The APS Sale

Adams & Co., Sacramento, blue express company double-circle datestamp cancels 3¢ red (U2) buff entire with Nesbitt seal on backflap to San Francisco; barely reduced at left with some insignificant creases, Very Fine, the double-circle cancel was used by Adams & Co. for only a short period of time.

Thomas No. ADA-100c   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $150 - 200.

Allman U.S. Mail Co., black on yellow express company printed frank or corner card, pictorial design with stagecoach on yellow cover bearing 2¢ red brown (210) tied by circle of wedges cancel, matching "Duncan's Mills, Sonoma Co., Cal. Mar 1, 1888" datestamp (SON-1300) to San Francisco, Mar. 1st arrival backstamp; reduced slightly at right, Very Fine and rare unlisted design.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $500 - 750.

Alta Express Co., Paid, illustrated printed frank on 3¢ red (U10) buff entire canceled by "Alta Express Co., Stockton" circular handstamp (ALT-104c) to San Francisco Cal., Very Fine and scarce.

Thomas No. ALT-001   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $300 - 400.

American Express, cut-out printed frank, pen-canceled and affixed over printed Pacific Express frank, tied by red " Watsonville " straightline (AME100b) on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire to San Francisco Cal.; some gum toning by adhesive application, otherwise fresh and Very Fine.

Thomas No. AME-600   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS CUT-OUT AMERICAN EXPRESS PAID FRANK.

American Express, cut-out black on yellow printed frank tied by Adams red " Paid " in oval (AME-200c) on 3¢ red (U10) buff entire to San Francisco Cal.; some number notes couple minor tone spots, backflap mostly missing, Very Fine, illustrated in Letters of Gold, ex-Jessup, Pearce, Haas .

Thomas No. AME-007   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS CUT-OUT AMERICAN EXPRESS FRANK.

Bamber & Co.'s Express Paid, printed frank in a scroll design used with mostly clear blue " Bamber & Co. Oakland, Apr 10, 1868 " double-oval, and faint partial blue " Wells Fargo & Co. S.F. " datestamp on 3¢ pink (U59) buff entire to the U.S. Mint at San Francisco Cal., Very Fine.

Thomas No. BAM-001   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $150 - 200.

Bamber & Co.'s Express, W.B. Hardy's Office, Oakland, Paid, scroll printed frank 3¢ pink (U35) buff entire to New York City, red "Bamber & Co.'s Express, S.F., Jan 4" double-circle datestamp (BAM-102) and blue "Wells, Fargo & Cos. Express, S. Frco. 4 Jan" San Francisco double-circle datestamp, entered mails with "New-York city, Feb 24" local duplex with circular grid cancel, 1864 docketing on reverse; minor edge tears and wear, Very Fine and scarce Bamber Oakland conjuctive use to New York City.

Thomas No. BAM-003   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $300 - 400.

Carried by Bamber from its W. B. Hardy's Office in Oakland to San Francisco and then by Wells Fargo north to La Porte.

Buckley's Express., Paid., blue framed handstamped frank (BUK-100) on 3¢ green entire with usual conjunctive black printed Wells, Fargo & Co. frank to San Francisco, Chinese docketing at right, Very Fine and scarce conjuctive express use.

Thomas No. BUK-100   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $750 - 1,000.

A very scarce combination express usage, Buckley's Express operated circa 1874-75 between Kernville and connecting at Bakersfield with Wells, Fargo & Co. and served the wild mining camps in sections of the Kern River, Owens Valley and Death Valley.

C.C. Huntley Stage & Express Line, Paid, purple printed fancy express company frank on 3¢ pink (U58) entire addressed to Deer Lodge, Montana Territory; reduced at left and top edge tear, Fine and rare Montana express company.

Thomas No. HUT-001   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $300 - 400.

Huntley was a small operation which ran stages primarily in Idaho and Montana to the gold country.

The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company St. Joseph Mo. Jun. 18, boldly struck oval, repeated on reverse of yellow cover bearing 3¢ dull red (26) tied by "Lyons N.Y. Jun" cds to Central City, Kansas; 3¢ bit of soiling, reduced at left, F.-V.F. appearance.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $400 - 600.

Eureka Express Co., Paid, Columbian Issue, blue printed frank on 2¢ Columbian (U349) entire to North Bloomfield Cal., with enclosure datelined "Nevada City, May 17, 1895"; small nick at bottom, F.-V.F. and scarce Columbian frank.

Thomas No. EUR-003   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $300 - 400.

From a base at North Bloomfield, California this express operated between the north and south forks of the Yuba River serving the Eureka mining areas. They connected with Wells Fargo at Nevada City and North San Juan.

