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