Sale 1139 — U.S. Treasures of Philately from The Irwin Weinberg Inventory
Sale Date — Wednesday, 9 November, 2016
Category — Carriers and Locals
Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $2.00 Red (143L1). Position 17, ample margins to just touching, tied by blue “Wells, Fargo & Cos. Express. Sacramento. May 12” (1861) double-circle datestamp on 10c Green on Buff Nesbitt entire (U16) to New York City with Wells, Fargo & Co. red printed frank, green “St. Joseph Mo. May 24” circular datestamp, stains removed and top left corner restored, the stamp and tying datestamp are unaffectedVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE WELLS FARGO & CO. SACRAMENTO OFFICE’S LARGE DOUBLE-CIRCLE DATESTAMP USED TO CANCEL A PONY EXPRESS STAMP.
Sacramento was the original western terminus for the actual Pony ride. The mail was usually carried between Sacramento and San Francisco by river steamer. As the Sacramento Valley Railroad line was extended further east, the terminus was moved to Folsom (starting July 7, 1860). On July 1, 1861, it was moved to Placerville. Nonetheless, Sacramento remained an important gathering point for Pony Express mail.
Beginning with the Phase III period (April 1 to June 30, 1861), Wells Fargo & Co. served as agents for the Overland Mail Company and The Central Overland California & Pike’s Peak Express Company in operating the Pony Express. It was during this period that Wells Fargo & Co. introduced stamps and envelopes for prepayment of Pony Express fees.
A special oval “Pony Express Sacramento” datestamp was typically used by Wells Fargo & Co. on Pony Express mail originating at their Sacramento office. However, in this case, the large double-circle datestamp that was usually applied to letters carried over Wells Fargo & Co.’s regular express routes was used on a Pony Express letter. This is the only recorded example of the double-circle datestamp on Pony Express mail.
FKW Census E78. Trip ET-99. Ex Twigg-Smith. With 1963 P.F. certificate (prior to restoration).