F.W. Blake & Co.'s Express, Weaverville, printed frank in shield design on 3¢ red (U9) Nesbitt entire to Yreka Cal.; flap torn and bit of edge wear, Very Fine, ex-Barkhausen .

Thomas No. BAK-001   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $300 - 400.

"Pr Freeman & Co. via Panama", Aug. 18th 1855 express endorsement on 6¢ green (U12) buff Nesbitt entire to New York City, endorsed per "Golden Gate", original letter datelined "San Francisco Aug 17th 1855" reading "We have written you fully by the steamer "Uncle Sam" which we think will arrive before the mail steamer" and postscript "When Barstow has received the agency of the Cala. Steam Navigation Co. at Stockton"; some edge wear, F.-V.F. and early Freeman's Express use, ex-Gallagher .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

Freeman operated an express in 1850-51, sold to Adams & worked with them until they failed in 1855. In that same year he organized a new company which operated until he sold to Wells Fargo in 1860.

J. C. Truman's Express, S.F. & S.J. Rail Road, printed frank with train illustration on 3¢ pink (U34) entire to San Jose, no markings as often, couple small stain spots, Very Fine and scarce.

Thomas No. TRU-001   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $200 - 300.

Arriving in California in November 1863, James Christopher Truman started J. C. Truman's Express in early 1864. This express ran between San Francisco and the San Jose area. Shortly afterward, in February of 1864, Chapman joined the operation and they formed Truman & Chapman's Express. Chapman left this partnership in early 1865 and Truman continued to operate as Truman & Co.'s Express over the same route until 1868.

Langton's Express, Downieville, Dec 29, neat black oval handstamp on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire with printed "Langton's Pioneer Express" fancy printed frank to San Francisco, Cal.; reduced slightly at top, backflap missing, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

Langton's Pioneer Express, Downieville, express oval cancels 3¢ pink (U58) entire with scarcer Langton's Pioneer Express. Paid printed frank in ornate frame to San Francisco Cal., blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Marysville, Aug. 7" double-oval datestamp, a Very Fine Langton Pioneer Express conjuctive use connecting with Wells Fargo in Marysville, Illustrated in Letters of Gold .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

Langton's Pioneer Express, Marysville, blue oval express company marking on 3¢ pink (U34) entire with black Wells, Fargo & Co. Paid. frank (Haller WF-E) canceled by clear blue " Wells, Fargo & Co., Austin, N.T., Feb 6 " oval to Downieville Cal. with paste-up on backflap: 3c pink (U35) buff entire with both the Wells, Fargo frank and Austin, N.T. office oval to Downieville Cal.; mostly light edgewear with opening tear at top and light crease affecting indicia, Fine and unusual Nevada conjuctive Langton-Wells paste-up use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

Pacific Express Co. Paid., printed Horse and Rider frank with manuscript " LR " initials of Levi Robie on 10¢ green (U18) buff Nesbitt entire to Coila N.Y., endorsed "Mail at N.Y." at lower left, postmarked in transit "New York, Nov 14" cds; light tone spots, still a Very Fine and rare use, ex-Knapp .

Thomas No. PAC-001   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

AN EXCEPTIONAL RARE PACIFIC EXPRESS CO. FRANK WITH LEVI ROBIE INITIALS ON A 10¢ ENTIRE TO THE EAST COAST.

It is believed the manuscript initials applied in the area around the front legs of the horse were an approval for express usage that appeared early in the life cycle of Pacific Express Co.

Reticker's Poney Express (Utah Terr.), handstamped express company frank on large part of 3¢ green (U82) entire with printed Wells, Fargo & Co. frank, faint address to Salt Lake City; rebacked with another entire, part of indicia cut away but markings are intact, Fine and presentable example of this rare express.

Thomas No. RET-100   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $500 - 750.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED USED EXAMPLES OF THE RETICKER'S PONEY EXPRESS FRANK HANDSTAMP, A REMARKABLE CONJUNCTIVE USE WITH WELLS FARGO & CO.

An express service by Charles Reticker that ran from the Salt Lake City area and connected with Wells Fargo at that point.

San Francisco Letter Express, blue oval Running Pony handstamp on locally addressed orange cover, Fine and scarce.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

Telegraph Line Gilroy and Havilah, U.S. Mail Stage via Firebaugh's, Kingston, Visalia, orange corner card advertising cover bearing 3¢ ultramarine (114) tied by circular grid cancel duplexed with "Visalia, Cal. Nov 21" cds to San Jose, Cal.; small edge tears at left, otherwise Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $1,000 - 1,500.

ONLY TWO EXAMPLES OF THIS VERY RARE SANTA CLARA TO KERN COUNTY STAGE AND EXPRESS SERVICE ARE KNOWN.

This stage line operated between Los Angeles and the Southern Pacific railhead in the Central California valleys and continued on to the Owens Valley and Cerro Gordo mining district, it connected with the Coast Line Stage Co., Southern California Atlantic and Pacific Stage lines.

