Sale 115: The Westpex Sale

Lot 524    

Freeman & Co's Express, Jamestown, oval handstamp on 1853 3¢ Nesbitt entire to San Francisco, red ribbon printed frank, flap tear and small tear at top on front, F.-V.F., ex-Haas.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $500

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Lot 525    

G. H. Wines & Co.'s California Express, printed frank with elaborate eagle, scroll and shield design (Haller FW15) on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire (U10) to San Francisco, blue "Rhodes & Whitney's Express, Weaverville" oval handstamp struck twice and canceling; reduced at right into indicia, F.-V.F., illustrated in Coburn's Letters of Gold.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

A RARE WINES & COMPANY'S PRINTED FRANK USING A PATRIOTIC MOTIF.

Realized: $1,050

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Lot 526    

Hunter & Co.'s Express, Mud Springs, Cala. (Forwarded By), clear strike of shield handstamp on folded letter sheet to Santa Clara, carried to Placerville and placed in the mails with "Placerville, Cal., Oct 22" cds with manuscript date, matching "Paid" and "3" rate handstamps; light covey soiling, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

ONE OF ONLY FIVE RECORDED STRIKES OF THE HUNTER & CO. EXPRESS MUD SPRINGS SHIELD HANDSTAMP.

Realized: $800

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Lot 527    

Pacific Stage & Express Co., two different franks on six covers; with first type frank (PAS-001) on four buff covers, and blue oval frank (PAS-004) on two covers, one with unused 1851, 3¢ dull red (11) affixed; one of the former with small edge tear, Very Fine.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

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Lot 528    

Wells, Fargo & Co., 1862-64, 25¢ Blue, tied to 1861, 3¢ pink entire (U34) by blue Sacramento Wells, Fargo & Co. oval, Fine appearance.
Scott No. 143L8; $4,750    Estimate $200 - 300.

Realized: $200

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Lot 529    

Wells, Fargo & Co., Dutch Flat, Jan 13, docketed 1865 on 1864 Die 3¢ pink entire addressed to capitalist James Whartenby in "Nevada" (probably Nevada City), with ms. writing at left, very clean cover, scarce, slightly reduced at right, overall Very Fine, James Whartenby (1817-1890), was a Nevada City miner who acquired great wealth during his years as general manager and president of the South Yuba Canal Water Company.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $150

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Lot 530    

Wells, Fargo & Co., Express, Steamboat, blue oval handstamp canceling on 1860, 3¢ pink entire to Sonoma, with red steamboat illustrated "Bill of Lading, Per Steamer Nevada, Leaves San Francisco Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday" advertising corner card crossed out with "Nov 9, 61" docketing alongside; light central fold, F.-V.F., a very rare Steamer Nevada advertising corner card.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Realized: $475

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Lot 531    

Wells, Fargo & Co., Mayfield, August 30, blue oval date stamp canceling on 1870, 3¢ green entire to San Francisco, black company frank at top, Very Fine, only a few known.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

Realized: $90

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Lot 532    

Wells, Fargo & Co., Paid, black company frank on 1864, 3¢ pink entire to Steel Center, Minn., with notation on reverse "letter mailed from Green River City (Wyo.), Aug 21, 1868", canceled by "Union Pacific R.R., Aug 29" cds and letter "A" duplex, Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $190

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Lot 533    

Wells, Fargo & Co., Virginia City N.T., Feb 26, blue oval date stamp tying large margin Wells Fargo & Co., 1862-64, 25¢ red on 1861, 3¢ pink entire (U35) addressed to Clara Crittenden at the hotel Cosmopolitan in San Francisco, black Wells, Fargo & Co. frank at top, with original enclosure datelined "Virginia Feby 26, 65" and mentions the Virginia pony express service…And I shall write to you by pony because the regular express is slow - The costly pony is hardly so great as you rely on buying (sic) for a single letter only 25cts more than by Express; some trivial edge wear at top, Very Fine.
Scott No. 143L9; $8,000    Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.

A CHOICE 25¢ RED VIRGINIA CITY PONY EXPRESS COVER WITH THE WELLS FARGO VIRGINIA CITY DATESTAMP.

The Virginia Pony was terminated in July of 1864 because the roads had been improved to the extent that stagecoaches were making just as good time as the pony riders. However, the following winter, after storms fowled the roads, the premium service was revived for another two months. The last gasp of the Virginia Pony was from December 29, 1864, to March 2, 1865.

Realized: $3,750

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