Lot
1463 
Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, Denver City K.T. Oct. 30, oval handstamp tying rare "C.O.C. & P.P. Express, St. Joseph, Mo. or Leavenworth, K.T." magenta label, bottom left corner clipped off, on 3¢ red (U10) Nesbitt entire to Lock Port Pa., second strike of oval alongside dated Oct. 29, entered mails with "Leavenworth City, Kas. Nov 6" and matching grid cancel on indicia; flap torn and trivial mended top edge nick, Very Fine and attractive, A very rare label on cover, particularly tied by the Express handstamp, ex-Persson, Stach, Walske. Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
ONE OF ONLY SIX RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE CENTRAL OVERLAND CALIFORNIA & PIKE'S PEAK EXPRESS MAGENTA LABEL ON COVER.
This company was the immediate predecessor of The Pony Express. It was organized by the firm of Russell, Majors & Waddell for the purpose of saving the partnership's freighting operations to army posts in the West. They were one of two firms that carried mail to the Pike's Peak region when the gold rush began there. COC&PPE had obtained the mail contract from St. Joseph to Salt Lake City operating over the Platte River Road. They carried the express Pike's Peak mail over this route as far as Julesburg, where it was diverted south to Denver, which had a post office, but no mail route serving the town.
The backflap has a third strike of the "Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, Denver City K.T." oval handstamp dated "Oct. 7". These envelopes were available for purchase prior to use and this handstamp reflects the date of sale.
References: Illustrated in Jarrett Colorado book.
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Realized: $9,000