"Express Business, Free, Jos. Roberson"--Pony Express Free Frank (July 10, 1861). Free frank and endorsement by Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Co. agent Joseph Roberson to Nat Stein at the COC&PPE office at St. Joseph Mo., endorsed "Pony Express" on cover front with backflap, original letter datelined "Fort Bridger July 10, 1861", letter states (in part): "I am now in the first regular Overland" (first daily overland stage from California), also "I forgot to tell you that two of the cuts of the Stage Coach and two of the pony were at the West office. Please get them for fear the job office may be confiscated.", cover with minor cosmetic edge improvements

VERY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE PONY EXPRESS COVER, FREE FRANKED BY JOSPEH ROBERSON, WITH ORIGINAL CONTENTS AND CARRIED AS A WAY LETTER ON AN EASTBOUND PONY TRIP IN JULY 1861.

This was picked up at Fort Bridger by the Pony Express trip that left San Francisco on July 3, 1861, and arrived at St. Joseph on July 15. This was the first trip of the fourth rate period, though the rate was immaterial in this case since it was free franked. Pony Express letters on company business and from U.S. senators were carried free of any express or postal charges.

Joseph Roberson was born in Missouri about 1840, lived in Tennessee and was a pioneer expressman. He was head clerk for Pony Express founders Russell, Majors and Waddell, and when this letter was written he was agent for the Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company. He was subsequently an officer with Wells, Fargo & Co. His wife, Emily, nee Lofland, wrote a manuscript titled History of the Pony Express, which was published in the San Francisco newspaper California Spirit of the Times in 1879. Mrs. Roberson lived until 1943.

FKW Census EX1 (listed without known date as the letter that accompanies was not reunited with the cover until after the book was published).

Cover is ex Dr. Robertson and Walske

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