Lot
314 
Leland's & McComb's Express/San Jose. Black oval handstamp with matching oval "Paid", on 1854 folded letter to San Francisco, vertical file fold, F.-V.F. Estimate $150 - 200.
In 1853 George Leland and John McCombe started their express business, carrying mail by water between San Francisco and Crescent City, Port Orford and other towns in Humboldt Bay; their partnership was dissolved in June 1854, and Leland formed a new partnership with David McComb (without the "e"), serving the same area and expanding in August 1854 with a South Coast express.
Realized: $105
Lot
315
Newell & Co.'s Express. Neat manuscript endorsement on folded letter to Portland, O.T. with blue Adams & Co. Express/San Francisco rope handstamp alongside, Very Fine, a nice conjunctive usage showing the scarce early Adams handstamp. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $375
Lot
316
Newell & Co.'s Express/San Francisco. Small blue oval handstamp, on folded letter with San Francisco 1851 dateline to Portland, vertical file fold, F.-V.F., San Francisco handstamp not listed in Nathan. Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $125
Lot
317
Nichols & Co.'s Express/San Francisco. Black fancy illustrated company frank on 3¢ red Nesbitt entire, with indistinct red oval handstamp, San Francisco addressee, some aging, missing back flap, S, F.-V.F. and rare. Estimate $300 - 400.
C. P. Nichols and Edward Ludlow started their express in the spring of 1858, carrying mail between San Francisco and San Jose, and eventually expanding their routes northward; their distinctive express frank pictures a dog guarding a safe, sailing schooner, steam vessel and railroad train, and it was printed on plain envelopes and on 3¢ entires. Nichols & Co. eventually sold out to American Express, who adopted the same woodcut frank.
Realized: $525
Lot
318
Noisy Carrier's Mail/San Francisco. Bold oval handstamp, with San Francisco cds on 10¢ green Nesbitt entire, to Long Island, N.Y., Very Fine, lovely handstamp of this legendary letter bag operator. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $500
Lot
319
Northern Pacific Express Co. Very faint Northern Pacific Express Co., Portland handstamp, purple Martin, W.T. straight line with manuscript 5/24/88 cancelled 2¢ green entire with black company frank, to San Francisco; manuscript "In Care / Wells, Fargo & Co." endorsement at left, Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $325
Lot
320
Northern Pacific Express Co. Purple straight line handstamp C. Heywood, N. P. Express canceling 2¢ brown entire with black company frank and 1887 Portland, Oreg. cds, slightly reduced at top, almost Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $95
Lot
321
Northern Pacific Express Co. Purple oval Wells, Fargo & Co. / Portland, Or. July 1, 1888 cancel on 2¢ brown entire with black company frank, additional purple Wells, Fargo & Co./ San Francisco oval handstamp, with San Francisco addressee, vertical stain and missing backflap, F.-V.F. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $120
Lot
322
Northern Pacific Express Co. Blue printed frank on 2¢ brown entire to Juneau, Alaska, canceled by "Northern, Pacific Ex. Co., San Francisco" date stamp, 1887 docketing at left; missing backflap, F.-V.F., very scarce. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $325