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Sale 129: The Dr. James Milgram Collection of Western Postal History

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Western Express - Reynolds to Todd & Bryan's

Lots 900-909 Lot 910

Lot 900    

Forwarded by Reynolds & Co. Express, black company oval handstamp (Thomas REY-100) at lower left of brown cover originating with "Mansfield, La. Oct 4" [1849] black cds with handstamp "10" crossed out and uprated with correct "40" manuscript rate, addressed to San Francisco; enclosed letter datelined "DeSot La September 7 49" with local news from Louisiana but with PS "Tell whether it will do to bring Negroes there or not"; Reynolds would have picked up this cover in San Francisco and delivered it to Dr. Pownall somewhere along their route in the Southern mines; edge wear, a little heavier on corners, Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Reynolds & Co.'s Express was one of the earliest in California, operating from January, 1850 to October, 1851. This cover, originating from Louisiana in October, 1849, would have been one of the very earliest handled by Reynolds & Co.'s Express.

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Current Opening Bid: $100

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Lot 901    

Forwarded by Reynold & Co. Express, black oval company handstamp (REY-100) on buff cover from Pennsylvania to San Francisco, postmarked "Westchester, Pa. Sep 23" with manuscript "40" rate marking, docketed "answered Nov 20, 1850", the small manuscript "2" above the address reflects Reynold's $2.00 express fee; edge wear & a few creases, Very Fine.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

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Current Opening Bid: $200

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Lot 902    

Forwarded by Reynold & Co. Express, black company oval handstamp (REY-100) on blue 1851 folded letter with red "Boston, Mass Mar 10" (1851) cds and matching "40" rate marking to "Mr Pilsbury Hodgkins, Stockton, Cala." where Reynold's Express picked it up for delivery to "Mormon gulch Southern Mines", Very Fine.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

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Current Opening Bid: $200

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Lot 903    

Reynolds Express, small black double-line shield company handstamp (REY-105) on cover originating from Massachusetts, postmarked "New Bluffton, Ms May 10" (1850) cds with manuscript "40" rate to San Francisco; the dates of operation for this express (Jan, 1850 to Oct 7, 1851) and the 40 cent rate date this cover to 1850 or 1851; small tear at bottom & slightly reduced at left, Extremely Fine and rare, ex-Grombacher ("Edwards").
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

TWO EXAMPLES OF THIS EXPRESS HANDSTAMP ARE RECORDED IN THOMAS' BOOK CENSUS, HOWEVER WE ARE AWARE OF FOUR EXAMPLES OF THIS RARE HANDSTAMP - THIS BEING PERHAPS THE FINEST.

Angevine Reynolds formed this express along with A. S. Reynolds and J. P. D. Wilkins, operating from the southern mines to Stockton and Sacramento. They connected with Todd & Company for transport to San Francisco and with Adams & Company for the Eastern States and Europe. Reynolds & Co. also had connections with Gregory's Express in late 1851. A new company, called Reynolds, Todd & Company's Express, was formed in 1851 when A. S. Reynolds left the company and Angevine Reynolds and J. P. D. Wilkins combined with Todd's.

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Current Opening Bid: $750

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Lot 904    

Reynolds & Co Express, San Francisco, Stockton & Sonora, blue double oval company handstamp (REY-103) on buff cover from New York with their integral rate handstamp "New-York Apr 26 40" to San Francisco; docketing at top left "May 26th, 1851" [receipt] and "Aug 2nd" [reply]; some corner wear, Very Fine, one of only two reported examples of this type Reynolds handstamp.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Reynolds would have picked up this cover at the San Francisco post office and taken it to the addressee (Tasheira) in the Southern Mines.

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Current Opening Bid: $250

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Lot 905    

Reynolds & Co.'s Express, Stockton - San Francisco, Sonora, origination blue company oval (REY-104) on backflap of cover that entered the mails with "San Francisco Cal. Oct 15" (1851) cds and "10" rate marking cover to Goffstown, New Hampshire; couple trivial hinge reinforced edge tears, Very Fine.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

ONE OF ONLY SIX REPORTED EXAMPLES OF THIS HANDSTAMP.

Reynolds & Co.'s Express operated from January, 1850 to October, 1851. Given that this cover has a 10¢ rate marking, it can be dated to 1851 and has to be one of the very last covers carried by Reynolds & Co.'s Express.

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Current Opening Bid: $200

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Lot 906    

Rumrill's Express, pair of cover with Rumrill Express markings, first is cover originating with "Franklin Mills O. Dec 3" black cds and manuscript "10" rate marking addressed to Frank Rumrill in Marysville, California with partial blue oval handstamp "F. Rumrill & Co's Northern Express Connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co." (Thomas RUM-104), original contents (now missing) from his fiancé/wife Henrietta Stewart were from Dec 3, 1853 based on pencil notation, second cover originating with "Georgetown Ky Sep 1" (likely 1854) red cds franked with manuscript cancelled 1851 3¢ dull red addressed to Mrs. James Haun, Marysville, Cal. and redirected to "opposite mouth Nelson Creek, Plumas County" with black circular company handstamp "F. Rumrill & Co's Express Connecting at Marysville with Wells, Fargo & Co."; cover with numerous repaired tears, impossible to say if stamps originate on this cover (sold "as is"), Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

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Current Opening Bid: $100

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Lot 907    

San Francisco Letter Express, blue oval Running Pony handstamp on locally addressed cover, F.-V.F., a scarce local-post marking, ex-Needham.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

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Current Opening Bid: $150

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Lot 908    

Care of Singer & Co's Express via Marysville, manuscript directive of sender on cover originating at Garrettsville, Ohio and sent to "Meeker Flat, North Fork Feather River, Plumas County, California", postmarked "Garrettsville, O., Mar 23" cds and manuscript "R Lee P. M. Free" free frank, with ornately bordered corner card of dry goods merchants Lee & Mills, the "Lee" being Garrettsville postmaster R. Lee, single ink smear in manuscript postmaster free frank, flap torn, Very Fine.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

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Current Opening Bid: $80

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Lot 909    

Thomes & Skadan's Express, Susanville & Reno, {Connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co., "PAID" printed frank (THO-001) on 3¢ green Reay entire (U82) to San Jose, with partial conjunctive "Wells Fargo & Co. Reno Feb 1" blue handstamp; slightly and irregularly trimmed at right, Fine and rare.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

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Current Opening Bid: $100

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Lots 900-909 Lot 910

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