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
526
Nauvoo July 1844, dateline on folded cover postmarked "Quincy, Ills Jul 10" red-orange cds with "25" rate and addressed to John F. Wingate (Brother), Brunswick, Maine; letter with FANTASTIC CONTENT REGARDING THE CAPTURE AND MURDER OF MORMON LEADERS, JOSEPH SMITH AND HYRUM SMITH WRITTEN BY A BODYGUARD, EDWARD B. WINGATE, reads, in part, "…Our whole troubles originated from a few Apostaties from this Church because Joseph would not uphold them in there Hellish Deeds they have said all manner of eavle against Joseph they could not say & do enough no other way but they had to go to work and publish a paper which they called the Nauvoo Expositer in that they publish all manner of lies that could be thought of therefore the city counsil came together for the purpose of taking into consideration the Above named press wether it was a nuisance or not which they had the power to do according to their charter granted them by the United States therefore they declared it a Nuisance and ordered the police to go to the office and take the press and burn it which they Did do. They then came out in all their fury they went to Carthage and the surrounding town and got the Devel in the people and they waged war against us there was at one time above a thousand Mobilrats that swore and passed resolution that they would exterminate all the Latter Day Saints in Nauvoo But thank god they could not raise forse enough General Smith called out Legion which Numbered about 5 thousand yet they wer few in number they wer equal to 20 thousand because their cause was a Just one and they would have faught until the Last Drop of Blood had left there Bodyes. The Goviner ordred out the state troops but could not controle them he therefore sent a letter to Joseph stating the circumstances as they wer and issued a writ for Joseph & his Brother Hyrum Smith to appear at Carthage to answer to the charge of Treason which God and all honest men knows they wer not guilty of But however they cornplyed with all that was put upon and was willing to go to justice when justice could be found the Goviner pleged his Word and honor that he would protect them they therefor started for Carthage with about 30 men and I had the pleasure of being of them Joseph & Hyram wer confined in Prison for safe Keeping and then waited for tryal. But instead of that what shall I say the Goviner with about 50 horse come to Nauvoo for the Purpose of making Peace But it was far from that it seems for wilst they at Nauvoo those ungodly wretches the Mobererats came out from there hiding place there was about 200 of them all armed with faces painted they rushed to the Jail nocked down the gard at the door 8 in number men that the Goviner had station there they went up in the jail to the room where Joseph & Hyram was and killed them both on the spot and wounded 2 others 4 shot each…I am your Brother, E.B. Wingate," small wax seal hole in verso, hinge repaired tear on verso, Very Fine and choice.Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
A HIGHLY IMPORTANT LETTER PROVIDING AN ACCOUNT OF THE LYNCHING OF JOSEPH AND HYRUM SMITH.
Joseph and Hyrum Smith were murdered by an armed mob on June 27, 1844, at Carthage Jail in Illinois. After the brothers were charged with treason and held in the jail, the mob stormed the building, shot them, and killed them, ending the founding period of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and leading to a schism among its followers.
The sender, Edward "Big Ned" Bradley Wingate (1820-1887) was raised in Maine and became an early Boston convert to the LDS faith. Wingate, believed to be a "Danite" or church policeman/body guard, was married to the daughter of church leader Sidney Rigdon and would escort Joseph Smith to the scene of his murder at the Carthage Jail.
Current Opening Bid: $2,500
Lot
1150
Ft Kearny O.R. June 22/52, ornate black spread eagle, stars, and leaves handstamp tying 1851 3¢ dull red (11, faults) on buff cover to Parsippany, New Jersey with a second stronger strike of the black handstamp postmark at lower left, manuscript date applied also tying stamp "June 22/52", with original enclosure, in part, "…Fort Kearny June 15th/52…We see some Indians, plenty of adventure and a good deal to amusement…I will write you at length from Fort Laramie about the fourth of July…Edgar Z. Smith"; light horizontal creasing at top, F.-V.F., this being the only example in black (others in blue)., realized $11,000 hammer in the Risvold auction (Spink's January, 2010, Lot #437).Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE FANCY FORT KEARNY O.R. "OREGON ROUTE" EAGLE HANDSTAMP OF THE FOUR EXAMPLES RECORDED, COMPLETE WITH ORIGINAL TRAIL LETTER.
By the 1850's, the commonly called Oregon Route, or O.R. was formerly known as the Oregon Trail, that being the route of Oregon emigrants. This letter was sent with the the Woodson Contract mail for Independence, Mo.
Current Opening Bid: $7,250
Lot
1023
Coraville K.T. Jun 17, two beautiful strikes of straight line postmark on beautiful light yellow cover to Quindaro, K.T., franked with 1857 3¢ dull red (26) tied by one of the straight line postmarks; slight reduction at left, Extremely Fine, A similar example realized $14,500 hammer in our Sale #28 (Feb, 2008), Lot #10.Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COLORADO COVERS IN EXISTENCE AND THE EARLIEST RECORDED HANDSTAMP POSTMARK FROM PRE-TERRITORIAL COLORADO.
There never was a community named Coraville. The Coraville post office, located in Denver City, was also the western terminus of the Leavenworth City and Pike's Peak Express Company. The contract for mail between Salt Lake City did not include Coraville (in error). Only three mails were dispatched from Coraville as contract mails.
