Sale 56: The Westpex Sale

Lot 555    

Adams & Co., group of six items; 1852 blue oval "Sonora" handstamp on folded letter to S.F., stampless cover to Boston with red "Adams & Co. Express, San Francisco" shield corner card on backflap, cover to Panama with red "Adams & Co. Express Agency, Panama" oval handstamp and small embossed company corner card, 1854 newspaper with blue S.F. circular handstamp and two company local stamps (#1L2 & 1L3); condition varies, a Fine group.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $375

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Lot 556    

Adams & Co. Express, Humboldt Bay, bold double-lined blue oval handstamp (Thomas ADA-103) with matching boxed "Paid" at left on cover to Moquelumne Hill, franked with precancelled 1851, 3¢ dull red with blue double circle "Adam's & Co, San Francisco" transit datestamp (ADA-100); portion of cover cut out and repaired with stamp placed over (which may not originate), Very Fine appearance, the Unique Example of the Adams Humboldt Bay Handstamp.
Scott No. 11A    Estimate $750 - 1,000.

This cover was carried by steamer from Humboldt Bay to San Francisco then carried by Adams to Mokelumne Hill.

Realized: $1,050

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Lot 557    

Adams & Co. Express, Marysville, oval handstamp (ADA-102) on 1852 folded letter to San Francisco, Very Fine, only five example of this handstamp are recorded with this being the earliest recorded, one residing in the Wiltsee collection.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $280

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Lot 558    

Adams & Co. Express, Mormon Island, bold oval handstamp on incoming cover to San Francisco, red "Boston, 3cts, Apr 23" integral rate origin cds with "6" rate handstamp applied over internal rate, red straight line "Paid" handstamp at top, forwarded to Mormon Island with manuscript "Fd 5", additional manuscript "1.25" & "Mur(ders) Bar" express rate and destination notation at upper left; light cover wear and two sealed cuts at bottom, otherwise Very Fine, a scarce Adam & Co. express usage.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $240

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Lot 559    

Adams & Co. Express, Mormon Island, bold oval handstamp (ADA-102a) on buff cover from Fitchburg, Mass. with handstamped "10" rate to Sacramento, Cal., endorsed "Pilot Hill ($)1" (Express fee), unnoticeable cover tear & tape stain at left, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Adams' Mormon Island acted as a forwarding center for many of the locations along the American Rivers.

Realized: $140

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Lot 560    

Adams & Co. Express, San Francisco, clear blue double oval (ADA-102a) on folded letter sheet to Sacramento, Cal., docketed "February 23, 1852"; light fold affecting handstamp, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

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Lot 561    

Adams & Co. Express, Vallejo, red oval handstamp (Thomas unlisted) on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire to San Francisco, matching boxed "Paid" handstamp alongside, lightened pencil crossing out "Adams & Co's" with lightened "Pacific Express" alongside, Very Fine, a likely unique Adam's Express handstamp on this rare transition cover when Pacific Express took over after Adams failed., ex Dale-Lichtenstein, Whitington & Schaefer.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

Realized: $525

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Lot 562    

Adams & Co., Nevada, Jan 24, clear strike of oval date stamp (ADA-101) on 1854 folded letter to San Francisco, with partial strike of matching "Paid" in octagon handstamp, Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

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Lot 563 ()   

Adams & Co., Over Our California and Coast Routes, Paid., octagon frank located at top right (ADA-001) of rebacked cover front to Los Angeles, Cal., with full clear strike of red "Adams & Co. Express, Monterey" oval handstamp (ADA-103a), Very Fine and choice appearance.
Estimate    $3,000 - 4,000.

ONE OF ONLY FOUR PRINTED FRANKS USED WHILE ADAMS & CO. WAS STILL IN OPERATION.

This extremely rare printed frank was the very first express frank, used between very late 1854 and when Adams closed in February of 1855. Seven examples of this frank are known, however three where used after Adams had closed. Only three examples of the Adam's Monterey handstamp are known with this being the only one on a franked envelope.

This cover is addressed to Pacificus Ord who was U.S. District Attorney at Los Angeles between December 1854 and August 1855. Pacificus was one of the framers of the California Constitution and, as most historians agree, that he along with his brothers are the illegitimate grandson of King George IV. Fort Ord is named after his brother Edward.

Realized: $3,000

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Lot 564    

Adams & Co., Sacramento, May 30, clear strike of double circle date stamp in red (ADA-100) on 1853 folded letter to San Francisco; file fold, Very Fine, the only recorded example of this circular Adams Sacramento handstamp in red.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

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