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 perfect strike of the San Francisco Running Pony marking on a pristine cover carried by the Pony Express in November 1860, the month Lincoln was elected and the nation moved closer to the Civil WarDESCRIPTION
“PONY EXPRESS/SAN FRANCISCO/NOV. 28” (1860) blue Running Pony oval handstamp, a perfect strike showing every detail of the horse, matching blue “The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, San Francisco, Cal.” dateless oval handstamp on 10¢ Pale Green on Buff Nesbitt entire (U16a) addressed to “Mr. L. A. Booth, care J. R. Dickinson, Naval Office, New York”; carried on the eastbound Pony Express trip that left San Francisco on Wednesday, November 28, 1860, and arrived in St. Joseph on Tuesday, December 11; bold strike of “The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, St. Joseph, Mo. Dec. 11” oval datestamp applied on arrival, entered mails with greenish-blue “Saint Joseph Mo. Dec. 12” double-circle datestamp, matching grid cancel struck on 10¢ embossed stamp
PROVENANCE
* Robert W. Baughman, Siegel Auction Galleries, 5/25/1971, Sale 396, lot 3
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* Frajola-Kramer-Walske census no. E42
CERTIFICATION
* The Philatelic Foundation (1975)
CONDITION NOTES
* Extremely Fine; a few negligible faint toned spots
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/52.pdf