From Todd's Express Office, Sonora, clear blue oblong handstamp with matching "Paid" frank in double-lined oval on blue folded cover to San Francisco, endorsed "p Todd's Express" at top left; horizontal fold, Very Fine and choice, ex-Clifford .

Thomas No. TOE-104   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $300 - 400.

Charles A. Todd ran his express from 1852 until 1853, when he sold out to Wells, Fargo & Co. in September of that year, giving Wells Fargo their initial foothold in the Southern Mines.

Forwarded by Todd's Express, Stockton, blue oval matching sharp "Paid" double-lined oval on buff cover with ornate black "May & Webster, Wholesale Grocers" corner card to Sonora Cal., original July 5th 1853 enclosures including letterhead invoice; top left corner repaired and some minor edgewear, Very Fine appearance.

Thomas No. TOE-101   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $300 - 400.

Truman & Co.'s Express, Office in S.F., Prepaid Envelopes, $7.00 per Hundred, blue printed frank with illustration of train on 3¢ pink (U59) buff entire with purple "San Francisco" straightline (TRE-101) and manuscript "April 5th, 1865" dating to San Jose Cal.; light toning at bottom left edge, flap flaws, otherwise Very Fine, WC8036, the unique listing example of TRE-101 .

Thomas No. TRE-001   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $200 - 300.

Wells & Co's, Moore's Flat and Eureka Express, printed frank with fancy frame on 3¢ pink (U59) buff cover canceled by partial "Wells Fargo & Co., San Juan, Cal. May 14" oval datestamp to San Francisco Cal.; reduced at left and light soiling, F.-V.F. and scarce used example, Only five recorded examples of this Well's & Co's "Moore's Flat and Eureka Express" frank , ex-Parker .

Thomas No. WEC-005   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $500 - 750.

L.H. Wells sold one-half interest in his express to Absalom W. Herring and this operation became Wells & Company. This operation ran over the same route from Nevada City to Lake City, North Broomfield, Moore's Flat, Woolsey's Flat, Orleans Flat and Eureka South. They connected with Wells Fargo at Nevada City.

Wells, Fargo & Co. Express, Steamboat, neat blue oval handstamp on 3¢ red (U10) Nesbitt buff entire with black Wells Fargo imprint to San Francisco Cal.; pencil "May 4" dating at left; flap torn and sealed opening tear, Very Fine appearance, illustrated in Letters of Gold .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

Wells, Fargo & Co. Mazatlan Mex, blue struck on 10¢ brown (U92) amber entire canceled by partial "Wells, Fargo & Co., Mexican Route" oval and matching "Paid" in oval, originally part of a paste-up with some paper adhering to reverse, Very Fine and choice.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

Wells, Fargo & Co., La Paz, Mexico, Jun 11, blue oval datestamp on 10¢ brown (U92) entire with "Mexican Coast and California Express -- 35 Cts" printed frank to San Francisco Cal., "June 12, 1873" docketing at right; reduced at left, F.-V.F.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

Whiting & Co.'s Feather River Express, banner frank on 3¢ pink (U58) rebacked front to Whitby, Canada uprated with 10¢ green (68) , corner flaw, canceled by "Paid" handstamps, matching partial "Quincy, Cal., Sep 15" cds and red "U.S. 10cts, Paid" oval handstamp, "Crescent Q.M. Co., Indian Valley" company circular datestamp; toning at bottom and sealed tear at top, F.-V.F. appearance, only two recorded Whiting Feather River Express uses to Canada .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $750 - 1,000.

Whiting & Co.'s Feather River Express, Paid., printed express frank in a double-lined box with large "Paid" on 3¢ pink (U34) buff entire cancelled by clear blue oval " Langton's Pioneer Express, Marysville " to Carson City, Nevada Terr.; slightly reduced at left, Very Fine.

Thomas No. WHI-002   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $750 - 1,000.

A RARE CONJUNCTIVE WHITING & CO. FEATHER RIVER AND LANGTON PIONEER EXPRESS USE.

Wood & Co's Express., illustrated fancy frank showing miner with pick on 3¢ pink (U58) buff entire cancelled by partial blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Marysville, Jun" oval datestamp to San Francisco Cal.; bottom right corner slightly clipped, Very Fine.

Thomas No. WOO-001   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

On Nov. 2nd 1867, Wood & Co.'s Express announced service from Susanville to Oroville, connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express at Oroville. Service was shortly thereafter extended from Oroville and Chico to Longville, Greenville, Taylorville, Susanville and all intermediate places. It was announced May 30th 1868 that "Wood & Co. have sold out their Express line from Susanville to Oroville to Wells, Fargo & Co." .