Lot
174 
Adams & Co.'s Express/Auburn. Blue double lined oval handstamp on buff cover from New York with red "New York/Paid 6/May 5" origin postmark, addressed to Sacramento City & carried by Adams from Sacramento City to Auburn and then to Yankee Jim's with additional "Adams & Co.'s Express / Yankee Jim's" (Placer) double-lined oval handstamp in black, who ultimately delivered it collect with "K Bar" (possibly Kanaka Bar) and "1.25" manuscript notations, cover refolded & edge stains, Fine. Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $210
Lot
175
Adams & Co./Coloma. Red oval handstamp on cover to Sacramento City from New York with blue Lodi, N.Y. cds & two strikes of matching "Paid 3" in circle to pay the 6¢ transcontinental rate, cover with manuscript "Kelsey 1.00" express rate, couple small repairs, lovely Very Fine appearance, a rare usage. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $550
Lot
176
Adams & Co.'s Express/Don Pedro's Bar. Blue oval handstamp with "Sept 17" manuscript date and indistinct "Adams Sacramento" blue double circle handstamp on stampless cover to California State Assembly and then State Senate member James W. Mandeville, addressed originally to Don Pedro's Bar, then forwarded to Sonora, and then forwarded again to Columbia where evidently delivered, light staining, F.-V.F., a very rare Adams marking, Cover illustrated in Coburn's Letters of Gold (page 172). Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $850
Lot
177
Adams & Co./Mud Springs. Olive green oval handstamp on cover to San Francisco with manuscript endorsement "Per Adams & Co's Express", trivial cover stain at left, Very Fine. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $90
Lot
178
Adams & Co.'s Express Agency/Panama. Red oval handstamp and "Adams & Co. Express" New York red cameo corner card on 1852 cover to the Purser on the Steamer New Orleans at Panama "Care Cova + Co. / to be kept until N.O. arrives", Very Fine, ex-Polland. Estimate $300 - 400.
The "S.S. New Orleans" ran between San Francisco and Panama 1850-1852. The ship was owned by Howard & Son's Empire Line originally, sold to private owners in 1851, and then leased by those owners to Vanderbilt's Independent Line in 1852. In 1853, the New Orleans was sold again to the Melbourne Steam Packet Company in Australia.
Realized: $260
Lot
179
Adams & Co.'s Express/Prairie City. Red oval handstamp on cover to San Francisco, some corner wear, F.-V.F., a very rare marking. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $475
Lot
180
Adams & Co.'s Express/Sacramento. Red double-lined oval handstamp on stampless cover to Howard & Son's Empire City Line in San Francisco, "Hanks & Crawley, House, Sign & Ornamental Painters" Sacramento City blue printed corner card, short tear at upper left, Very Fine, Cover illustrated in Coburn's Letters of Gold (pages 172 and 232). Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $375
Lot
181
Adams & Co./San Francisco Dec 8. Blue double circle handstamp on cover to Mormon Island franked with 1851 3¢ dull red (left selvage copy) with crossed pen lines precancel affixed at left, manuscript endorsement "Adams & Co's Express" at top left, Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $375
Lot
182
Adams & Co. Express/San Francisco California. Red shield cameo corner card on buff cover to Connecticut, manuscript "March 1853" in pencil, flap torn & some abrasions (may have been part of a paste-up?), Very Fine. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $260
Lot
183
Adams & Co.'s Express/San Francisco. Blue oval rope handstamp struck twice and "Forwarded By Browns Express" blue double-lined oval handstamp with manuscript "Collect 50c" on stampless cover to Mormon Gulch "near Tuttletown", evidently sent by Adams from San Francisco paid through to Stockton and then given to Brown's for delivery in the mines, Extremely Fine and choice, ex-Clifford, Haas. Estimate $500 - 750.
Cover illustrated in Coburn's Letters of Gold (page 172). This cover with both Adams and Brown's markings is likely a true conjunctive use from shortly before April 1853 when William A. Brown was murdered and Adams took over the operation of his express.
Realized: $1,700