Sale 1207 — Outstanding Pony Express Covers from the George J. Kramer Collection
Sale Date — Wednesday, 25 September, 2019
Category — Pony Express Covers
New York Office dated oval and St. Joseph Running Pony oval on a winter westbound Pony Express coverCalifornia Pony Express, New-York, Dec. 11 (1860). Bold strike of greenish-blue oval datestamp on 3¢ Red on Buff Star Die entire (U27) to Daniel Gibb & Company in San Francisco, sent to the eastern terminus at St. Joseph where "Pony Express, St. Joseph, Dec. 16" Running Pony oval datestamp was boldly struck at lower left, arithmetic notations applied at the offices of Gibb & Company, slight wear at top left corner
VERY FINE. A SPECTACULAR WESTBOUND COVER WITH THE RARE NEW YORK OFFICE DATED OVAL AND ST. JOSEPH RUNNING PONY DATESTAMP. ONLY TWO COVERS ARE RECORDED WITH THIS COMBINATION OF PONY EXPRESS MARKINGS.
Only 21 covers have the St. Joseph Running Pony oval struck on the front, including two in carmine and four eastbound covers (one of which is badly damaged). Of the 21, only two have this distinctive New York office oval with a date, and they are both dated December 11 (FKW W28 and W29).
The two December 11 covers were carried on the same trip to two different addresses in San Francisco. They were sent in a package of U.S. mail from New York City to the eastern terminus at St. Joseph. The under-3,000 miles "loophole" allowed westbound mail to be sent in bundles from the East Coast with only 3¢ U.S. postage. This loophole was closed by the Act of February 27, 1861, which eliminated the mileage provision and required 10¢ on any letter crossing the Rocky Mountains.
This cover and its twin were carried on the westbound trip from St. Joseph, departing Sunday, December 16, and arriving in San Francisco on December 31. According to the Sacramento Daily Union 12/31/1860, the express passed Placerville on December 30 and carried letter dates to December 14 and telegraph dispatches to Fort Kearney to December 18.
The addressee, Daniel Gibb & Company, was a large merchant firm in San Francisco. Daniel Gibb and his brother William purchased the original lease for the New Idria Quicksilver Mine and brought the mine into successful production in 1858. New Idria quickly became one of the world's largest mercury mines. The firm's warehouse at Front and Vallejo Street is a registered historic landmark building.
FKW Census W29. Illustrated in Coburn, Letters of Gold (page 77). Ex Dr. Polland and "Alyeska."
