Lot
218 
Hawley & Co.'s Express. Crystal clear express company marking in double-lined shield with ornament on folded cover to Marysville, additionally struck with matching "From San Francisco" straight line handstamp & "Paid through" handstamp & manuscript, Superb, rarely do we use this to describe a cover, but this cover is truly magnificent, Cover illustrated in Coburn's Letters of Gold (page 195). Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Realized: $4,750
Lot
219
Hogan & Co. North San Juan & Humbug Express. Ornate black printed frank on 1870 3¢ green entire to San Francisco with light strike of target cancel (probably of North San Juan), Very Fine and choice, six Hogan covers know total with only two of this frank (no photo). Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $750
Lot
220
Holladay Overland/Virginia City, Mon./Oct. 30, 1866. Double circle handstamp on 1864 3¢ pink entire to Independence, Mo. with fancy company frank at top left, entire with 2nd strike alongside the indicia (lightly struck), carried by Holladay to Post Office with "Leavenworth, Kan./Nov. 14" mailing cds, minor corner wear & small tear at right, Very Fine, a spectacular cover used 2 days before Holladay sold out to Wells, Fargo & Co. Estimate $500 - 750.
Ben Holladay started his company in 1862, by 1864 he had branched out to Idaho, Montana and Colorado and on Nov. 1, 1866, he sold out to Wells, Fargo & Co. One of only two known covers used used from this final period of his operation.
Realized: $260
Lot
221
Hopkinson's Express Printed Frank with "Red Dog, Nevada Co., California". Printed postmark (not used) on 1864 3¢ pink entire to Nevada City, brought in from You Bet or the surrounding mining areas and mailed with Red Dog, Cal., Jun 11 cds and pen strokes cancelling the indicium, "1867" docket, Very Fine, ex-Barkhausen. Estimate $500 - 750.
Cover illustrated in Coburn's Letters of Gold (page 197). A late use for Hopkinson, which shows that in the end he shortened his route between Dutch Flat and Nevada City to between Dutch Flat and Red Dog. The Red Dog Post Office operated from 1855 until 1869. The nearby You Bet Post Office operated from 1868 until 1903.
The town of Red Dog was largely destroyed by prolonged rains during the Winter of 1867-1868. Flumes and buildings were washed away by flooding, and ditches and mining machinery were buried under mudslides. Later hydraulic mining eliminated what remained of the town site except for the cemetery.
Realized: $900
Lot 222 o
Humboldt Express, 1863 25¢ brown. Mostly large margins to just touching at lower right, blue "Langton's Pioneer Express/Starr City" oval cancel, couple minute pinholes that may be natural paper flaws, light purple owner's handstamp on the back, Extremely Fine, a gorgeous stamp; with 2009 P.F. certificate.Scott No. 86L1 $1,250.
Realized: $750
Lot
223
Hunter & Co.'s Express. Clear double-oval express company marking with horse and rider on cover postmarked Waldoboro, Me. with manuscript "10" rate to Sacramento, manuscript. "El Do(rado) Slide 1.35" express company charge, some cover wear, Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $1,600
Lot
224
Forwarded By Hunter & Co.'s Express/Auburn. Blue shield handstamp on incoming cover addressed to Daniel Towle at Sacramento City, "Avon, Me, March 8" manuscript origin postmark with "Free/E. M. Towle, P.M." postmaster's free frank, "New Castle" and "1.25" Express directive & rate manuscript notations, docketed by the recipient "Received at Secret diggins Ravine May 5th 1852, D. Towle", thus picked up by Hunter from the Post Office in Sacramento City and carried to Auburn and then Newcastle and ultimately delivered collect at Secret Ravine, Very Fine and rare. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $1,600
Lot
225
C.C. Huntley Stage & Express Line/Paid. Purple printed fancy express company frank on 3¢ pink entire used on paste-up, indicia with manuscript cancelled, addressed to Helena, Mont. Terr., roughly opened at right, Fine, an extremely rare Express Company. Estimate $500 - 750.
Huntley was a small operation which ran stages primarily in Idaho and Montana to the gold country.
Realized: $260
Lot
226
La Porte Express Co./La Porte. Blue oval handstamp on 3¢ Pink entire with company frank to San Francisco, struck at left is bold "Dr. Willard's Book & Drug Store, La Porte, Cal." advertising handstamp, slightly reduced at right, Very Fine and attractive, included is photocopy of illustrated lettersheet showing the town of La Porte, published by Dr. Willard. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $600
Lot
227
Lamping & Co.'s Express/Downieville. Light strike of blue oval handstamp on 3¢ Pink entire to San Francisco with printed company frank at left, conjunctive use with blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Marysville Aug. 6" oval handstamp, minor flap tear, Very Fine, Lamping's Express (successor to Langton) served the Downieville mining region and connected with Wells, Fargo & Co. at Marysville. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $190