Wells Fargo & Company Pony Express, ($1.00) Red Type II East-to-West Frank, 10¢ Green on Thin Hard White Entire (unlisted in Scott). Boldly struck "New-York Sep. 20" (1861) circular datestamp and duplex grid cancel, printed address to the "Agent of Pony Express, St. Joseph, Mo." and handwritten address to F. Gilbert, "Melodeon," San Francisco, unusually complete and clear strike of "Pony Express, The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, St. Joseph, Mo. Sep. 25" large oval in circle datestamp applied one day before westbound Pony departure on Thursday, September 26, 1861, which arrived in San Francisco on October 8 or 9 (based on 12-13 day trips at this time), small part of top right corner repaired but not affecting 10¢ embossed stamp

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF 21 RECORDED TYPE II EAST-TO-WEST PONY EXPRESS ENTIRES AND ONE OF THE MORE DESIRABLE EXAMPLES THAT HAVE A ST. JOSEPH PONY EXPRESS DATESTAMP.

In anticipation of the government contract set to go into effect on July 1, 1861, Wells Fargo & Co. produced a special franked envelope for Pony Express mail from the East. After seeking approval from the Postmaster General, the 1861 10c "Pumpkin" entire with the Type II printed frank was ordered from George F. Nesbitt & Co. (New York). On August 12, 1861, Wells Fargo announced in the New York papers that "Pony Express Envelopes" were "Now ready and for sale at our office." Although this announcement refers only to "envelopes," in fact both the franked entires and $1.00 adhesive stamps were put on sale in August 1861. The earliest recorded Type II envelope is dated August 14, 1861.

Based on an article in the San Francisco Bulletin 9/13/1861, the Type II franked envelopes were problematic, because eastern post offices were sometimes sending them in the "through" mail to San Francisco, instead of directing them to St. Joseph for the Pony Express. As a result, they would arrive by regular mail ten days after the Pony Express for which they were intended. This might explain why some examples of the Type II franks are found without a St. Joseph Pony Express handstamp. The presence of the St. Joseph Pony Express datestamp, as found on the cover offered here, confirms that this was carried by Pony Express riders.

FKW Census W59. Ex Lichtenstein (Costales sale, February 10, 1947, lot 424).

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