Sale 1188 — United States Stamp Treasures: The William H. Gross Collection
Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 October, 2018
Category — The Pony Express, including Russell Free Frank and $2.00 to Prince Edward Island
A truly historic piece of Western Americana--this telegraph envelope with the St. Joseph Running Pony marking is free franked by William H. Russell, the driving force behind the legendary Pony Express, and addressed to Ben Holladay, the “Stagecoach King” and Russell’s biggest creditorDESCRIPTION
“PONY EXPRESS/ST. JOSEPH/MAY 6” Running Pony oval handstamp, the first recorded use of this marking on westbound mail, perfect strike on 1860 buff “TELEGRAM BY THE STEBBINS LINE.” imprint cover signed “Free W H Russell” at center by William H. Russell, one of the three co-founders of the Pony Express, neatly addressed to Ben Holladay in San Francisco with sender’s notations “Free on Pony” (referring to the $5 Pony Express charge), “Paid” (referring to the telegraph charges) and “from W H Russell” (in addition to Russell’s free frank); carried on the fifth westbound Pony Express trip from St. Joseph, Missouri, which departed on Sunday, May 6, 1860, and arrived in Sacramento (and San Francisco) on Tuesday, May 15; the express rider who carried this telegraph despatch in the mochilla crossed the war zone in Nevada around May 13--one week later, the route was closed down as Paiute Indians attacked stations and riders between Cold Springs and Roberts’ Creek
PROVENANCE
* Robert S. Emerson, Daniel F. Kelleher, 1/31/1938, Sale 396, lot 281, to Knapp
* Edward S. Knapp, Parke-Bernet Galleries, May 5-10, 1941, lot 1548
* Provenance not known between 1941 and 1969 (possibly Jessup and Pearce; not listed on the B. D. Phillips inventory)
* Siegel Auction Galleries, 1969 Rarities of the World, 3/25/1969, Sale 350, lot 228
* Provenance not known between 1969 and 1989 (owned at times by Weill, but not part of the Grombacher collection sold in 1991 as the “Edwards” collection)
* Weills Brothers’ Stock, Christie’s Robson Lowe, 10/12/1989, lot 342, to Dr. Test
* Dr. Charles E. Test (“Concord”), 1994 Rarities of the World, 5/19/1994, Sale 759, lot 77, to William H. Gross
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* Frajola-Kramer-Walske census no. W2 (illustrated on p. 16)--the finest of three recorded Russell free franked Pony Express covers: W2 , W14 and W24
* Scott R. Trepel, “The Impact of Indian Attacks on the Pony Express in 1860,” published by Siegel Auction Galleries, fig. 12, p. 12
CERTIFICATION
* The Philatelic Foundation (1994)
CONDITION NOTES
* Extremely Fine strike and overall condition; bottom flap has been removed and there is a small patched spot at bottom edge of cover “RSE” in circle (Emerson) and “R.H.W. Co.” (Weill) handstamps on back
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/51.pdf
