Sale 127: The December Sale

Lot 1679    

California Penny Post Co., 1855-59, 7¢ black on buff, "To the Penny Post Co." at top, franked with 1851, 3¢ dull red, horizontal pair (11), manuscript "X" cancels, red "San Jose, Cal., May 26" cds to J.W. Sullivan at San Francisco Cal., Very Fine.
Scott No. 34LU4    Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

This cover is addressed to J.W. Sullivan, a San Francisco newsdealer who also forwarded mail and operated "Mail Bag" collections for delivery.

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Lot 1680    

Elko & Mountain City Pony Express, fancy boxed franked (ELK-0010) on unused 1870, 3¢ green entire (U82), with Wells, Fargo & Co. frank at left, Very Fine and choice, only four unused examples of this frank are recorded.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $130

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Lot 1681    

T.M. Heston's Express, Visalia (Care of), manuscript endorsement (HES-101) on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Keysville, uprated with 1851, 3¢ dull red (11) and tied by "San Francisco, Cal., Oct 13, 1857" cds, postal carried from San Francisco to Visalia and then by express to Keysville; some corner wear, otherwise Very Fine, the only manuscript known from this express.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Early in 1863 Thomas Heston was involved in a gun fight with a doctor from Visalia over a "family matter". Many shots were exchanged by the two men on the main street of Visalia. Two bullets struck the doctor mortify wounding him. He died later in the day. The last bullet fired by the doctor struck the gun that Heston was using blowing it out of his hand. Later, in June of the same year, Thomas Heston disappeared after leaving Camp Independence bound for Visalia with express material. At first it was thought that he had run afoul of the Indians that were uprising in the area at this time. The following year, after the melting of the winter snows, his bones were found on the eastern slope of the Sierra Mountains in Nine Mile Canyon most likely murdered by family or friends of the Doctor.

Realized: $500

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Lot 1682    

Langton's Pioneer Express, black printed frank on 1861, 3¢ pink entire (U35) to San Francisco, canceled by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Carson City, Aug 17" oval date stamp and manuscript "Empire, N.T., Aug 16" postmark, Very Fine, an interesting combination usage with Langton's, postal service and given to Wells, Fargo & Co. for delivery.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $450

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Lot 1683    

Pacific Union Express Co., Elko, Apr 24, choice strike of circular date stamp on uncanceled 1864, 3¢ pink entire to Hamilton, Nev., red scroll frank at top; cover reduced at left, otherwise Very Fine, very rare with only a couple examples recorded.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $220

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Lot 1684    

Raum's Ruby Hill, Schellburn and Rubyville Express, Agency White Pine Daily News., printed frank with fancy frame, on 1870, 3¢ green entire (U82) canceled by manuscript "Schellburn Nev., April 12" postmark and matching manuscript strokes canceling indicia, to San Francisco Cal., Very Fine, ex-Tospern.
Thomas No. RAU-001    Estimate $500 - 750.

ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS RAUM'S RUBY HILL, SCHELLBURN AND RUBYVILLE EXPRESS FRANK.

After Lovell left the partnership of Raum & Lovell's Express, Mell Raum continued to operate as Raum Express through the same North-central area of Nevada connecting with the U.S. mail at Schellbourne Nevada. This company never used a handstamp.

Realized: $550

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Lot 1685    

Thomes & Skadan's Express, printed frank with "Skadan" spelling (Haller FT3, Ty. 1a) on 3¢ green entire (U82) to San Francisco, conjunctive usage with faint partly readable blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Reno Nev." oval datestamp, reduced at left, Very Fine and rare frank, from 1870 to 1874 Thomes & Skadden operated their express between Susanville (whose first residents thought they were in Utah, then Nevada) and Reno, connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $375

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Lot 1686    

Thomes & Skadan's Express, printed frank with "Skadan" spelling (Haller FT3, Ty. 1a) on 3¢ green entire (U82) to San Jose, conjunctive usage with faint partly readable blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Reno Nev." oval datestamp; light soiling and edge wear, accompanied by mint entire with identical frank, Fine and rare frank.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $210

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Lot 1687    

Thomes & Skaden's Express, black company frank on 1870 3¢ Reay entire to San Francisco, light "Thomes & Skaddens Express, Susanville Cal., Au 1" cds canceling with blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Reno" oval date stamp alongside, Very Fine, a nice usage of this early 1870's express which ran between Susanville, Cal. and Reno, Nevada connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co., only nine usages with this frank are recorded.
Thomas No. THO-009    Estimate $500 - 750.

Realized: $500

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Lot 1688    

Wellington Express, perfect strike of blue oval handstamp on paste-up envelope affixed to 3¢ pink entire (U58) canceled by "Esmeralda Nev., Dec 27 '65" cds to New York N.Y., manuscript "Due 3" rating; edge faults, Fine and rare.
Estimate    $5,000 - 7,500.

ONE OF ONLY FIVE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE WELLINGTON EXPRESS OVAL HANDSTAMP, ONE OF WHICH IS CONTAINED IN THE WILTSEE COLLECTION.

Daniel Wellington and his partner, S.P. Dorsey, ran a stage and express service from Carson City to Esmeralda, Nev. From that location, it ran to Benton, through the Owens Valley to the San Carlos mining area that is located around present day Independence Cal. This service included the towns of Camp Independence, San Carlos, Kearsage and Bend City.

All five of the usages are paste-ups from the Mary Bush correspondence to New York N.Y.

Realized: $6,250

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