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 spectacular triple-rate Virginia City Pony Express cover with three 25¢ Blue Horse & Rider stamps used with the 10¢ 1861 on a Wells, Fargo & Co. 3¢ franked entire--unlike the few other multiple-rate covers, this is a small and attractive paste-up entireDESCRIPTION
10¢ Green (68), beautiful rich color, used with Wells, Fargo & Co., Virginia City Pony Express, 25¢ Blue (143L8), three singles, each with clear to full margins, all stamps tied by four strikes of “Wells, Fargo & Co. Virginia City, N.T. Feb. 15” (1863-64) blue oval datestamp on 3¢ Pink on Buff entire (U35) with Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank, used as a paste-up, therefore unaddressed and with adherences on back, this was undoubtedly carried to San Francisco
PROVENANCE
* Probably from the Rudolf Wunderlich 1861 collection (sold privately by Harvey R. Warm)
* Ryohei Ishikawa, Christie’s Robson Lowe sale, 9/28-29/1993, lot 414, to Craveri (later sold privately to William H. Gross)
CERTIFICATION
* The Philatelic Foundation (1993)
CONDITION NOTES
* Very Fine; 10¢ two short perfs, left 25¢ faintly creased from fold (not noted on certificate), cover slightly wrinkled as usual for paste-up usage
* Signed on back by Henry Chaloner (collector)
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/54.pdf
