Lot
991 
Bamber & Co.'s Express, "Brooklyn, Alameda County, Cal.", black on orange label with manuscript town designation affixed on legal-size cover to Port Wine Cal., manuscript "Advc 2/" (advanced 25 cents) and "Collect 100" for express fee collected by Well Fargo; small faults, partial flap and right end folded over, F.-V.F. and scarce Bamber label. Estimate $300 - 400.
John Bamber operated an express in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties beginning in 1858, using various printed franks and handstamps. Wells Fargo did not compete over Bamber's routes and connected with Bamber. This cover was turned over to Wells Fargo for delivery to Port Wine.
Realized: $350
Lot
992
Berford & Co.'s California Express, black on white label affixed on back flap of blue folded letter datelined "New York May 15th 1852" to San Francisco, red "Berford & Co., Letter & Package Express, California" shield handstamp and matching "Collect" straightline handstamp, carried by U.S. Mail Steamship Co. Illinois from New York to Aspinwall, across the Isthmus by canoe and mule to Panama City, then PMSS California to San Francisco, business letter mentions "…this I send by private Express mail per Steamer "United States." She sails Today to connect with the Winfield Scott at Panama.", some splitting at the folds, bleach spots and edge wear at upper right, F.-V.F. and rare early transcontinental westbound express cover. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED USES OF THE BERFORD & CO.'S ADVERTISING LABEL.
By May 1852, Berford's 3 Broad Street office in New York City had been closed, so the label shows the address crossed out.
References: Illustration example of BER-400 in Thomas express book.
Realized: $2,100
Lot
993
Berford & Co.'s California Express, black on white rectangular label affixed at upper left partially over red oval "Berford & Co.'s Express, San Francisco, Cal." double oval (BER-101d) and matching "Collect" handstamp with pencil "10" rating on blue Oct. 31st 1851 San Francisco folded letter from a husband to his wife in care of the Chatham Square Post Office in New York City; cover with edge splitting and minor short tear at top center, lightly creased thru label effectively tying it, and some bleached spots, Fine and rare early transcontinental eastbound express cover, with Oct. 1942 Konwiser article on this cover. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED USES OF THE BERFORD & CO.'S ADVERTISING LABEL.
Full text of label reads: "Office Berford & Co.'s California Express,/2 Vesey St., Astor House,/3 Broad St., cor. Wall St.}New-York./Cor. Clay & Kearny Sts., San Francisco./Brought by Berford & Co.'s Express./Enclose answer in an envelope, directed to Berford & Co., POST-PAID. Messengers leave New-York and San Francisco by every steamer, with letters, parcels, and packages. Freight, 40 cents per lb. Gold Dust, 4 1-2 per cent, on sums over $1000; 5 per cent. on sums under $1000 - including insurance and all other charges." .
Realized: $2,500
Lot
994
Carnes & Co., City Package Express, 15¢ and 25¢, mint labels (Mosher CRNX-S1, S2), Very Fine pair. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $230
Lot
995
Davis & Co. City Post Delivery, black on gray label affixed and pencil "12½ cts" on gray April 12th 1854 San Francisco local letter with address deleted and readdressed in pencil "Messrs Haight, Wells & Gary over the Post Office", Very Fine; with 2013 P.F. certificate. Estimate $500 - 750.
THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE DAVIS & CO. CITY POST DELIVERY LABEL.
LeCount & Strong's 1854 San Francisco Directory lists George H. Davis and Davis & Co. City Agency, at 73 Commercial Street and at the City Intelligence Office at 73 Long Wharf, next door to Charles Kimball, the "Noisy Carrier". Davis ran an early San Francisco local post, delivering letters to street addresses. The government post office had no San Francisco street delivery at this date.
Realized: $2,200
Lot
996
Dodge & Co.'s California Express, green on white shield label, affixed and tied by light file fold crease on blue folded letter datelined "New York, June 28/1851" to San Francisco Cal., faded red "Collect" handstamp and ms. "25¢" rating at top right, carried by USMSC Crescent City from New York to Chagres, by canoe and mule across Isthmus to Panama City, then by Constitution to San Francisco arriving Aug. 9th, a Very Fine westbound express use. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED DODGE & CO. SHIELD LABEL USES, THIS BEING THE ONLY GREEN EXAMPLE.
Dodge & Co. began transcontinental service in late 1850 and were in business for about nine months. Labels are embossed on white paper known recorded in blue and green. No significance to color of the label has been found.
Realized: $1,700
Lot
997 ()
Dodge & Co.'s California Express, blue on white shield label, small tear, affixed on light blue folded cover with top flap only docketed from San Francisco Dec. 17, 1850 to New York City, manuscript "50" rating at top right, docketed as received Jan. 21st 1851, carried by PMSS California from San Francisco Dec. 15th to Panama City arriving Jan. 3rd, overland by canoe and mule across Isthmus, then by steamer to New York, Jan. 21st arrival docketing; small flaws, F.-V.F. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED DODGE & CO. SHIELD LABEL USES, THIS BEING ONE OF TWO BLUE EXAMPLES.
Realized: $950
Lot
998
W.T. Ellis, Forwarding Merchant, Marysville, black on blue label affixed on 3¢ pink (U35) buff entire canceled by grid cancel and "Marysville Cal., Apr 6" cds to Downieville Cal.; some number calculations, partial flap with top edge mend, Very Fine appearance. Estimate $500 - 750.
ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE W.T. ELLIS LABEL.
W. T. Ellis, a Marysville merchant, operated a forwarder service for goods and mail. Bruce Mosher's article "W.T. Ellis, Forwarding & Commission Merchant", in the Sep 2005 issue of Western Express illustrated two Ellis label covers. Below envelope is the third example seen.
Realized: $375
Lot
999
Forwarded By Freeman & Co.'s California, Atlantic States and European Express, Atlantic States and European Express, San Francisco, black on blue label affixed over remaindered Langton's Express printed frank on 10¢ green (U17) entire canceled by mostly complete "New-York, Feb 28" cds to Bridgeport Conn., Very Fine and choice, ex-Jarrett. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
John Freeman operated both a regional west-coast express and a transcontinental express. At this period he connected with Langton's Express at Marysville.
Realized: $1,200
Lot
1000
Greenhood & Newbauer Northern Express, large black on orange label (Mosher G&NX-L1) label folded over edge on 3¢ pink (U35) buff entire with black company frank to San Francisco, Very Fine and rare, ex-Hackett. Estimate $500 - 750.
THE ONLY RECORDED GREENHOOD & NEWBAUER NORTHERN EXPRESS LABEL USE.
Greenhood & Newbauer operated a bank and an express company centered in Weaverville from 1856 to 1867. They were Weaverville agents for Wells Fargo from 1859.
Realized: $725