Pony Express, San Francisco, Dec. 8 (1860). Blue Running Pony oval datestamp clearly struck and tying 10¢ Green, Ty. V (35), interpane centerline margin at right, matching "The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, San Francisco, Cal." dateless oval handstamp on mostly complete blue folded cover addressed to A. A. Low & Brother in New York City, sender's directive "pr Pony Express", manuscript "1/4 oz" weight notation ($2.50 rate), carried on the Pony trip departing San Francisco on Saturday, December 8, 1860, and arriving at St. Joseph 15 days later on December 23--a longer journey due to winter weather--on arrival the "Pony Express, The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, St. Joseph, Mo. Dec. 23" large oval within circle receiving datestamp was applied in green on the backflap, entered mails with "Saint Joseph Mo. Dec. 24" double-circle datestamp tying 10¢ stamp, a few small bleached spots, red wax wafer affixed to the inside shows remnants of a printed form

VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE PONY EXPRESS COVER WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO RUNNING PONY OVAL TYING THE 10-CENT STAMP. ONLY FIVE SUCH COVERS ARE RECORDED.

The recipient firm, A. A. Low & Brother, was named for Abiel Abbot Low and his brother, Josiah Orne Low. Founded in 1840, the firm became one of the leading importers of China and Japan silks and teas, and operrated its own line of clipper ships. In 1850 Low completed the A. A. Low building at 167–171 John Street, now the offices of the South Street Seaport Museum. The firm was situated at its Burling Slip building from 1850 until after the turn of the century. One of the two April 3, 1860, first trip Pony Express covers comes from the A. A. Low & Brother correspondence. The iconic New York City landmark Low Memorial Library at Columbia University was named for Abiel Abbot Low by his son, Columbia president Seth Low.

The FKW census lists five covers with the 10¢ 1857 stamp tied by the San Francisco Running Pony oval, all eastbound: E15 (offered as lot 3 in this sale), E16, E38, E46 (the cover offered here) and E49.

FKW Census E46. Ex Matthies and Gibson (featured on the front cover of the 1984 Christie's Robson Lowe sale catalogue). With 1984 P.F. certificate.

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