Lot
354 
(Eastern Sierra) Wells, Fargo & Co. Express, Keeler, Cal., two strikes of purple oval handstamp on 1886, 4¢ green legal size entire addressed to San Francisco, black frank (WFE-060) at top and "Wells, Fargo & Co., San Francisco, Jul 2, 1891" oval receiving date stamp, Very Fine and choice. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
THE ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE OF THE WELLS, FARGO & CO. KEELER HANDSTAMP.
The Wells Fargo Keller office was located in the Keller Train Station which was at the end of the line for the narrow gage railroad line which ran through the valley.
Realized: $1,200
Lot
355
(Eastern Sierra) (Wells, Fargo & Co.) "Lundy, Cal 9/23/80", manuscript from the ghost town of Lundy, Inyo County, Cal., along with a "Wells Fargo Messenger" (8-1) on 1874, 3¢ green entire (U163), black printed frank (WFE-030) carried entirely by Wells Fargo from Lundy to Hollister; reduced at left and some soiling, Fine, an unlisted and unknown Wells Fargo town, accompanied by separate Lundy express label. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $500
Lot
356
(Eastern Sierra) Wells, Fargo & Co., Markleville., May 19, blue oval date stamp from Markleeville, Alpine County on 1861, 3¢ pink entire (U35) to Jamestown, Cal., black printed frank (WFE-030) at top; small piece of back flap missing, Very Fine and choice. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $210
Lot
357
(Eastern Sierra) (Wells, Fargo & Co.) Monitor, April 22, 1865, Wells Fargo marked manuscript from the ghost town of Monitor, Alpine County, with blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Markleeville, Apr 25" oval date stamp (11-9) on a 1861, 3¢ pink entire (U35), black printed frank (WFE-030) at top, carried entirely by Wells Fargo from Monitor to San Francisco; some expert cover restoration, Very Fine appearance. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $180
Lot
358
(Eastern Sierra) Wells, Fargo & Co., Monitor, Mar 16, black oval date stamp (11-9) from the ghost town of Monitor, Alpine County, on a 1864, 3¢ pink entire (U58) to San Francisco, black printed frank (WFE-030) at top; back flap missing and some water staining at bottom, F.-V.F. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $190
Lot
359
(Eastern Sierra) Wells, Fargo & Co., Monitor, Jan 21, oval date stamp (11-9) on 1870, 3¢ green entire (U82) to San Francisco, black printed frank (WFE-030) at top; most of backflap missing, otherwise Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $190
Lot
360
(Eastern Sierra) Wells, Fargo & Co. Express, New York, Apr 11, blue cds on 1864 3¢ pink entire (U58) from New York to the ghost town of Chrysopolis, Inyo County with "Via Aurora" routing endorsement, blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Austin, N.T." oval transit date stamp, black printed frank (WFE-030) at top; a bit reduced at left., otherwise Very Fine, two other envelopes are known addressed to Chrysopolis, no known envelope is recorded from this location. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $350
Lot
361
(Eastern Sierra) Wells, Fargo & Co. Virginia City Pony Express, 1861, 3¢ pink entire to Willow Springs, Coso (Mining District in Inyo County), with large margin Wells, Fargo & Co. 1862, 25¢ blue (143L8) tied by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., San Frco, Sep 17" circular datestamp, printed frank (WFE-030) at top, with additional manuscript "Care of Kenson's Pony Express" at "Aurora/Esmeralda", "Coll 2/-" (2 bits or 25¢) manuscript Kenson's express fee to collect, sender's manuscript on reverse from Cobb in San Francisco and "Rec Oct 15th"; cover edge flaws, opened on three sides and reduced at left. Scott No. 143L8+U34 Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
A REMARKABLE AND UNIQUE DOUBLE PONY EXPRESS USAGE CARRIED BY WELLS, FARGO & CO. VIRGINIA CITY PONY EXPRESS AND THE KENSON'S PONY EXPRESS FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO THE COSO MINING DISTRICT.
Only a few of the Virginia City Ponies are double express usage. The other examples, which are believed to be two, started in the east bay and were carried by Bamber Express and turned over to Wells Fargo. This is the only Virginia City Pony cover known that Wells Fargo turned over to another express. The town of Aurora had just been determine (9/16/1863) by a boundary survey to be in Esmeralda County, Nevada. Before that the town's Post Office was known as Esmeralda and the town was believed located in Mono County, California. This cover traveled from San Francisco by steamer to Sacramento, then to Placerville by train and then by pony over the Sierra's to Carson City, Nevada and then down the back side of the Sierras Mountains to Aurora. The pony run from Placerville to Aurora was a distance of about 160 miles. At Aurora, Wells Fargo turned the cover over to Kenson's Pony Express who then carried it south, passing back into California, running next to Owens Lake to Willow Springs which was located east of Coso Junction, Inyo County. The distance of this second pony run is around 200 miles.
Realized: $8,500