Lot
3389 
1867 (Jun.) Williams Creek, British Columbia to Aylmer, Canada West, cover bearing Vancouver Island, 5c rose (5) and 10c blue (6) pair tied by Williams Creek "10" numeral grid cancels, bold strike of blue "General Post Office, British Columbia, 26 Jun 1867" double-circle datestamp on right side flap, entered U.S. mails with bold "San Francisco, Cal, Jul 1" double-circle datestamp and 10¢ green (68) tied by cogwheel fancy cancel; backflap torn, Very Fine, ex-Wellburn. Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
A RARE VANCOUVER ISLAND AND UNITED STATES COMBINATION COVER FROM WILLIAMS CREEK TO CANADA WEST VIA THE UNITED STATES.
The Cariboo region's Williams Creek post office began operation in June 1864. It used the numeral "10" cancel.
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Realized: $3,750
Lot
3390
1866 (Mar. 2) New Westminster, British Columbia to Bowmanville, Canada West via San Francisco, blue cover bearing British Columbia, 5d blue (7) singles tied by bold "New Westminster, British Columbia, Post Office" double-oval postmark on blue cover, reverse with black "General Post Office, British Columbian, 2 Mar 1866" double-circle backstamp, endorsed U.S. mails with U.S. 10¢ green (68) vertical pair tied by bold strikes of four-ring cancel duplexed with "San Francisco, Cal. Mar 9" double-circle datestamp, reverse with "Bowmanville, U.C., 3 AP" arrival backstamp; reduced slightly at right, trivial stamp flaws, Very Fine, ex-Wellburn. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A REMARKABLE DOUBLE-RATE USE FROM NEW WESTMINSTER, BRITISH COLUMBIA TO CANADA WEST VIA THE UNITED STATES.
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Realized: $6,000
Lot
3391
1862 (February) Victoria, Vancouver Island to Yorkville, Canada West via San Francisco, cover with "Post Office, Victoria V.I." crown oval handstamp indicating British Columbia postage 2½d (5¢) paid in cash, entered mails with "San Francisco, Cal. Feb 27 1862" cds and two 1¢ blue (63) singles, 3¢ rose pink (64b), and 10¢ green (68), all cancelled and tied by cogwheel fancy cancels, "Chicago Ill, Paid 15" circular exchange handstamp, partial Yorkville, AP 3, 62" arrival backstamp; no flap, 1¢ and 3¢ small stamp flaws at top from edge placement, Very Fine, ex Dale-Lichtenstein. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A BEAUTIFUL THREE-COLOR 1861 ISSUE FRANKING FOR THE 15¢ RATE FROM VANCOUVER ISLAND TO CANADA WEST.
It appears this cover was originally franked with a pair of the 10¢ green, the left stamp was mostly removed leaving the top eight beneath the 3¢ rose pink.
Victoria, Vancouver Island was a most important port. It became a supply center and jumping off point for the Fraser Gold Rush of 1858, and was incorporated as the city of Victoria in 1862. Virtually all mail to and from British Columbia travelled through Victoria.
Realized: $1,600
Lot
3392
1864 (Oct.) Victoria, Vancouver Island to London, England via San Francisco and New York, red Wells Fargo & Co. printed frank and light strike of "Post Office, Victoria V.I." crown oval handstamp indicating British Columbia postage 2½d (5¢) paid in cash on 10¢ green (U40) entire, blue "Wells, Fargo & Cos Express, S.Frco., 25 Oct" double-circle datestamp, entered mails with sharp red "N.York Br. Pkt. 'Paid 19' Nov 19" credit exchange cds bearing U.S. 10¢ green (68) vertical pair cancelled by NYFM star in circle fancy cancel, additional strike cancels indicia; cleaned and minor edge strengthening, couple small 10¢ flaws, Very Fine appearance. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Beginning January 1862, all ship mail (closed bags) between Victoria and San Francisco was either handled by the Consul or Wells Fargo & Co. The three other Victoria banking institutions mostly utilized Wells Fargo to carry their mail and treasure because it was often faster and always safer.
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Realized: $2,800
Lot
3393
1865 (May 25) Melbourne, Australia to Victoria, Vancouver Island, mourning cover bearing Victoria, 1s blue tied by "Melbourne, MY-25 65" duplex addressed to Hudson Bay Company, endorsed "Via Marseilles", red London Paid (7.17), then transatlantic by Inman Line City of New York II from Liverpool Jul. 19th to New York arriving Jul. 31, closed mail via Panama to San Francisco, docketed "Recd - 16 Sepr. 1865"; 1s creased from edge placement, which has been extended for appearances, Fine, an around the world use taking 114 days. Estimate $200 - 300.
Victoria, Vancouver Island served as the hub for most incoming and outgoing mail to the entire region.
