Sale 1011 — United States Stamps & Postal History, Foreign
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 21-24 June, 2011
Category — Western Express (Palmer thru Wells & Co.)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
1193
Palmer & Cos. Express. Red shield-shaped handstamp on blue folded letter datelined Jan. 10, 1850 (actually 1851) to New Bedford Mass. from a moderately literate prospector, endorsed "Palmer & Co. Express Paid", entered mails with red "New York 5cts 1 Mar." integral-rate circular datestamp, addressee's name crossed out, edge faults, otherwise Fine, rare use, the Palmer marking was probably applied in New York after arrival on a steamer, ex Hahn
E. 300-400
180
1194
Prindle's Express From Yreka to Scott & Klamath Rivers. Mostly clear strike of red oval handstamp on buff cover to Yreka Cal., docketed Jul. 2, 1860, Fine, according to the Nathan book, Charles W. Prindle operated this express from Yreka to the Scott and Klamath River Mines from 1860 to 1862, connecting with Wells, Fargo at Yreka and sharing an office with them there, ex Dale-Lichtenstein and Hahn
E. 400-500
800
Back to Top1195
Singer & Morrow's Feather River Express. Printed frank in black (Haller FS7 in blue) on 3c Red Nesbitt entire (U10) to Coloma Cal., conjunctive use with blue "Pacific Express Co. (town?) Nov. 9" oval datestamp, minor toning, small tear into frank, otherwise Fine, this cover was carried during Capt. William E. Singer's partnership with Thomas H. Morrow, at best an unreliable partner and probably a crook with whom Singer had great problems, examples of this frank are rare, ex Dale-Lichtenstein
E. 500-750
350
Back to Top1196
F. Rumrill & Co.'s Express, Downieville. Clearly struck double-line oval handstamp on small blue cover to Rumrill's sweetheart, Henrietta, in Franklin Mills O., ms. "F" (for "Free"), probably mailed by Rumrill himself or someone known to him, "New-York 5 Cts. Nov. 14" integral-rate circular datestamp -- the 5c rate indicates that this was carried outside the regular mails and placed into the New York City post office as an unpaid letter -- minor edgewear, Very Fine, Henrietta's complaints about Frank's absence is the principal reason Rumrill quit the express business in 1855 (selling out to Langton) and presumably returned home, ex Barkhausen, illustrated in Letters of Gold
E. 500-750
550
Back to Top1197
Rutherford & Co.'s Express. Printed frank in banner, modified from Wheeler, Rutherford & Co. frank by scratching out Wheeler's name after he left the partnership (Haller FR9) on 3c Pink entire (U59), paste-up conjunctive use with blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Oroville Jun. 2" oval datestamp struck twice on entire, struck again on paste-up cover which is addressed to Saratoga Cal. and has an uncancelled 3c Rose (65, faults), pencil "Via Folsom" route notation, franked entire has a few stain spots, address side opened roughly and reduced at right, otherwise Very Fine, rare frank from the Rutherford operation which continued to serve the Marysville and Feather River region after Wheeler left in 1865, ex Dale-Lichtenstein
E. 750-1,000
1,000
Back to Top1198
Southern Express Co. and Texas Express Co. Green printed frank (Haller FS8) on 2c Brown entire (U278), "New Orleans La. Feb. 11 '88" duplex datestamp, originated west of the Mississippi River (in Texas) and entered the mails in New Orleans for Athens Ga., receiving backstamp, slightly reduced at left, Very Fine, extremely scarce frank from this 1880's express between Texas and the Gulf States, with 2001 P.S.E. certificate
E. 400-500
225
Back to Top1199
Truman & Co.'s Express. Printed frank with more modern locomotive and two freight cars heading west in blue (Haller FT13, Ty. 1) on 3c Pink entire (U59) to San Jose, small ms. "Sept 1865" cancels embossed stamp (which may be a later embellishment), Very Fine, scarce
E. 300-400
375
Back to Top1200
Truman & Co.'s Express. Printed frank with "S.F. & S.J. R.R. Express" imprint (Haller FT13, Ty. 2b) on 3c Pink entire to San Francisco, ms. "S.J. 31.1.68" (San Jose, Mar. 31, 1868) pmk. over embossed stamp, Very Fine, a deceptively scarce frank which is listed but unpriced in Haller; J. C. Truman started his own express in 1861 between San Francisco and the towns of San Jose, Watsonville and Santa Cruz; he was joined by a partner for about one year, but continued on his own again from 1865 until, as this late use demonstrates, early 1868; this frank with the San Francisco & San Jose Railroad Express imprint was probably the last one used, which may explain its rarity relative to the other Truman & Co. franks
E. 300-400
2,300
Back to Top1201
Truman & Co.'s Express. Printed frank with "S.F. & S.J. R.R. Express" imprint (Haller FT13, Ty. 2b) on 3c Pink entire to San Francisco, ms. "S.J. 27.1.68" (San Jose, Jan. 1, 1868) posmark over embossed stamp, docketed with same date, Very Fine, a deceptively scarce frank which is listed but unpriced in Haller; J. C. Truman started his own express in 1861 between San Francisco and the towns of San Jose, Watsonville and Santa Cruz; he was joined by a partner for about one year, but continued on his own again from 1865 until, as this late use demonstrates, early 1868; this frank with the San Francisco & San Jose Railroad Express imprint was probably the last one used, which may explain its rarity relative to the other Truman & Co. franks
E. 300-400
425
Back to Top1202
Wells & Co.'s Moore's Flat and Eureka Express. Printed frank in ornate frame (Haller FW7) on 3c Pink entire (U58) to Sacramento, no markings but probably carried by Wells, Fargo & Co. from Nevada City to Sacramento, slightly reduced at left, Very Fine
E. 500-750
350
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