Lot
1193 
Savory & Co. Salem & Boston Express., gold on navy blue express label, corner crease, used on blue May 7th 1848 folded letter from Salem, Mass. to Boston, endorsed "Express"; light stain, Very Fine and rare Salem express. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $300
Lot
1194
Southern Express Co., Athens, Ga., black on white label (Mosher SOX-L205 var.) affixed on reverse of Cobb correspondence cover to Americus, Ga.; open on three sides for display, label neatly torn upon opening, F.-V.F. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $210
Lot
1195
Southern Express Company, Memphis "Unclaimed", two different large black on orange labels, each used on reverse of 3¢ pink (U58, U59) entires addressed to Chattanooga Tenn. and Memphis Tenn. respectively; small flaws, F.-V.F. and scarce pair. Estimate $200 - 300.
Southern Express used large vermilion labels on unclaimed letters and parcels collected at Memphis. Southern Express was absorbed into American Railway Express in July 1918.
Realized: $325
Lot
1196
Southern Express Company, Sparta Ga., Macon & Augusta Railroad, black on vermilion express label, used on 3¢ green entire to Hon. A.H. Stephens, Crawfordsville, Ga., manuscript "pd /2-" two-bit (25¢) prepaid express rating; top edge tear and bit of flap missing, Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $180
Lot
1197
Southern Express Company, From Whitesburg, Tenn., black on pink express label, used on buff cover to Atlanta, Georgia, ms. "$250.00, From T/F/ Wood, Whitesburg Tenn." money letter endorsement, Nov. 24th docketing; partial flap, F.-V.F. and scarce Tennessee express label use. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $180
Lot
1198
Thompson & Co's Express, black on pink label with train vignette, used on cover addressed to Alvin Adams, Adams & Co. Express, 84 Washington St, Boston; light vertical fold clear of label, Very Fine, ex-Foote. Estimate $400 - 600.
Hahn dated this circa 1851 according to the Adams Express address.
Realized: $350
Lot
1199
Thompson & Co's American Express, Albany, black on blue express label, used on April 12, 1854 folded bill from Albany N.Y. to Middletown Conn., endorsed "Thompson" at top right; vertical file fold, F.-V.F. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $280
Lot
1200
Thompson & Co's Express, black on pink label, used in conjunction with "Wells & Co. Express" green on black label, on April 2, 1845 folded cover to Detroit, Michigan, endorsed "Paid to Albany, CS" and ms. "Collect 4/- from Alby to Det" express ratings; Wells label creased, edge tears and wear, F.-V.F. and scarce conjunctive express label use. Estimate $400 - 600.
In 1836, Wells became a freight agent on the Erie Canal and soon started his own business. Later he worked for Harnden's Express in Albany. When Wells suggested that service could be expanded west of Buffalo, New York, William F. Harnden urged Wells to go into business on his own account. In 1841, the firm of Pomeroy & Company was formed by George E. Pomeroy, Henry Wells and Crawford Livingston. In the express business they competed with the United States Post Office by carrying mail at less than the government rate. Popular support, roused by the example of the penny post in England, was on the side of the expressmen, and the government was compelled to reduce its rates in 1845 and again in 1851.
Pomeroy & Company was succeeded in 1844 by Livingston, Wells & Company, composed of Crawford Livingston, Henry Wells, William Fargo and Thaddeus Pomeroy. On April 1, 1845, Wells & Company's Western Express – generally known simply as Western Express because it was the first such company west of Buffalo – was established by Wells, Fargo and Daniel Dunning. Service was offered at first as far as Detroit, rapidly expanding to Chicago, St. Louis, and Cincinnati.
In 1846, Wells sold his interest in Western Express to William Livingston, whereupon the firm became Livingston, Fargo & Company. Wells then went to New York City to work for Livingston, Wells & Company, concentrating on the promising transatlantic express business. When Crawford Livingston died in 1847, another of his brothers entered the firm, which became Wells & Company. (However, Livingston, Wells & Company continued to operate under that firm name in England, France and Germany.)
Early in 1850, Wells formed Wells, Butterfield & Company with John Butterfield as the successor of Butterfield & Wasson. The same year the American Express Company was formed as a consolidation of Wells & Company; Livingston, Fargo & Company; and Wells, Butterfield & Company. Wells was president of American Express from 1850 to 1868.[4] About the time the company was formed, he relocated in Aurora, New York, which remained his home for the rest of his life.[7] There he built a grand residence, called Glen Park. It was designed by noted architect A.J. Davis, with grounds by Andrew Jackson Downing, another notable architect. The property later became part of Wells College, which Wells founded.[4]
When John Butterfield and other directors of American Express objected to extending the company's service to California, Wells organized Wells, Fargo & Company on March 18, 1852, to undertake the venture. Edwin B. Morgan of Aurora was the company's first president, and Wells, William Fargo, Johnston Livingston and James McKay were on the boards of both Wells Fargo and American Express.
Realized: $625
Lot
1201
Thompson & Co's. Express, Twice Daily Greenfield, black on yellow-orange express label, used on light yellow cover to Huntington Mass., endorsed "By Express" and "Paid" at top, pencil "Paid 12" express rating; faulty with cover tear, Fine and rare. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $260
Lot
1202
Thompson & Co's. Express, Twice Daily For All New England States, black on blue express label, affixed on reverse of folded letter datelined "Boston April 4. 1853" to Ludlow Mass., endorsed "375.00 from Moses Clark, Boston" at top and manuscript and "Contents $375.00/Freight Paid" at right; some staining, Fine and scarce label. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $290