Sale 41: Western Postal History

Lot 609    

Wells, Fargo & Co. Two entires to Walla Walla, W.T. with company franks at top; 1870 3¢ green part paste-up entire with blue San Francisco oval date stamp and matching Paid in oval handstamp, endorsed C.P.R.R. v Boise City, & 1841, 3¢ pink with blue "Northn Cst Messr" oval handstamp and endorsed "Per steamer", Very Fine.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

Realized: $100

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Lot 610    

Wells, Fargo & Co's Express. Printed frank (obsolete) on 1887, 2¢ green entire with boxed printed directive "President's Office/ Wells, Fargo & Company,/ San Francisco", printed address of "Dudley Evans, 2d Vice President and Manager, Wells, Fargo & Co's Express, 63 Broadway, New York City", postally carried as evidenced by partial lines of black canceller just to right of indicium and black New York receiving mark on back of cover dated "1-27-98", Very Fine.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

Dudley Evans' obituary in the March 28th, 1910 issue of The New York Times confirms that in 1892 he became Manager of the company, and was elected Second Vice President, holding that place until he succeeded to the Presidency in 1902. Wells, Fargo ceased carrying mail in the United States in 1895, and they afterwards availed themselves of the Government Postal Service, hence the obsolescence of the printed frank on this cover.

Realized: $45

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Lot 611    

Wells, Fargo & Cos. Express/S.Frco./Feb. 6. Bold blue cds and matching "Paid" in oval handstamp on 1860 folded letter sheet addressed to New York City, franked with uncanceled Wells, Fargo & Co., 1861-70, black "To Be Dropped, in New York Post Office" adhesive (margins large to clear at top right), manuscript "per St. Sonora" ship notation at top, Extremely Fine and choice, Ex-Golden, Kuphal; with 1999 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 143LP1; $7,500    Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.

THE ONLY RECORDED COVER WITH WELLS, FARGO & COMPANY'S "DROPPED IN NEW YORK POST OFFICE" STAMP, WHICH PREPAID THE EXPRESS RATE FROM CALIFORNIA TO NEW YORK.

The Scott Catalogue erroneously lists this stamp under "Newspaper Stamps" in the Wells, Fargo & Co. section. In fact, its real purpose was not to prepay newspaper charges, but to pay the express fee on letters carried by Wells, Fargo & Co. over their steamship route and "dropped in New York Post Office" as the stamp states. In this case, the letter was addressed to a local New York City firm and was probably delivered by or picked up from Wells, Fargo & Co.'s agent.

There are only seven recorded examples of this rare adhesive, one on piece offered in the Golden sale and five off-cover stamps (including a stamp added to a cover, described as such in the Middendorf collection) and this unique cover.

Realized: $10,000

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Lot 612    

Wells, Fargo & Co's Express, Blue Columbian Issue Domestic Frank. On postally carried cover to Wisconsin, with "Chicago Ill., Feb 28, 94" cds and receiving cancel on reverse dated "Mar 1, 1894", also light red company straight line handstamp reading "Chicago/Feb 28, 1894/Money Dept." applied over printed frank, Extremely Fine, a previously uncataloged Wells, Fargo & Co. handstamp.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $200

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Lot 613    

Wells, Fargo & Co. Express/Calico, Cal. Red oval handstamp on cover to Matunes Mill, Cal.; cover slightly reduced at left, Very Fine, rare and unlisted.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $150

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Lot 614    

Wells, Fargo & Co./Calico, Cal. Red oval handstamp (Leutzinger type 10-11) on 1884 2¢ brown entire to San Bernardino, Cal., black Haller type J printed frank; repaired cover tears at right, Fine and rare.
Estimate    $250 - 350.

Realized: $120

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Lot 615    

(Wells, Fargo & Co.) California Express/Wells, Fargo & Co./39 & 40 Court Sqr., Boston. Black shield corner card on cover addressed to "J.L.L.F. Warren" at San Francisco, carried free to Warren because of his status as a newspaper publisher thus the lack of any express or transit markings; small piece of bottom flap missing and sealed internal tear at left, Very Fine, while this corner card is printed, Leutzinger lists this shield as a handstamp (type 1-5, on page 47), whether printed or handstamped it is exceedingly rare, ex-Pearce and Jessup.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

James Lloyd LaFayette Warren was the editor and publisher of The California Farmer, a newspaper emphasizing California's agricultural abundances at a time when most were concerned only with its mineral wealth. Upon his arrival in the Golden State in 1849, Warren was initially a miner and storekeeper in the mining camp of Mormon Island, where he also ran Warren's Mormon Island Express.

Realized: $95

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Lot 616    

Wells, Fargo & Co./Castroville. Well struck black oval date stamp on 3¢ green entire, black company frank at top, an 1876 usage to Sacramento, Very Fine, rare in this condition.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $70

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Lot 617    

Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express/Chinese Camp. Oval handstamp (Leutzinger type 3-1) on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire with black company frank (Haller type E) to San Francisco, Cal., Extremely Fine, a lovely cover.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

Realized: $280

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Lot 618    

Wells, Fargo & Co's/Express/Chinese, Cal. Excellent purple oval handstamp on 1884, 2¢ brown front with company printed frank, pasted-up on cover to Kelseyville, Cal. with 4-line stamped return address of "Luther Wagoner, M.E./ Superintendent/ Willietta Mine/ Chinese Camp, Calif."; overall light soiling front and rear, one corner rounded, otherwise Very Fine, this late type Wells, Fargo & Co. cancellation of Chinese, Cal. is very rare.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $90

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