Lot
4032 
(British Columbia & Vancouver Island) Wells Fargo & Co., Express, Victoria, V.I., blue oval handstamp canceling on fresh 1854, 3¢ Nesbitt entire to San Francisco, with negative "Customs, Vancouver Island" crown circular handstamp and black company frank at top, Very Fine and choice, ex-Dale-Lichtenstein; with 2004 P.F. certificate. Scott No. U10 Estimate $750 - 1,000.
A CHOICE USAGE OF THE VANCOUVER ISLAND CUSTOMS CROWN CIRCULAR HANDSTAMP.
Wells, Fargo & Co. opened their office in Victoria in July 1858. The next year they absorbed Freeman's Express, who had opened their that same month. During the Colonial period, Wells, Fargo & Co. handled approximately half of the express mail letters to and from British Columbia & Vancouver Island.
Realized: $1,450
Lot
4033
(Gahagan & Howe) City G & H Express, blue double-lined oval handstamp with "423 Washn. St. S.E. Cor. Sansome St." address struck twice on stampless cover to Miss A. Wells, North Side Francisco, San Francisco, Very Fine and attractive. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THIS SHORT-LIVED COMPANY THAT DELIVERED MAIL LOCALLY IN SAN FRANCISCO.
References: Illustrated in Coburn's Letters of Gold on page 69.
Realized: $900
Lot
4034
Jones & Cartwright Transportation Line, Leavenworth., Pikes Peak., boxed illustrated corner card showing Freight Wagons Traveling West To Colorado Territory With Snow Capped Pike Peak in the Distance, on cover to Winfield, Va., franked with 1857, 3¢ dull red (small edge nick at right) tied by "Leavenworth City, Kans, Dec 13" cds, Very Fine. Scott No. 26 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
THE ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE OF THE JONES & CARTWRIGHT TRANSPORTATION LINE ILLUSTRATED CORNER CARD COVER.
MATCHING LETTERHEAD DESIGN IS ILLUSTRATED IN J. ROSA'S BOOK WILD BILL HICKOK: SHARPSHOOTER AND U.S. MARSHAL OF THE WILD WEST ON PAGE 28.
John Stycks Jones, of the Jones & Russell's Pike's Peak Express Co., and Joseph F. Cartwright, both from Pettis, Missouri, formed the Jones & Cartwright Transportation Line, a large freight company in 1858 to carry supplies across the plains. Their first trip was of 156 wagons, the freight delivered to Camp Floyd, Utah, 40 miles from Salt Lake City. When gold was discovered in Colorado, they commence business in the region. A Denver City correspondence, dated August 17, 1859 states "At this time Jones and Cartwright purchased the Pollard House in Auraria for $3,000, as a wholesale store, thereby inaugurating the freighting firm of Jones & Cartwright (in Colorado), forwarders between Leavenworth and Denver. Their first train of some thirty wagons arrived August 24, to supply the wholesale and retail business of this firm."
Both Jones & Cartwright Transportation Line and Jones & Russell's Pike's Peak Express Co. where in operation at the same time. On September 12, 1859, a coach arrived at Leavenworth after a six-day trip from Denver with $9,000 in gold addressed to eleven consignees, of which the firms of Jones & Cartwright and Jones, Russell & Co., received the major portions.
According to J. Rosa "Wild Bill Hickok: Sharpshooter and U.S. Marshal of the Wild West", a gentleman named James Hickok (a.k.a. Wild Bill Hickok) moved to Olathe, Kansas Territory and joined Jones & Cartwright Transportation Line as a teamster, leading the team of mules, horses and oxen to Denver City and back.
Lot
4035
(Alaska) Juneau, Alaska, Northern Pacific Express Co., dark blue company frank on 1884, 2¢ brown entire to San Francisco, Cal., with purple "Juneau, Alaska" straight line and matching "C. Heywood, N.P. Express" agent handstamp canceling; light cover toning and wear, otherwise Very Fine, a very scarce express agent handstamp. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Realized: $1,350
Lot
4036
"Los Angeles, Feby 22d /50" (Los Angeles), manuscript postmark with matching "Paid 40¢" rating on gray 1850 folded letter to Whitesville, East Florida, sent via San Francisco with additional orange red "San Francisco, Mar 5" cds and matching "40" rating handstamp adjacent crossed out ms. rating; light creasing, Very Fine. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
THE EARLIEST REPORTED EXAMPLE OF THIS LOS ANGELES POSTMARK AND THE ONLY 40¢ RATE COVER, USED PRIOR TO POSTMASTER'S APPOINTMENT ON APRIL 9, 1850.
The San Francisco post office thought Los Angeles was not a post office yet, so it crossed out the Los Angeles "Paid 40¢" and added their cds and large "40" rating handstamp. This is one of the most important 40¢ rate covers in existence.
References: Illustrated in Letters of Gold.
Realized: $1,450
Lot
4037
San Pedro., Cal., Aug 4 (Los Angeles), exceptional strike of blue cds with manuscript date (LOS-13010, R6) on c. 1855 cover to Marysville P.O. (Wegan or Oregon Gulch), with matching boxed "Paid" handstamp and manuscript "6" rate for double rate, sent to New York in error and returned with blue manuscript "Missent" endorsement and red "New - York, Sep 12" cds, Extremely Fine and attractive, the presence of the "6" rate was likely a factor for this cover being inadvertently sorted into eastbound mail, ex-Haas, Kramer. Estimate $500 - 750.
ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACTIVE CALIFORNIA STAMPLESS COVERS KNOWN.
This cover was a part of the George Kramer Collection "Across the Continent" (Bennett Sale #260, Lot 16 of the where it realized $2,100 hammer).
Realized: $1,250
Lot
4038
Sta Barbara, Cal., Nov 8, 1850 (Santa Barbara), small blue rimless cds with manuscript date (SBA-1360, R5) on cover to Dover, N.J., manuscript "40" rate; couple filing pinholes at top center, Extremely Fine, with photocopy of original enclosure. Estimate $500 - 750.
THE UNIQUE SANTA BARBARA "40" RATE COVER. ONE OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF SANTA BARBARA'S FIRST TOWNMARK.
Only two examples of the small rimless hand stamp are recorded with this being the earliest recorded as well as earliest recorded mark for the Santa Barbara Post Office.
Realized: $2,700
Lot
4039
Timbuctoo, Cal, Sep 28 (Yuba), sharp cds (Williams YUB-1570) and manuscript "free, W. P.M." postmaster free frank endorsement on circa 1862 yellow cover with red and blue Uncle Sam Pitchforking Jefferson Davis over Fire patriotic design to San Francisco Cal., pencil "Recd Oct 1 '62" receipt docketing at right; barely reduced at right, Very Fine and rare Patriotic Caricature use from California. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Realized: $8,000