Sale 44: The Westpex Sale - Important Worldwide Stamps and Covers

Lot 1197    

Raveley's Express/Canon Creek. Black double lined oval handstamp with smaller "Paid" black oval handstamp struck within oval on stampless folded letter to Coloma, brought down from the mines and mailed with "Weaverville, Cal, Dec." balloon cds and "Paid" in arc over "3" handstamped rate marking, miner's letter headed "Canon City, Trinity Co., Cal Dec the 2 1855", edge wear at top & left, still Very Fine, Canon City was a short-lived mining camp northwest of Weaverville., ex-"Edwards", illustrated in Coburn's Letters of Gold (page 211).
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

THIS IS THE FINER OF THE TWO KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THIS RARE EXPRESS COMPANY.

Realized: $7,000

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Lot 1198    

Rhodes & Lusks's Express/Weaverville. And "Paid" matching blue double-lined oval handstamps on stampless cover to San Francisco with detailed street address referring to a grocery store, exchanged with "Wells Fargo & Co.'s Express/Sacramento" red double-lined oval handstamp (Leutzinger type 1-24), "Recd March 14 / 53" pencil docket on the back, Very Fine, a gorgeous cover, ex-Pearce, Haas and "Edwards", illustrated in Coburn's Letters of Gold (page 213).
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Rhodes & Lusk and Wells Fargo both entered into business in 1852. The Rhodes & Lusk partnership lasted for only a year.

Realized: $1,700

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Lot 1199    

Rhodes & Whitney's Express/Yreka. Blue double-lined oval handstamp and matching blue "Paid" oval handstamp on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire to San Francisco, "G. H. Wines & Co. Express/San Francisco" black double-lined oval handstamp applied upon arrival, piece of top backflap missing, Very Fine a beautiful and rare combination, an attractive use by the co-owned companies, ex-Lichtenstein.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

Realized: $1,350

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Lot 1200    

River Express/Stockton & San Francisco. Green printed frank on 2¢ green entire to San Francisco, "River Express Co /San Francisco/Jul 8" blue green double oval receiving handstamp with unclear year date, Very Fine& one of the rare covers with the Company handstamp, ex-Kutz.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $250

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Lot 1201    

San Francisco Letter Express. Blue oval pony and rider handstamp on stampless cover to "17 Metropolitan Block, 529 Guerrero St" in San Francisco, "1866" docket at left, Very Fine and choice, a lovely cover, ex-Toaspern.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $300

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Lot 1202    

W. F. Singer & Co's Feather River Express/Connecting With Wells, Fargo & Co. Blue oval handstamp on stampless cover that originated with Wells Fargo, with Wells Fargo printed corner card so likely from San Francisco, to Bidwell's Bar "Free" and with "Important Deliver Immediately" directive, Very Fine, a wonderful strike of this handstamp and a rare Wells Fargo "Free" conjunctive use.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Realized: $1,200

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Lot 1203    

W. F. Singer & Co's Feather River Express/Connecting With Wells, Fargo & Co. Blue oval handstamp on stampless cover that originated with Wells Fargo, with "Wells Fargo & Co. Express/San Francisco" darker blue shield handstamp (Leutzinger type 1-6) and matching "Paid" double-lined oval handstamp, to Bidwell's Bar, "1855" docket on the back, Very Fine, a gorgeous cover, the ideal companion to the preceding cover, ex-Kramer.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Realized: $500

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Lot 1204    

Thomes & Skaden's Express/Susanville & Reno, Connecting With Wells, Fargo & Co. Blue printed frank without border on 1870 3¢ green entire to San Francisco with light strike of "Thomes & Skadens Express/Susanville Cal./June 8" black double circle handstamp, "Rec'd + Ans'd June 10 1871" docket on the back, a bit reduced at right, Very Fine and one of the few known covers showing the Company handstamp, ex-"Edwards".
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

Thomes & Skaden ran between Susanville and Reno, Nevada. They connected with Wells Fargo at Reno, which was on the railroad leading back into California, for faster connections with Sacramento and San Francisco.

Realized: $1,000

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Lot 1205    

Tinnin & Owens/Weaverville/Mar. 24. Large blue double circle handstamp on 1864 3¢ pink entire to San Francisco with "Tinnin & Owen's Weaverville And Shasta Express" printed frank, trivial reduction at right, Very Fine and rare, a wonderful exhibition item of which only 2 or 3 examples are known, one of the truly Great Western Covers, Tinnin & Owen maintained their express for only six months., ex-Haas and "Edwards", illustrated in Coburn's Letters of Gold (page 220); with 1981 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $3,000 - 4,000.

Realized: $6,250

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