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