Lot
515 
Nichols & Co.'s Express, fancy illustrated printed frank (NIC-002) on cover to San Francisco, franked with precanceled 1851, 3¢ dull red with faint red "Nichols & Co's Express, San Francisco" oval handstamp alongside; cover tone spots and missing backflap, Fine, a very rare Nichols & Co.'s Express usage with only a few known bearing their San Francisco handstamp. Scott No. 11 Estimate $300 - 400.
C. P. Nichols and Edward Ludlow started their express in the spring of 1858, carrying mail between San Francisco and San Jose, and eventually expanding their routes northward; their distinctive express frank pictures a dog guarding a safe, sailing schooner, steam vessel and railroad train, and it was printed on plain envelopes and on 3¢ entires. Nichols & Co. eventually sold out to American Express, who adopted the same woodcut frank.
Realized: $375