Pacific Express Co. Haller FP1 Ty. Ia printed frank on 10c Pale Green Nesbitt entire (U17a) to Boston, blue "Pacific Express Co. San Francisco Nov. 20" (ca. 1855) double-circle datestamp, conjunctive usage with "Berford & Cos. Atlantic & Pacific Express" blue oval perfectly struck at center, sender's routing "Via Nicaragua", no government markings, carried from New York City to Boston outside the mails, some slight scuffs at left where a label may have been removed

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED COVERS WITH THIS COMBINATION OF PACIFIC EXPRESS COMPANY AND BERFORD & COMPANY MARKINGS. A SPECTACULAR TRANS-CONTINENTAL EXPRESS USAGE.

The Pacific Express Company was formed on March 2, 1855, by former employees of Adams & Company, the huge express and banking concern that went bankrupt in February 1855. Pacific Express operated until sometime in 1857, carrying mail between points in California and also through connections to the East Coast. The original Berford & Company was started in 1849 and is reported to have sold out to Wells, Fargo & Co. in 1854. The "Berford & Cos. Atlantic & Pacific Express" represented in this handstamp (of which one other is known) must have been a short-lived operation under that name, formed after the earlier Berford's concern sold out. Although no year date is present, this cover and its mate must have been mailed in 1855 or 1856.

Illustrated in Letters of Gold. Ex Hawley. With 1975 P.F. certificate.

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