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Sale 115: The Westpex Sale

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Colorado Expresses

Lots 560-569 Lots 570-574

Lot 560    

Central Overland California & Pike's Peak Express Co., cover addressed to Denver City, K.T. with large manuscript "Via Pikes Peak Express" endorsement at top, franked with 1857, 3¢ dull red (26) with gutter s.e. at right, tied by "Saint Louis, Mo., Jun 13, 1860" cds; cover with repaired opening tear at top and missing backflap (See website for images), F.-V.F.
Estimate    $250 - 350.



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Realized: $525

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Lot 561    

Central Overland California & Pike's Peak Express Company, Denver City K.T., Jun 19, oval handstamp with second strike below dated two days later on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Waltham, Mass., manuscript "Due 3" rating and indicia canceled by blue "Saint Louis, Mo., Jun 28, 1860" cds, with original enclosure with interesting observations about a trip up Clear Creek to the gold minesGolden Gate, where we enter the Mountains through a very narrow pass where a small brook finds its way from the Mountains to Clear Creek. The gully where we go is very narrow crossing the creek 49 times from Golden Gate to a point about 7 miles, where we leave it and climb the Mountain for about two miles very steep and then go down again into another gully and so on for 10 miles, where we arrive at Gregory's digging's so called and in this vicinity there is Russell's Gulch, Lake Gulch, Missouri Flat, Illinois Gulch, Pleasant Valley and several others two numerous to mention.; cover with edge wear and small tears (See website for images), F.-V.F.; with 2023 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $400 - 600.



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Realized: $325

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Lot 562    

Gunnison and Grand River Stage & Express Company, Crested Butte, Colorado, corner card with blue illustrated Four-Horse Stagecoach below, on cover to Rozetta, Ill., franked with 1883, 2¢ red brown (210) tied by grid handstamp, matching "Parkfield, Cal., May 4, 1885" cds alongside; some cover edge staining at left, otherwise Very Fine, quite rare.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Realized: $220

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Lot 563    

Hinckley & Co.'s Express, Denver City, Jun 17, 1860, cds on cover carried from the mine to Denver City, with "Central Overland California & Pike's Peak Express Company, Denver City K.T., Jun 28" oval date stamp turn over from Hinckley for delivery; cover nick at top and missing backflap, F.-V.F., a scarce dual express usage.
Estimate    $250 - 350.

Realized: $200

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Lot 564    

Hinckley & Co.'s Express, Denver City, Dec 10, 1860, cds on cover to Central City, K.T., manuscript "Paid" in pencil; with original enclosure; cover slightly reduced at right (See website for images), F.-V.F., ex-Knapp.
Estimate    $200 - 300.



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Realized: $170

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Lot 565    

Hinckley & Co.'s Express, Denver City, Dec 17, 1860, cds on cover to Golden City, Jefferson Territory with additional express endorsement at bottom left, franked with 1857, 3¢ dull red (26) canceled by grid handstamp, matching "Philadelphia, Pa., Nov 28, 1860" octagon cds, manuscript "Col 10"(¢) express due rating, Very Fine, a very scarce usage to the unofficial territory of Jefferson.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

An unofficial Jefferson Territory was established locally in October 1859, but it was never recognized by Congress. No postal markings of Jefferson Territory are known, although covers are known addressed to Jefferson Territory. The area was larger than what would be Colorado Territory.

Realized: $270

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Lot 566    

Jones & Russell's Pike's Peak Express Co, Denver City, Oct 20, 1859, Large black cds on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire postmarked "Leavenworth City K.T., Oct 28 1859" and addressed to Iowa, interesting enclosed letter datelined "Rockey Mountain Citty" written by James Eggen which states writer is living 40 miles from Denver City…"I have built me a saw mill on Clear Creek and it works first rate and I have it all paid for I sell lumber from 4 to 5 dollars a hundred…The Mines is good, the California mines says they think as good as ever California was, but it takes more work to get it.", very minor cover repairs at top (See website for images), otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

While still operating the Leavenworth City & Pikes Peak Express, Jones and Russell purchased the John Hockaday line, which had the government mail contract to Salt Lake City via the Platte River. Eventually, this led to the termination of the Republican River-Fort Riley route used by the Leavenworth City & Pikes Peak Express. Jones & Russell's express operated from July 1859 to February 1860, charging 25¢ per letter.

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Realized: $1,050

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Lot 567    

Jones & Russell's Pike's Peak Express Co, Denver City, Nov 17, 1859, sharp bold express cds on fresh cover to Rosiclare, Ill., franked with 1857, 3¢ dull red (26) tied by "Leavenworth, K.T., Nov 26, 1859" cds (See website for images), Very Fine and choice.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

AN EXCEPTIONAL JONES & RUSSELL'S PIKE'S PEAK EXPRESS CO. WESTBOUND USAGE.

While still operating the Leavenworth City & Pikes Peak Express, Jones and Russell purchased the John Hockaday line, which had the government mail contract to Salt Lake City via the Platte River. Eventually, this led to the termination of the Republican River-Fort Riley route used by the Leavenworth City & Pikes Peak Express. Jones & Russell's express operated from July 1859 to February 1860, charging 25¢ per letter.

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Realized: $1,250

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Lot 568    

Jones & Russell's Pike's Peak Express Co., "Leavenworth City, K.T. Jan 13, 1860" cds ties 1857, 3¢ dull red (26) on orange cover to E.P. Stout at Stout O., original datelined letter from uncle who just arrived in via the Jones and Russell stage coach…"We had extremely cool and pleasant winter weather…I was told yesterday that Jewitt has sold 1200$ dollars worth of property to different men of our city since he came here. He also sold a corner lot to Clark from Brown Co. a Banker for $600. (Clark of Clark & Gruber minted gold coins). The Pikes Peak is still running most of the time and goes full of passengers…"; interesting content (See website for images), Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

The addressee, E.P. Stout, was the first president of the Denver City town company.

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Realized: $200

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Lot 569    

Leav'h City & Pikes Peak Express Co., May 11, express cds on cover to "Auraria, Mouth Cherry Creek, Nebraska Territory", franked with 1857, 3¢ dull red (26) tied by "Afton, N.Y., May 2" cds (See website for images), Very Fine and choice, ex-Haas & Jarrett.
Estimate    $4,000 - 6,000.

A WONDERFUL AND RARE LEAVENWORTH CITY & PIKES PEAK EXPRESS CO. EXPRESS WESTBOUND USAGE.

The Leavenworth and Pikes Peak Express Co. was formed by William H. Russell and John Jones in February 1859. The new service announced on March 12th with the first coach departing to Denver City on April 18th. This letter traveled on the seventh trip west to Denver City arriving in nine days.

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Realized: $6,500

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Lots 560-569 Lots 570-574

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