Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $1.00 Red (143L3). Large margins to just in at right, affixed over "PAID" in oval handstamp applied by Wells, Fargo & Co. office, tied by blue "Pony Express San Francisco Oct. 5" (1861) Running Pony oval datestamp on 10c Green on Buff Nesbitt entire (U33) addressed to Miss Ellen F. Cooper, care of General Cooper, Charlestown Mass, with Wells, Fargo & Co. red printed frank, manuscript "Per Pony Express" and "Oct. 2, 1861 Recd San Francisco October 4, 1861" written before stamp was affixed and cover was sent by Pony Express (it must have originated outside of San Francisco), entered mails with "Atchison Kan. Oct. 19" double-circle datestamp, small edge tears and opened on three sides

VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EASTBOUND PONY EXPRESS COVER WITH THE $1.00 RED HORSE & RIDER ISSUE. A RARE USE VIA THE ATCHISON POST OFFICE.

This cover to Ellen F. Cooper was probably sent by her future husband, E.W. Chapin. Commencing July 1, 1861, the Pony Express was authorized by Congress to carry mail at the rate of $1.00 per half ounce. An additional fee was charged by Wells, Fargo & Co. to carry mail from San Francisco to the western terminus at Placerville, which is represented by their printed frank on this entire. The contract also stipulated the mandatory U.S. postage charge of 10c per half ounce. This cover nicely combines all three postage elements and was carried on the October 5, 1861 eastbound Pony Express trip, arriving Atchison, Kansas, on October 19. By September 1861 the transcontinental railroad had reached Atchison, which became the post-office entry point for Pony Express mail.

Although the Scott Catalogue lists the July 1861 issue Pony Express stamps (143L3-143L6) with other private post issues, we wish to emphasize that these stamps were issued under the terms of a government mail contract; therefore, they have semi-official status.

FKW Census E171. Ex Walske. With 2006 P.F. certificate

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