Lot 3374 *
Thompson's Carson Valley Express, bold red ornamented handstamp on 3¢ Red on buff entire (#U10) carried over the Sierra Nevada to Auburn, California with Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank, entered the mails with clear "Carson Valley, U.T./Oct 9" datestamp, cover reduced at right and with original indicia cut out and replaced, Fine appearance, WC5050, ex-Risvold; with 1978 P.F. certificate.Thomas No. TSS-100 Estimate $20,000 - 30,000.
ONE OF ONLY TWO KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE "SNOWSHOE" THOMPSON'S HANDSTAMP, BOTH ARE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE WELLS, FARGO & CO. FRANK.
Thompson's Carson Valley Express was established by John A. "Snowshoe" Thompson in 1857-58 and operated between Genoa, Nevada and Placerville, California. He also carried the overland mails for Chorpenning during the winter months of 1861. Snowshoe died on 15 May, 1876. (see Across The Sierra Nevada Mountain by Snow-Shoe, by Risvold and Frajola in Chronicle #215).
Realized: $21,000