Lot
976 
Wells, Fargo & Co., Aurora, Express, blue oval gothic handstamp on 3¢ pink entire to San Francisco with company frank and 1862-64 10¢ brown Virginia City Pony Express stamp (143L7, clear to large margins three sides, touching at left); faintly tied by matching blue oval, docketing "Recd Saturday Nov 29, 62", also docketed at left "Aurora Nov 14, 62, Recd 18"; light edge wear, Very Fine, the 10¢ Virginia City pony stamp is by far the scarcest of the three types/rates.Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A SCARCE EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST PERIOD RATE (10 CENTS) VIRGINIA CITY PONY EXPRESS.
The Virginia City Pony Express was established by Wells, Fargo and Company in August 1862 to supplement their normal express business between Virginia City, Nevada Territory, in the rich Washoe mining area, and San Francisco. The pony express service was advertised as 24 hours, versus 44 hours for the normal service. Mail was carried by a pony rider from Virginia City to Placerville where it was put on a train for Sacramento. At Sacramento the mail was placed on a steamboat for conveyance down the Sacramento River and across San Francisco Bay to San Francisco. It appears that service was suspended between July 29 and Dec 28, 1864. After a brief revival in 1865, the service was permanently suspended on March 2, 1865.
Current Opening Bid: $1,500
Lot
977
Wells, Fargo & Co., Express, Aurora, very light blue oval handstamp cancelling on 1860 3¢ pink entire (U34) to San Francisco and a second also very light strike tying Wells Fargo & Co., 1862-64, 25¢ blue (#143L8) with virtually four complete margins, minute corner tear at top left, black company frank at top; contemporary docketing at right "Aurora March 17.63" etc. dates this cover to 1863; hint of corner wear, Very Fine, Nearly all 25¢ blue Virginia City pony covers from Aurora are of the Crittenden correspondence, the two examples offered here are exceptions.Scott No. 143L8 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
The 25¢ Virginia City Pony Express rate was in effect from February 1863 to its end in February, 1865. In March 1864, the blue 25¢ adhesive was replaced by the same design in red.
Current Opening Bid: $1,000
Lot
978
Wells, Fargo & Co., Express, Aurora, blue oval handstamp cancelling on 1860 3¢ pink entire (U34) to San Francisco and a second light strike tying Wells Fargo & Co., 1862-64, 25¢ blue (143L8) left margin copy to just touching at upper right and bottom, black company frank at top; contemporary docketing at right "Aurora Mch 25.63" etc. dates this cover to 1863; light edge wear, Very Fine, Nearly all 25¢ blue Virginia City pony covers from Aurora are of the Crittenden correspondence, the two examples offered here are exceptions.Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
The 25¢ Virginia City Pony Express rate was in effect from February 1863 to its end in February, 1865. In March 1864, the blue 25¢ adhesive was replaced by the same design in red.
Current Opening Bid: $1,000
Lot
979
Whiting & Co.'s Feather River Express PAID, black printed frank (Thomas WHI-009) with very light blue circular datestamp of "Wheeler's Express LaPorte" (Thomas WHE-100) on 3¢ pink entire (U59) to Morristown, Very Fine, a rare conjunctive usage, ex-Tatham.Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $100
Lot
980
G.H. Wines & Co.'s Express California, PAID, black printed frank with elaborate eagle, scroll and shield design (WIE-001) on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire (U10) to Sacramento City, Very Fine and rare, one of only two examples of this printed frank known used without any other express or postal markings., ex-Barkhausen.Scott No. U10 Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A RARE AND BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF WINES FANCY PRINTED FRANK ILLUSTRATING THE EAGLE ON SHIELD WITH RIBBON.
G. H. Wines Express was formed in New York City in Jun, 1855 with their San Francisco office being established Jul, 1855. Gilbert H. Wines and Charles A. Whitney were the proprietors. They initially connected with Rhodes & Whitney's Express at Sacramento, but by Oct, 1855 had expanded to cover the Northern Mines, Stockton and the Southern Mines themselves. They connected with Leland's Express for San Jose, Santa Clara, etc. and with Gilbert & Hedges for Monterey, San Diego, Los Angeles, etc. They transported their express matter bound for the east coast via Nicaragua. Wines Express went out of business in Apr, 1857 due to absentee management, turmoil in Nicaragua, and the increasing domination of Wells, Fargo & Co.
Current Opening Bid: $1,500