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Sale 97: The Westpex Sale

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Western Express Covers - Bamber to U.S. Mail Telegraph Stage Line

Lots 700-709 Lots 710-717

Lot 700    

J. Bamber & Cos. Contra Costa Express. Paid., bold oval frank handstamp and "Answer by Bamber & Cos. Express" framed handstamp cancels 3¢ red (U10) buff entire to San Francisco Cal., manuscript "P" initial at top right for Pacheco origin; reduced slightly at left, Very Fine.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $325

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Lot 701    

(British Columbia & Vancouver Island) Wells Fargo & Co., Red Frank, printed on 1861, 10¢ green entire (U41) to London, England, blue "Post Office, Victoria V.I." crown oval handstamp at upper left indicating British Columbia postage 2½d (5¢) paid in cash, uprated with 1861, 10¢ green, vertical pair (68) all canceled by grid handstamps (pair tied between perf holes), red "N. York Br. Pkt., Paid 19, Sep 30" credit exchange cds and "London, Oc 13, 1862" entry cds alongside; tiny cover tear at top and bottom stamp with minor perf flaws at bottom, still Very Fine; with 2004 W. Tust certificate.
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

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.

Realized: $2,300

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Lot 702    

C. & O. Coast Overland Mail Company, Yreka, Cal., stunning illustrated six-horse drawn stage design with fancy framed corner card on stampless cover carried privately to Strawberry Valley, Cal.; reduced at left into corner card, Fine and scarce stage design.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Realized: $425

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Lot 703    

Coast Line Stage Company, Flint, Bixby & Co., illustrated six-horse drawn stage design with corner card on yellow cover with manuscript "$2.00" Express Rate for delivery to "Lagoona Ranch House"; roughly reduced at right affecting design and repaired vertical cover tear, Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $280

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Lot 704    

Coupe's Express, printed oval frank (COU-100) on uncancelled 1870, 3¢ green entire addressed to New York City, Very Fine and choice, ex-H. Deats & Barkhausen.
Estimate    $2,000 - 3,000.

A GREAT WASHINGTON TERRITORIAL EXPRESS RARITY. THIS IS ONE OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE COUPE'S EXPRESS FRANK.

This one-man express was operated by Thomas Coupe in the Puget Sound area. Coupe operated a small steamer vessel, the "Success", as a ferry between Port Townsend and Ebey's Landing on Whibey Island during the life of his express. A cover carried by Wells, Fargo & Co. from San Francisco to Port Townsend via Victoria is known bearing an endorsement "In Care of Capt Coupe".

Realized: $1,500

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Lot 705    

Freeman & Co's Express, clear complete strike of early oval handstamp (FRE-101) from the Freeman's Office at Marysville, on buff cover to Sacramento; minor scuff in address panel, Very Fine and attractive, ex-Tatham.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

ONE OF TWO EXAMPLES OF THE SMALL BLUE FREEMAN & CO'S EXPRESS OVAL HANDSTAMP FROM THE MARYSVILLE OFFICE.

Only two examples of the small blue Freeman first period (November, 1850 - November, 1851) ovals are recorded. Both are addressed to Sacramento. This small oval is recorded in black from San Francisco, red from Sacramento and blue from Marysville. This is the only instance of an early express using color with the same type of handstamp to delineate office location. All of the small ovals are rare with the red being the most common.

Realized: $400

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Lot 706    

Gilbert & Hedges Express, Monterey, oval handstamp (GIL-101) on uncancelled 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire addressed to San Francisco, Very Fine, ex-Jessup.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

ONE OF TWO KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE GILBERT & HEDGES EXPRESS "MONTEREY" HANDSTAMP.

Gilbert & Hedges express operated around 1855 for approximately six months along the California coast from San Francisco south to San Diego. They may have extended as far south to the ports along the cost of Mexico and South America.

Realized: $650

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Lot 707    

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 $1,000 - 1,500.

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.

Realized: $800

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Lot 708    

Leav'h City & Pikes Peak Express Co., Jun 8, clear full strike of cds on cover to Denver City, Kansas Territory, franked with 1857, 3¢ dull red (26) tied by "New York, May 23, 1859" cds, pencil "30 cts" express due rating, with lengthy 12 page enclosure written over a course of a month, Very Fine, unrecorded in the Frajola & Walske's Mails of the Westward Expansion census.
Estimate    $3,000 - 4,000.

A CHOICE AND RARE LEAVENWORTH CITY & PIKES PEAK EXPRESS CO. EXPRESS USAGE TO DENVER CITY.

The Leavenworth City & Pikes Peak Express Co. was formed in February of 1850 by William Russell and John Jones. This was the first express service between Denver City and Leavenworth City, initially charging 25¢ per letter. This marking is known used only from April to July, 1859 as Amos Streck arrived at Denver City on July 19, 1859 with the "Jones & Russells Pike's Peak Express Company" date stamp that saw use thereafter.

Complete images:
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Realized: $4,250

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Lot 709    

Leland's & McComb's Southern Express, oval handstamp on folded letter to San Francisco datelined "Los Angeles, Dec 21, 1854"; left flap missing, F.-V.F., a very rare express mark.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $350

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Lots 700-709 Lots 710-717

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