Lot
970 
California Pony Express, Paid, red oval handstamp (FWK census W19) of New York applied on 1860 3¢ Star Die entire and address to "Messrs Crosby & Dibblee" in San Francisco, manuscript directive "Pony Express" at bottom left and "Paid" at upper left, Pony Express pencil rate "500" indicating that the double $2.50 rate had been paid, oval handstamp of The Central Overland California & Pike's Peak Express Company, St. Joseph, Mo., Oct. 18 applied on the date of departure of the Westbound Pony arriving in San Francisco on October 30, 1860, flap missing and tiny, professionally mended tear at top, Extremely Fine.Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
A STUNNING PONY EXPRESS COVER PAYING THE DOUBLE RATE DURING THE SECOND PERIOD FROM THE FAMOUS CROSBY-DIBBLEE CORRESPONDENCE.
This is an outstanding usage with two very interesting features. Westbound Pony covers are rarer than eastbound with only twelve listed in the Frajola-Kramer-Walske census with the red New York oval "California Pony Express, Paid" handstamp. This cover demonstrates the under 3,000 miles loophole that allowed westbound mail to be sent in bundles from the East Coast to St. Joseph by mail with only 3¢ domestic postage prepaid. This loophole was closed by the Act of February 27, 1861 that eliminated the mileage provision and required 10¢ postage on any letter crossing the Rocky Mountains.
This cover was carried on the Pony Express trip leaving St. Joseph on October 18, 1860, arriving 12 days later in San Francisco on October 30, 1860 (Trip WT-45 in The Pony Express, by Frajola, Walske & Kramer, p. 95).
Current Opening Bid: $2,500
Lot
971
Pony Express, San Francisco, Dec 22, [1860] blue oval Running Pony handstamp (FWK census E-048) "ties" 1857 10¢ green (not original to cover) with bold green "The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company St Joseph Mo. Pony Express, Jan 6" in concentric oval & circle on verso; entered mails with green double-circle datestamp "Saint Joseph Mo. Jan 7" for delivery to New York (docketed as "Recd Jan 10 1861"; some offset ink on front of cover from backstamp, portion of pony handstamp drawn in to "tie" stamp, some edge restoration and top left corner repaired where stamp added, Very Fine appearance, ex-Hawley.Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
WONDERFUL STRIKES OF BOTH THE SAN FRANCISCO RUNNING PONY (ON FRONT) AND THE SAINT JOSEPH PONY OVAL-IN-CIRCLE ON VERSO.
This cover was carried on the Pony Express trip leaving San Francisco on December 22, 1860, arriving 15 days later in St. Joseph on Jan 6, 1861 (Trip ET-59 in The Pony Express, by Frajola, Walske & Kramer, p. 88).
Current Opening Bid: $1,500
Lot
972
Pony Express, San Francisco, Jan. 26, [1861] blue oval Running Pony handstamp (FWK census E-055) struck twice on 1853-55 10¢ Nesbitt entire (one strike partly off cover) along with dateless blue oval handstamp "The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, San Francisco, Cal", entered the mails with green double circle datestamp of "St. Joseph Mo. Feb. 15" (1861), addressed to Sing Sing N.Y.; professionally restored with top backflap and a small wedge-shaped piece at top center added, otherwise Extremely Fine, a wonderful cover with clear strikes of the San Francisco "Running Pony" oval, as well as the dateless blue oval.Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
A BEAUTIFUL EASTBOUND RUNNING PONY EXPRESS USE FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO NEW YORK.
This cover was carried on the Pony Express trip leaving San Francisco on January 26, 1861, arriving 19 days later in St. Joseph on Feb 14, 1861 (Trip ET-99 in The Pony Express, by Frajola, Walske & Kramer, p. 88).
Current Opening Bid: $3,750
Lot
973
Pony Express, The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak St. Joseph. Mo. Jan 20, [1861] bold green oval-in-circle company handstamp (FWK census W-32) on 1853-55 10¢ Nesbitt entire (U15) to San Francisco, with manuscript "Paid per Poney Express" directive; light pencil rate notation "2.50" (second period pony express fee = $2.50 per ¼ ounce) at upper right near indicium, also light pencil "Paid JTC" at left; professionally repaired (virtually undetectable) with sealed scissor cut around indicium, original to cover, Extremely Fine appearance, exhibit quality example of a scarce westbound pony express cover.Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
NEARLY PERFECT STRIKE OF THE OVAL-IN-CIRCLE PONY EXPRESS HANDSTAMP ON A WESTBOUND COVER.
This cover was carried on the Pony Express trip leaving Saint Joseph on January 20, 1861 (Trip WT-72 in The Pony Express, by Frajola, Walske & Kramer, p. 96). It is not clear from surviving records when the pony arrived into San Francisco.
Current Opening Bid: $2,500
Lot
974 ()
Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express ($1.00) Red Type II East-to-West Frank, with several strokes of pen (apparently voiding the pony express printed frank) with printed address to the "Agent of Pony Express, St. Joseph, Mo. For" on 10¢ pumpkin entire with handwritten address John Smith Esq, Sacramento City, Cal.; uncanceled, possibly a used leftover, but with the absence of any postal or pony markings more likely just an attempt at philatelic deception, pressed out creases, rebacked front, Very Fine appearance.Estimate $150 - 200.
Current Opening Bid: $80
Lot
975
(Pony Express) M. S. Latham Free Franks, lot of two Latham free franks and one ALS: first, free frank on cover with "Washington D.C. FREE Feb 23" cds to Allen Latham, in Chillicothe, Ohio; second, free frank on cover with "Cincinnati, O. Nov 3 FREE" in red cds with embossed shield corner card of Metropolitan Hotel, Broadway, New York, also to Allen Latham in Chillicothe; third ALS postmarked "Canonsburg, Pa. Mar 4" (1844) with 18¾ manuscript rate folded letter to Miami University in Ohio; condition mixed with some minor mostly edge faults, F.-V.F.Estimate $200 - 300.
Latham was the sixth Governor of the State of California in 1860, and later U.S. Senator from California from 1860-1863. He was a strong supporter of Russell, Majors and Waddell and their effort to secure the contract for the Central Route. As a result he was among the few individuals later permitted to send Pony Express mail free of charge. Complete images:
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Current Opening Bid: $100