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A RARE USE OF THE NOISY CARRIERS' LABEL.
Charles Kimball operated a bookstore for a few years in the mid-1850s. His Noisy Carriers was a private express company located on a wharf near the San Francisco Post Office. His label is known used to and from river locations.
Realized: $1,800
Lot 3273 *
From Noisy Carrier's, Mail, 77 Long Wharf S.F. Cal., clear strike of fancy rectangle handstamp in green on front and as flap seal, on 6¢ green (U14) buff Nesbitt entire to Philadelphia Pa. bearing 1¢ blue (9), vertical strip of three and single, top stamp position 7R1L, recut state of Type I from plate 1E, strip large margins to barely in, single in at top, tied by light strikes of "San Francisco Cal. Jun 1" cds; small part of flap missing, stamps with some excess gum at edges removed, F.-V.F., ex-Knapp, Grunin.Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A COLORFUL AND RARE COMBINATION OF THE GREEN NOISY CARRIER HANDSTAMP AND 1¢ 1851 ISSUE FRANKING ON A 6¢ NESBITT ENTIRE PREPAYING THE 10¢ RATE.
The Noisy Carriers handstamp was applied by Noisy Carriers Publishing Hall to indicate or advertise their handling of mail put on steamers departing for Nicaragua or Panama. It is scarce in green and very rare on 6c entires uprated with the 1c 1851 Issue.
Realized: $2,700
Lot 3274 *
"Pacific Express Co., Cookbar", blue manuscript endorsement and matching "with $10 in cash enclosed", bold strike of blue "PAID" handstamp (PAC-200e) on blue folded letter datelined "Cooks Bar April 16th" to San Francisco Cal., endorsed "To be left at Wells Fargo & Co. Express, San Francisco" at bottom left, Very Fine and rare.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Discovered in 1855 by Dennis Cook, this area which lasted a short time, was serviced by the newly formed Pacific Express Co. and taken in to Wells, Fargo & Co. in San Francisco.
Lot
3275
Pacific Express Co., Stockton, Paid, blue double-oval frank handstamp on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire cancelled by matching "Pacific Express Co., Stockton, Feb 14" oval to San Francisco Cal., Hewlett & Collins General Merchandise flap oval, Very Fine. Thomas No. PAC-102a Estimate $250 - 350.
When Adams & Co. failed in February 1855, a number of its former employees established the Pacific Express Co. under the leadership of Russell G. Noyes. Most of the locations that had an Adams office quickly found they had a Pacific office. Pacific Express failed in April 1857 due to embezzlement and lacking funds.
Realized: $220
Lot 3276 *
Pacific Express Co., illustrated horse and rider design frank on 3¢ red (U9) Nesbitt entire uprated with 1¢ blue (9) and two 3¢ dull red (11a) singles, all tied by strikes of "San Francisco, Cal., 5 Nov" cds to Sackets Harbor N.Y., Very Fine, ex-Walske.Thomas No. PAC-002 Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
Carried by PMSC Sonora from San Francisco Nov. 5th 1855 to Panama arriving Nov. 19th, then USMSC "George Law" from Aspinwall Nov. 20th 1855 to New York arriving Nov. 30th.
Realized: $3,250
Lot
3277
Pacific Express Co., black printed Running Pony frank on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire cancelled by blue "Pacific Express Co., Marysville, Jul 25" oval datestamp to Noisy Carriers Book Co., San Francisco Cal., fresh and Very Fine. Thomas No. PAC-004 Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $350
Lot
3278
Pacific Express Co., Sacramento, Blue Oval Handstamp, sharp strike of blue double-oval handstamp on buff cover to San Francisco Cal., endorsed "With 11. Ozs Gold doust" at top, Very Fine scarce early handstamp, One of only six recorded examples of this Pacific Express Co. Sacramento handstamp. Thomas No. PAC-108 Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $375