Lot
289 
Wells Fargo & Cos. Express/San Francisco. Wonderful strike of scarce large size double oval handstamp on 1853 folded cover to Columbia, Cal. with matching "Paid" in oval (crossed out by pencil), addressed to Clementine Brainard & written by her husband & endorsed "Care of Brainard & Newell" which refers to their jointly owned building in Columbia, Newell sold out to Brainard, Very Fine and attractive. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $75
Lot
290
Wells Fargo & Co./San Francisco Feb 21. Blue double circle handstamp (Leutzinger type 11-4) ties 1857 1¢ blue type V and 1857 3¢ dull red type II vertical strip of three on orange cover with all-over Wells Fargo illustrated shaded advertising design in grey showing th Wells, Fargo & Co. Building & Street Scene to New York City street address, small mended tear at top, adhesives are bright & fresh, Extremely Fine and attractive. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
Included is original letter dated "February 20, 1861" on Wells Fargo printed letterhead, also with Wells Fargo second of exchange for $50, letter is from one Steve King to his brother with rather confused early Civil War references to John A. Dix and, in regard to South Carolina's secession, "I don't approve of your "Union" ideas in toto; you weaken too quick. I am decidedly no abolitionist, but I do want to see the South Carolina gentry taught a few lessons in good manners…." and, in regard to California, "California stands in this matter decidedly "Union," although the state has a majority Republican vote.", the writer goes on to explain his appropriation of Wells Fargo stationery with "I am still "heaving away" in the San Francisco Express office, and [I am] perfectly satisfied with the old institution.".
Realized: $6,500
Lot
291
Wells, Fargo & Co. Shaded Ad Cover. Lovely all over shaded advertising design in green showing company building on 3¢ entire to Long Island, with Wells, Fargo & Co. company frank, postmarked on arrival in New York, entire include original enclosure from San Francisco & Bill of Exchange with US & California Revenues tied by handstamp, entire a bit reduced at right & small tear, still Very Fine, a lovely lot. Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $85
Lot
292
Wells Fargo & Co. Express/Steamboat. Handstamps on two covers; first blue shield Wells Fargo & Co. Express/Steamboat handstamp (Leutzinger type 2-4) on stampless cover to San Francisco, second blue oval Wells Fargo & Co. Express/Steamboat handstamp (Leutzinger type 2-7) on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire with black company frank at upper left, S. W. Collins correspondence to San Francisco, "Hewlett & Collins, General Merchandise" Stockton handstamped corner card on the back, Very Fine, first is ex-Chase, Lichtenstein. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $210
Lot
293
Wells Fargo & Co./Stockton Messenger Apr 22. Blue oval handstamp (Leutzinger type 8-2) struck twice on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire with black company frank to Stockton, beautiful strike of "R. E. Raimond, General Shipping And Commission Merchant" San Francisco handstamped corner card with small clipper ship motif, Extremely Fine and attractive, Cover illustrated in Coburn's Letters of Gold (page 289). Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $2,000
Lot
294
Wells Fargo & Co./Stockton Sep 16. Blue double oval handstamp (Leutzinger type 11-5) on 1860 3¢ Star Die entire additionally franked with 1857 3¢ dull red (s.e. at left) & tied by 2nd strike of "Wells Fargo & Co./Stockton Messenger Sep 16" blue oval handstamp (Leutzinger type 8-2), "Collect" blue box handstamp (Leutzinger type 7-28) struck three times, entire with "Kierski and Brother Bookseller" Stockton shaded ad in olive, black company frank at right partly atop the indicium, addressed to San Francisco but forwarded with various pencil notations, "$5-" manuscript notation at left, which may refer to currency that was once enclosed, Very Fine and a spectacular cover, Cover illustrated in Coburn's Letters of Gold (page 290). Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $1,450
Lot
295
Wells Fargo & Co./Victoria Feb 17. Blue oval handstamp (Leutzinger type 11-9) on 1861 10¢ green entire with black company frank, "Post Office / Victoria V.I." Coat of Arms blue oval postal frank at left, Meussdorfer correspondence to San Francisco with original letter headed "Victoria 13 February, 1869" and ordering felt hats, letter also mentions that "We received the case of sample hats that you sent and were surprised to find it marked C.O.D. We suppose this must have been an error, and Wells Fargo delivered to us without collecting, [so] we trust you will rectify this with them.", small corner nick at lower right & docketing at right, F.-V.F. Estimate $200 - 300.
Although postage stamps were available, the "Victoria V.I." Coat of Arms postal frank continued to be used on some Wells Fargo covers sent from Victoria to United States destinations after the merger of Vancouver Island into British Columbia as a single crown colony in 1866 and before a postal convention was signed between the united colony of British Columbia and the United States in 1870. British Columbia became a province of the Dominion of Canada in 1871.
Realized: $240
Lot
296
Wells Fargo & Co. Express/Volcano. Two strikes of oval handstamp on 1856 folded cover to San Francisco, Very Fine, a scarce Wells, Fargo & Co. marking. Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $170
Lot
297
Wells Fargo & Co./Yankee Jims (Placer). Blue oval handstamp (Leutzinger type 3-1) struck twice at left on 1861 10¢ green entire with red company frank to Londonville, Ohio, double 10¢ transcontinental rate with 1861 10¢ green affixed below the indicium, entered the mails with "Atchison, Kas, Jan 14" small double circle postmark struck twice and tying the adhesive, slightly reduced at right, Fine overland use, ex-Pearce. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $170
Lot
298
Wells Fargo & Co./Yuba City. Black oval handstamp on cover to "Saint Louis Ranch, Merced County, via San Francisco & Gilroy", slightly reduced at left, Very Fine and a scarce marking. Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $160