Lot
743 
Kootenai Express., printed frank vertically at left with "James & Co.'s" crossed out in manuscript used in conjunction with "Wells, Fargo & Co." printed frank on 3¢ pink (U58) entire canceled by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Walla Walla, Feb 28" oval to Oregon City; tiny scuff in Wells frank, ex Dale-Lichtenstein. Thomas Nos. KOO-001 Estimate $750 - 1,000.
In 1863, gold was discovered at the confluence of the Wild Horse Creek and the Kootenay Rivers in British Columbia. It is believed that E. L. James was first to establish an express from Walla Walla, Washington to this location. He lasted but a short period and was replaced by Mose Drouillard's Kootenai Express, which operated from Lewiston, Idaho Territory.
Realized: $1,050
Lot
744
Mossman's & Co's Express, Dirigo Nez Perces & Salmon River Mines, Paid., printed frank on 3¢ pink (U26) entire canceled by manuscript "Lewiston W.T., Sept 11 /62" manuscript postmark to Martinez, Cal., entered mails with bold "Portland OR. Sep 19, 186" cds; wear and restored faults, Fine appearance. Thomas Nos. MOS-200 Estimate $500 - 750.
THE ONLY RECORDED USE FROM LEWISTON, IDAHO TERRITORY BY MOSSMAN'S & CO'S EXPRESS. ONE OF ONLY 7 RECORDED USED EXAMPLES OF THIS FRANK.
He formed a partnership in October 1861 with C. J. Miller. This partnership lasted through the spring of 1862. This express was known as Mossman & Miller's Express. Miller connected with Mossman at Lewiston and ran to Florence City. After Miller left, Mossman took on partners J. C. Franklin, Thomas Paulson, and John McBride. This operation was known as Mossman & Co. and may have extended to Portland. In June 1863, Mossman sold his operation to Wells Fargo.
Realized: $1,250
Lot
745
Mossman's Express, Nez Perces Mines, printed frank and fancy "Paid 50 Cents." scroll (MOS-200e) at bottom left on 3¢ red (U27) star die buff entire canceled by blue "Wailepta W.T., Oct 11" cds to Portland, Oregon; restored at left affecting, partial top flap, Very Fine appearance, Census WC2267, ex Dale-Lichtenstein. Thomas Nos. MOS-001 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Isaac (Ika) Van Doresy Mossman was one of the first express men into the Nez Perces or Clearwater area of Idaho Territory. He started by running a string of ponies from Walla Walla, Washington Territory. By July 1862, he had expanded the route from Walla Walla through Lewiston to the Oro Fino area of Idaho Territory.
Realized: $1,350
Lot
746
Salmon River & Nez Perces Express. Paid 75 Cents., printed frank at bottom left and red "Wells, Fargo & Co." printed frank on 10¢ green (U40) entire canceled by four-ring target and blue "Atchison Kas, Aug 4" double-circle datestamp to Hamburg, N.Y.; small edge tear top right, edge wear and reduced slightly at right, F.-V.F. and scarce 75¢ frank, Thomas Census unlisted; with 1985 A.P.S. certificate. Thomas Nos. WFE-215c Estimate $500 - 750.
ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED SALMON RIVER & NEZ PERCES EXPRESS "PAID 75 CENTS" FRANKS IN COMBINATION WITH WELLS FARGO FRANK DURING THE WELLS PERIOD.
Edward Tracy started applying a surcharge to envelopes for service to the Salmon River and Nez Perces mining area and Walla Walla, Washington Territory where it connected with Wells, Fargo & Co. When Wells Fargo bought out Tracy in April 1862, they continued to honor the Tracy surcharge printed frank. If a cover contains no Tracy handstamp it can be assumed that it is a Wells Fargo carried cover.
Realized: $4,000
Lot
747
Tracy & Co.'s Express. Paid, printed frank with Old English type and ornate frame (Haller FT10, Ty. 4) on 3¢ red (U10) Nesbitt buff entire canceled by bold blue "Tracy & Cos. Express, Portland" oval to Walla Walla, W.T., manuscript "Jan 16th 1860" at left; slightly reduced at top with couple tears, F.-V.F. appearance, an extremely rare frank not listed by Thomas, ex Dale-Lichtenstein, Barkhausen. Estimate $500 - 750.
This cover was carried by Tracy & Co. from Portland about 250 miles inland to Walla Walla in Washington Territory. E.W. Tracy was Wells Fargo & Co.'s agent in Oregon and Washington Territory, and in 1861 established his own express company and extended the lines of Wells Fargo into the Nez Perces and Salmon River mining regions.
Realized: $575
Lot
748
Waldron's Kootenai Express., fancy printed frank at bottom right, used in conjunction with "Wells, Fargo & Co." printed frank on 3¢ pink (U59) buff envelope canceled by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Walla Walla, Oct 20" oval to Dalles City, Oregon; light stains and reduced at right, otherwise Very Fine, Thomas Census unlisted, ex-Knapp, Dale-Lichtenstein. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS FANCY WALDRON'S KOOTENAI EXPRESS FRANK AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS, THE OTHER IS ENSCONCED IN THE WILTSEE COLLECTION.
In early 1865, Dave Waldron started running an express service between the Kootenai Mines in Canada and Walla Walla, Washington Territory, where he connected with Wells Fargo & Co. In April 1866, he and two partners, Sam Buchanan and W. Edgar, created the Waldron & Company Blackfoot Express that operated between Walla Walla and Helena, Montana Territory. About one year later, they curtailed the route to Walla Walla and concentrated on the Montana region.
Realized: $2,000
Lot
749
Wells, Fargo & Co's Express from "Florence", black on green express label, used on cover bearing 1¢ blue (63) and three 3¢ rose (65) singles, tied together by Boston "Paid" framed cancels, matching "Boston, Mass. Dec 2" double-circle datestamp underneath label on cover care of Wells Fargo & Co., San Francisco Cal., endorsed "Will W.F. & Co. please forward this with atty-oath of office to the judge at Florence City W.T." at bottom left, Fine and unusual Wells Fargo label use. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $1,600
Lot
750
Wells, Fargo & Co., "Paid 25 Cents.", printed surcharge with frank on 3¢ pink (U34) buff entire canceled by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Walla Walla, Apr 1" oval to San Francisco Cal.; corner flaws and wear, Fine and rare, Thomas Census WC9895. Thomas Nos. WFE-213 Estimate $400 - 600.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS WELLS FARGO & CO. BOISE MINES SURCHARGE.
This "25 Cents" surcharge was used for mail brought into Walla Walla from mining areas.
Realized: $220
Lot
751
Wells, Fargo & Co's Express from "Walla Walla", black on yellow express label, used on 3¢ pink (U35) buff entire with printed "Wells, Fargo & Co." frank to San Francisco Cal.; cover flaws, Fine and scarce Washington Territory label use. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $250