Lot
3174 
Copley & Co's Miners' Express, perfect sharp strike of red double-oval handstamp on 10¢ green (U17) Nesbitt entire to Sempronius N.Y., entered the mails with "New-York Sep 28" cds; toned spot at center, bit of flap missing, Extremely Fine, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.; with 2004 P.F. certificate. Thomas No. COP-100b Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
ONE OF THE CLEAREST STRIKES OF THE DESIRABLE COPLEY & CO. MINERS' EXPRESS HANDSTAMP ON COVERS. A RARE WEST TO EAST USAGE THAT WAS CARRIED OUTSIDE THE REGULAR MAILS UNTIL IT REACHED NEW YORK CITY.
This express between Marysville running north to the Slate Creek Basin mining camps briefly operating circa 1856 by Jack Copley. This included but may not have been limited to Gibsonville, Saint Louis and Warren Hill, California connecting with the U.S. mail at Marysville for outgoing letters and with Wells Fargo for express items. The ovals struck in red are known only on outgoing mail. This cover has the added element of rarity in that it was carried outside the regular mails presumably by express via Panama or Nicaragua entering the mails at New York.
Realized: $2,300