"Pony Express Paid $2.50, Silver City March 7th/61". Manuscript express marking and "X" cancel on 10¢ Green on Buff Nesbitt entire (U16) with red Wells Fargo & Co. printed frank, addressed to Ephraim Brigham in Natick, Massachusetts, "Via Carson City UT Mch 7/61" manuscript express marking in a different hand--at Carson City the cover was placed into the way-mail pouch of the mochilla carried on the Pony trip that departed San Francisco on Wednesday, March 6, 1861, passed through Carson City March 7, and arrived in St. Joseph on March 20--entered the mails with green "Saint Joseph Mo. Mar. 21" double-circle datestamp and matching grid cancel, tears in backflap and also into red frank and embossed stamp at right (skillfully sealed)

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF SIX RECORDED PONY EXPRESS COVERS ORIGINATING IN NEVADA AND THE ONLY ONE FROM SILVER CITY. THIS IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED USE OF A WELLS FARGO & COMPANY FRANKED ENTIRE FOR PONY EXPRESS MAIL.

The Pony Express mochilla had four pouches. Three were used for mail originating at the San Francisco and St. Joseph offices. The letters were bundled and wrapped in water-resistant oiled silk, then placed in the pouches, which were locked for the entire trip (only certain offices had the key). The fourth pouch was used for way mail, which was collected at stations along the route and placed into the pouch by the station agents.

Carson City was located on the Pony Express route in Nevada Territory, which was established as a territory on March 2, 1861, just five days before this cover was given to the Pony rider. The Carson City marking uses the "U.T." designation for Utah Territory. Before Nevada Territory was established, the Washoe region was considered part of western Utah. Carson City became the first territorial capital.

Silver City was located about 11.5 miles northeast of Carson City. In 1861 Silver City had a population of 1,200 and served as a vital link between the Comstock mines and the processing mills located near Dayton and along the Carson River. This cover was given to Wells Fargo & Co.'s office at Silver City and prepaid $2.50 for Pony Express service (quarter-ounce rate). The red printed frank paid for express service from Silver City to the Pony station at Carson City. John W. Grier was the first Wells Fargo agent for the area in and around Silver City, a position he held until his death in 1885.

Pony Express way-mail covers from Nevada are very rare. This cover came to light shortly before it was acquired by George Kramer in a 2006 Schuyler Rumsey auction. It was added to the FKW online census as E60A, and is the first recorded and only known Pony Express cover from Silver City.

FKW Census E60A. With 2006 P.F. certificate.

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