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

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Western Express - Oregon & Washington

Lots 3344-3353 Lots 3354-3358

Lot 3344    

Beekman's Express, Jacksonville Oregon, ribbon frank on 3¢ red (U10) buff entire to Yreka, Cal., docketed "Rec'd March 24, 1861"; reduced at right, horizontal fold at top, F.-V.F., ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. BEE-001    Estimate $500 - 750.

After the failure of Adams in 1855 which was followed a few weeks later by Cram Rogers, Cornelius Beekman started an express from a base of operation at Jacksonville Ore. Terr. Routes ran to Yreka, Crescent City and Roseburg Ore. Beekman connected with Wells Fargo at Yreka and Tracy at Jacksonville. He left for an east coast during most of 1859, but returned and ran the company until selling out to Wells Fargo in 1863 and becoming the Wells Fargo agent at Jacksonville.

Realized: $475

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Lot 3345 *   

Buchanan & Co.'s Express, over our Dalles & Canyon City Route., green frank on 3¢ pink (U58) entire cancelled by partial blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Jun 8" oval datestamp to Idaho City, Idaho Terr., Very Fine, WC1502, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. BUC-002    Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

ONE OF ONLY FIVE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS BUCHANAN & CO'S EXPRESS FRANK, ONE OF WHICH IS CONTAINED IN THE WILTSEE COLLECTION.

In 1866, Wells Fargo withdrew from the John Day Mine area by canceling their The Dalles to Canyon City express run. Their agent at The Dalles, A.J. Buchanan purchased the rights from Wells Fargo. He ran his express over the same route for about a year and cased operation in late 1867.

Realized: $2,600

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Lot 3346    

Hastings' Express, black pony express rider frank on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire to Portland, Oregon Terr., endorsed "$40" at lower left, Very Fine and choice, WC2472, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. HAS-002    Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

ONE OF ONLY FIVE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS HASTINGS' EXPRESS FRANK, ONE OF WHICH IS CONTAINED IN THE WILTSEE COLLECTION AND ANOTHER WITH THE STAMP REPLACED.

E.L. Hasting operated an express service for about a year in Oregon and up the Columbia River. It has been reported that he also operated throughout the Willamette Valley. He connected with Wells Fargo. Seymour Express purchased Hasting Express in the summer of 1859.

Realized: $1,450

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Lot 3347    

Jones & Edgar's Canyon City Express. Paid, printed frank on 3¢ pink (U34) entire cancelled by conjunctive "Wells, Fargo & Co., Dalles O., Jan 31" oval datestamp in blue to Yreka Cal., endorsed "Valuable", entire freshened, Very Fine appearance.
Thomas No. JON-001    Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

ONE OF ONLY SIX RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS JONES & EDGAR'S CANYON CITY EXPRESS FRANK.

Horatio L. Jones and Addison Edgar ran a semi-weekly express between Canyon City and John Day Mines in central Oregon to The Dalles on the Columbia River. At The Dalles they connected with Wells Fargo. The partnership broke up with Jones becoming the Wells Fargo agent in latter 1864, and Edgar becoming the Wells Fargo agent in 1865.

Realized: $1,450

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Lot 3348    

Jones & Edgar's Canyon City Express. Paid., printed frank on uncancelled 3¢ pink (U35) buff entire to Dalles, Oregon, manuscript Sep. 17th docketing on reverse, Very Fine, One of only six recorded examples of this frank.
Thomas No. JON-006    Estimate $500 - 750.

Realized: $550

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Lot 3349    

McBean & Co.'s Middle Fork Express, printed frank and conjunctive Wells Fargo frank on 3¢ pink (U59) buff entire cancelled by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Canon City, Nov 21" oval datestamp to San Francisco Cal.; restored at right with paper added, Very Fine appearance.
Thomas No. MCB-002    Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS MCBEAN & CO'S MIDDLE FORK EXPRESS FRANK AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS, ONE OTHER IS CONTAINED IN THE WILTSEE COLLECTION.

For a brief period from 1865 to 1866, Frank W. McBean ran an express operation between Canon City, Oregon, and the Middle Fork of the John Day River in Oregon.

Realized: $6,500

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Lot 3350    

Oregon & California R.R. Express, Portland "James McCraken, Portland, Oregon", turquoise double-circle with manuscript endorsement, on 3¢ green (U84) cream entire cancelled by "Portland Ore., Jul 11" cds duplexed with cork cancel to San Francisco Cal., Very Fine, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. ORC-600    Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED USE EXAMPLES OF THE OREGON & CALIFORNIA R.R. EXPRESS DOUBLE-CIRCLE HANDSTAMP, THE OTHER IS CONTAINED IN THE WILTSEE COLLECTION.

Virtually nothing is known about this express. Construction of the Oregon & Railroad began 1870-71, and it is thought that its rails were completed between Portland and Roseburg by 1873. James McCraken was a well-known Portland merchant.

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Lot 3351    

Rundell & Jones' Canyon City Express. Paid 50 Cents., printed frank on light buff cover to Dalles City, Ore., Very Fine, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. RUJ-001    Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE RUNDELL & JONES' CANYON CITY EXPRESS "PAID 50 CENTS" FRANK.

In 1863, George Rundell and Horatio Jones formed a partnership for an express operation between The Dalles, Oregon and the gold fields in the John Day and the Canyon City mining area of Oregon. In October of the same year, Jones formed a partnership with Addison Edgar that began operation over from The Dalles to the mines of John Day and Canyon City.

Realized: $2,900

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Lot 3352    

Tracy & Co.'s Express, fancy printed frank on 3¢ red (U9) Nesbitt entire cancelled by bold blue "Tracy & Co's Express, Dalles" oval handstamp to Portland Ore., Very Fine and choice, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. TRA-004    Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

A RARE AND BEAUTIFUL TRACY & CO.'S EXPRESS USE FROM DALLES TO PORTLAND, OREGON.

Edward W. Tracy arrived in Portland Ore. on July 8, 1859 as Wells Fargo's General Agent for the Washington and Oregon Territories. He established the Wells Fargo office and as early as July 22nd formed a partnership with E. Norton Jr. and E.L. James to operate his own express service throughout the interior of Oregon. At first this service ran tri-weekly from Portland through the Willamette Valley to Eugene City Ore. It extended overland from this point to Roseburg, Winchester and Oakland Ore. This southern route would eventually connect with Beckman's Express at Jacksonville and Wells Fargo at Portland. A second route would soon follow based out of Portland following the Columbia River to The Dalles, then up river to Walla Walla Wash. From Walla Walla it ran overland to service the mines in the eastern Washington area. When gold was discovered in Idaho Terr., a route from Walla Walla was pushed into Lewiston where the mining activity along the Clearwater and Salmon Rivers were supported. In March 1862, the partial with Norton and James dissolved, and Tracy sold his Portland to Idaho express service to Wells Fargo.


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Realized: $2,700

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Lot 3353    

Tracy & Co. Oregon Express, rare printed frank on 3¢ pink (U34) entire with "Tracy & Co." ribbon frank (TRA-007) at left and struck with blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Portland" oval handstamp to Bodago, Sonoma County, Cal.; edge wear and flap missing, F.-V.F., A rare conjunctive use.
Thomas No. TRA-207    Estimate $500 - 750.

The "One Dollar" printed frank is the rarest of the Salmon River & Nez Perces Express franks. During 1861 and 1862, this company carried between the Salmon River and Nez Perces Mines and Walla Walla, Washington Territory where it connected with Wells, Fargo & Co. as well as Tracy & Co.

Realized: $700

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Lots 3344-3353 Lots 3354-3358

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