Lot
23 
Wells, Fargo & Co., Express, Pioneer City, I.T., choice strike of blue oval handstamp on reverse of 3¢ pink entire to Boston, Mass., canceled by blue "Wells, Fargo & Cos Express, S. Frco., Jan 4" cds with second strike below, black company frank a top and red "Boston, Mass., Jan 30" receiving cds; reduced at left, Very Fine, an extremely rare Wells, Fargo & Co. Express handstamp from Pioneer City, I.T.Estimate $500 - 750.
Pioneer City (first called Hog'em) and Idaho City (first called Bannock City or West Bannock) were started in October 1862, after enlarged and well-supplied parties returned from Walla Walla. Reports that some placer claims were yielding as much as $200 per day per man reached Lewiston, Walla Walla, and Portland, leading to a mad rush to Boise Basin, even though the country was remote, trails virtually undeveloped, and roads for wheeled vehicles non-existent.
Current Opening Bid: $250
Lot
24
Wells, Fargo & Co., Virginia Cty. N.T., Feb. 9, black oval handstamp on 1861 3¢ pink entire with company frank and separately applied printed Wells, Fargo & Co. surcharge "PAID 25 Cts.", addressed to San Francisco with pencil notation "Moved to Lehman Jewelry Store, What Cheer House", docketed "Feb 11/'64", a couple of minor stains, Very Fine, an exceptional example of the surcharged Wells, Fargo & Co. Frank used from Nevada, ex-Barkhausen.Estimate $300 - 400.
Author James Gammett sums up the questions regarding this type of Wells, Fargo & Co. Surcharged Frank on page 58 of his book, Nevada Express, Wells Fargo & Co. and Other Letter Expresses, 1857 - 1895, where he wrote, "So, were these surcharged envelopes recognized as prepaying the Virginia City pony express fee? Or were they used on a hazardous route from Idaho? Or were they simply printer's surplus waste used as regular envelopes? The census of known covers is probably not complete, but as the search for more information goes on, the true nature of theses covers remains a mystery." .
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
25 
Wells, Fargo & Co., 1862 25¢ red, Pony Express Entire, on unused 1860, 3¢ pink entire (U34) with "Gould & Curry, Silver Mining Co." shaded ad in olive; couple small toned spots, F.-V.F.Scott No. 143LU3 $950.
Current Opening Bid: $230
Lot
26
Wells, Fargo & Co., Express, Aurora, blue oval handstamp cancelling on 1860, 3¢ pink entire to San Francisco and tying Wells Fargo & Co., 1862-64, 25¢ blue, right margin single with full margins, black company frank at top; stamp with corner crease in margin and cover with some allover toning, F.-V.F. appearance, from the famous Crittenden correspondence; with 1986 P.F. certificate.Scott No. 143L8 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
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Current Opening Bid: $500
Lot
27
Wells, Fargo & Co., Virginia Cty. N.T., Oct 19, blue oval handstamps cancelling on 1860, 3¢ pink entire (U35) and tying Wells, Fargo & Co., 1862-64, 10¢ brown margins large to just barely shaving frameline at left, with printed Wells Fargo frank and preprinted address to Sol. Wangenheim, San Francisco; cover with couple light scuffs and couple filing pinholes at top, still Very Fine; with 1991 P.S.E. certificate.Scott No. 143L7 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A BEAUTIFUL AND SCARCE COVER WITH THE 10¢ BROWN VIRGINIA CITY PONY EXPRESS STAMP.
Solomon Wangenheim was an immigrant from Saxony, Germany, who was naturalized on April 30, 1855. He is listed as a merchant at 211 Powell in San Francisco as of July 25, 1866.
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Current Opening Bid: $1,000