Realized: $750
Lot
3394
Barnard's Cariboo Express. Paid., black on orange express label affixed on orange envelope addressed to Stamford, Canada West, pasted on reverse of 3¢ pink (U35) buff entire with printed Wells Fargo frank, bold strike of "Post Office, Victoria V.I." crown oval handstamp indicating British Columbia postage 2½d paid in cash, cancelled by "Atchison Kas, Jun 27 '64" duplex and bearing 12¢ black (69) tied by matching four-rings cancel, transits of "Windsor, JU 30, 1864" and "G.W.R. East, JY 1, 64", Stamford arrival cds; opened out for display and some edge wear, Very Fine, ex-Haas; with 1967 P.F. certificate. Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
A STUNNING BARNARD'S CARIBOO EXPRESS USE VIA WELLS FARGO TO STAMFORD, CANADA EAST.
Realized: $9,000
Lot
3395
Barnard's Cariboo Express, black oval handstamp ties Canada 3¢ small queen (37) on U.S. 3¢ green entire with printed Wells Fargo Co. paid frank to China Store, New Westminster B.C., matching "Collect" oval handstamps and blue crayon "10¢", Chinese character docketing at left, F.-V.F. Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $400
Lot
3396
Barnard's Cariboo Express, Paid, black on green label affixed on 3¢ pink (U35) buff entire with printed Wheeler's Express (WHE-001) scroll frank and cancelled by "Wells Fargo & Co., Marysville" double-oval datestamp with matching blue "Paid" double-oval to William Roberts at Williams Creek, Cariboo, endorsed "W.B." and "150" express rating; some minor edge restoration, Very Fine appearance, ex Dale-Lichtenstein. Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
A REMARKABLE TRIPLE-CONJUNCTIVE USE VIA WHEELER'S, WELLS FARGO & CO. AND BANARD'S CARIBOO EXPRESS.
When on August 17, 1862, prospector Billy Barker struck major gold deposits at the head of Williams Creek, he culminated probes of others who had come to the area as early as 1859. The 50 miles surrounding what would become Barkerville contained the greatest and richest gold deposits in the history of British Columbia. Thus began the "Cariboo" gold rush. The Cariboo gold region was 400 miles beyond the head of navigation on the Fraser River. It was located northeast of Fort Hope / Yale area, which was the scene of the "Fraser River" gold rush of a few years prior.
In 1862, Francis Jones Barnard established a one-horse pony express with himself as sole rider, serving the Cariboo from Yale, where he met with Dietz & Nelson Express that provided services between New Westminster and Yale. $1 per letter carrier or delivered.
Beginning in December 1863, Samuel and Simeon Wheeler operated this express for several months. They ran between the Gibsonville Cal. mining camps and Marysville where they connected with Wells Fargo.
Realized: $9,000
Lot
3397
Dietz & Nelson's Express, B.C. & V., blue double-circle handstamp ties British Columbia, 3d blue (7) right wing margin pair on U.S. 3¢ pink (U59) buff entire cancelled by blue "Wells Fargo & Co. Express, Victoria" oval handstamp to Victoria, British Columbia, Dietz sharp "Collect" oval handstamp with manuscript "100" express rating for forwarding to French Creek; restored at right edge, Very Fine appearance, ex Dale-Lichtenstein. Thomas No. DIE-100. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A SCARCE CONJUNCTIVE DIETZ & NELSON'S AND WELLS FARGO & CO. EXPRESS USE TO VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA FORWARDED TO FRENCH CREEK.
George Dietz and Hugh Nelson purchased Ballou Express in October 1862, and operated over two established routes that ran from Victoria B.C. to Yale and Victoria B.C. to Lillooet Flat. They formed a merger with Barnard's Cariboo Express in March 1863 for distribution of express material north. They also connected with Wells Fargo in Victoria for mail entering or leaving the Colony. Operating solely as the center piece of an express pipe line, they found that they could not generate funds beyond break even and Barnard acquired complete control of their operation in December 1867.
Realized: $2,800
Lot
3398
Dietz & Nelson's British Columbia & Victoria Express, printed ribbon frank at left along with conjunctive Wells Fargo & Co. printed frank on 3¢ pink (U59) buff entire to San Francisco Cal. bearing uncancelled British Columbia, 3d blue (7) in conjunction with U.S. 2¢ black (73), 5¢ brown (76) and 10¢ green (68), latter tied by unlisted blue negative Wells Fargo & Co Express circular handstamps, reverse with appearance of paste-up being attached, Very Fine, ex Dale-Lichtenstein. Thomas No. DIE-001. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A RARE CONJUNCTIVE BARNARD'S AND WELLS FARGO EXPRESS USE TO SAN FRANCISCO BEARING THREE-COLOR U.S. FRANKING.
Realized: $3,250