Lot
864 
Sanders & Dixson's Express, blue manuscript endorsement at right and printed "Wells Fargo & Co." frank on 3¢ buff (U10) Nesbitt entire cancelled by "Wells, Fargo & Co. Express, Placerville" oval to San Francisco Cal., original enclosed letter datelined "Virginia City, N. T. January 2d 1860"; some edge restoration with backflaps reattached, Very Fine appearance, ex-Nathan. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE SANDERS & DIXSON'S EXPRESS, THIS BEING THE ONLY WELLS FARGO & CO. CONJUNCTIVE USE.
This was a small Express that operated between Virginia City, Nevada and Genoa, Nevada in 1860, and then by snowshoes to Placerville, Calif. Where connections were made with Wells Fargo or to the Post Office there for the Atlantic States. It may be that "Snowshoes" Thompson took this mail from Genoa to Placerville, as he was the only expressman capable of making the trip in winter at that time through the almost impassable snow regions.
Notice in the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise, Dec. 17, 1859: "New Express - L. Saunders & E.C. Dixon will run an express from Placerville - Carson Valley to Virginia City, Nevada". On December 24th 1859 their first advertisement appeared in the same newspaper, "…Connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co. at Placerville, to all parts of California, Oregon and the Atlantic States. Letters, Parcels and Treasure, carried through with safety and dispatch…Wells, Fargo's envelopes, with our stamp for sale at our office, in Carson City, Gold Hill and Virginia City." Their last ad appeared in this newspaper Jan. 29th 1860.
Realized: $1,900
Lot
865
T.F. Tracy's Express, Paid., blue oval handstamp on 3¢ red (U10) Nesbitt entire cancelled by "Placerville, Cal. Oct 14" cds to San Francisco Cal.; couple small edge flaws and partial flap, Very Fine and rare, ex Dale-Lichtenstein. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS T.E. TRACY'S EXPRESS FRANK HANDSTAMP, A GREAT WESTERN EXPRESS RARITY.
In June 1857, Theodore F. Tracy organized a short-lived express company in which he was proprietor, Messenger and did all the work. It ran between Placerville and over the Sierra to the small Mormon settlement at Genoa, Nevada. It advertised in the Placerville Mountain Democrat June 28, 1857. "Connecting with Wells Fargo at Placerville, leave Placerville three times a week for Carson Valley… to Genoa or Mormon Station," via T.B. Crandall's Pioneer State Line. This was before the Comstock Lode had been discovered. The Express only lasted a few months.
This cover was picked up by T.F. Tracy and carried to Placerville where it was placed in the U.S. Mail.
Realized: $2,300
Lot
866
Thomes & Skadan's Express, Susanville & Reno, Connecting with Wells Fargo Co., black printed frank on 3¢ green entire to San Francisco, slightly reduced at right, F.-V.F. Thomas No. THO-010 Estimate $500 - 750.
From 1870 to 1874 Thomes & Skadden operated their express between Susanville and Reno, connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co.