Current Opening Bid: $2,500
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
787
Empire City, bold red two-line handstamp clearly struck on a brown cover (1849) addressed to Amos P. Catlin in San Francisco, "Care of Mr. Vandemark." The fee for the Empire City Line was paid per the manuscript "Paid" at the upper right, so the purser added the EMPIRE CITY marking to the letter and took it on the ship in a closed bag, Carried on the Empire City Line steamer Empire City from New York to Chagres and across the Isthmus to Panama City, where it was turned over to the U.S. Despatch Agent for further transmission on the Steamer Panama by the Pacific Mail Steamship Co., the cover entered the San Francisco Post Office with boxed "40" rate handstamp applied, trivial cover wear, Extremely Fine and rare.Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
AN OUTSTANDING STRIKE OF THE "EMPIRE CITY" STEAMER HANDSTAMP AND ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE EMPIRE CITY LINE'S NAME-OF-SHIP MARKING. ONE OF THE MOST MOST IMPORTANT EARLY CALIFORNIA COVERS.
An almost identical cover from the same correspondence and only other example was recently sold in the Siegel Sale #1331, Lot 1023 (09/2024) for $8000 hammer price.
Current Opening Bid: $2,000
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
Lot
829
Estill & Co's Express, manuscript endorsement (Thomas EST-001) on 1850 blue folded letter from along the overland trail addressed to Hoosick Postoffice, Green Co., Wisconsin; entered mails with "Weston Mo. Aug 16" red cds and matching "10" cents due handstamp, with one light line canceling the "10" due and in blue ink "paid to here" (different hand, perhaps applied at the Hoosick post office, but appears to be the same ink and handwriting as the Sept 14th, 1850 message enclosed); lengthy letter enclosed with several datelines as the writer continued his message: June 24th 1850, Sept 14th, 1850 and Sept 29; interesting contents, in part, "…when I last wrote we were at Laramie…we are now within one and a half miles of the dividing ridge of the atlantick and passiffic nine hundred miles from St. Joe. We arrived at the ferry on the upper platte on the 15th…the price was $5.00 for the wagon, $2.00 per head for cattle, $1.00 for pony, and $3.00 to the ferryman to pass us…I expect to send this letter the express for the emigrants and is now recruiting five miles from here. This is the last letter you will be likely got from me that comes this way. The rest wil have to through calafornia…Albert S. Holmes…", Extremely Fine and choice.Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
ONLY FIVE COVERS HAVE SURVIVED FROM THE ONE TRIP ESTILL MADE WITH HIS EXPRESS, TWO OF WHICH ARE HELD IN THE WILTSEE COLLECTION BY WELLS FARGO. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST KNOWN EXAMPLE.
Colonel James M. Estill made a single round-trip on the Oregon-to-California Trail between Weston, Missouri and Pacific Spring, in the Sweetwater River Valley of present day Wyoming. His idea was to promote a transcontinental express service in lieu of the U.S. mail by collecting the mail along the emigrant trail for a fee of 50¢ per letter. Estill reportedly deposited 4000 letters into the US mail system at Weston, Missouri on Aug 16, 1850. Only five Estill Express covers are known to survive, all sent collect 10¢.
Current Opening Bid: $3,750
Lot
875
Kennedy's Express PAID, blue and red printed frank (Thomas KNN-001) on cover franked with 3¢ 1869 issue (114) cancelled by blue cork killer with matching blue double circle "Blackfoot City Mont. Feb 19" postmark at left, a few very minor toned spots which do not detract from this rarity, Extremely Fine and choice; with 2011 P.F. Certificate.Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
THIS IS THE UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF THIS EXPRESS COMPANY AND ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT MONTANA TERRITORIAL COVERS EXTANT.
Thomas' book notes that Kennedy's Express operated from 1868-1869 and that it "was a small express that operated between Blackfoot City and Lincoln Gulch, Montana Territory. It connected with the Merrimar & Chamberlain Stage Line at Blackfoot."
Current Opening Bid: $1,500
Lot
848
Gray's Cal. Express, bold black shield company handstamp (Thomas GRA-100) on bluish folded letter to Wisconsin, entered the mails with orange-red "San Francisco Cal. 19 Jun" cds and matching boxed "10" rate (due) handstamp; datelined "California, May 7 1850" with contents, in part, "…I wrote you a long letter also one to Mr. Tuttle about a month since, and have just learned that the man by whom they were sent to the office got drunk and lost them on the way. Should the finder be kind enough to take them to the office they may reach you yet. I am now located on the middle fork of the American River about 100 miles from Sacramento City which is the nearest P.O. An expressman comes up regularly after the arrival of each mail carrying letters to and from for two dollars each…Jno. H. Lewis", letter goes on to describe the writer's mining activities, gold payouts, etc.; two light vertical file folds, one thru express handstamp and one thru postal rate handstamp, Very Fine and choice, written up by Dr. Milgram in the March, 2018 issue of Western Express.Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
ONE OF ONLY SEVEN EXAMPLES RECORDED IN THOMAS AND THOUGHT TO BE THE FINEST KNOWN EXAMPLE FROM THIS EXPRESS.
Current Opening Bid: $1,000