Lot
1 
Correspondence and Letters to Mail to James W. Denver, group of 12 covers with original letters, 3 covers only, and 6 letters only, range of interesting content present including a lot of political related, the Kansas-Nebraska question, the Know Nothing party, the democratic Convention of 1864, Broderick, some gold rush stuff, one about the Pacific Mail Steamship withholding someone's letters and demanding a large sum of money or they'll be sent back to New York, another from Denver's sister in law about the destruction to homes and mining claims from the great flood and small pox raging through the area, another letter from Denver's sister in law talks about how she was happy to hear that Denver's name would no longer be associated with Lincoln, some Dept. of Indian Affairs related and corruption allegations against one of the former agents, etc.; some mixed condition, Fine and interesting correspondence group. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
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Realized: $800
Lot
2
Hinckley & Co.'s, Express Mail, printed scroll frank in scroll with mailing instructions above (Bauer type 6) on 1861, 3¢ Star Die entire to Madison, Wis., clear "Hinckley & Co.'s Express, Denver City, Feb. 7, 1861" cds, indicia canceled by green grid with matching "Saint Joseph, Mo., Feb 16" cds alongside, forwarded to Necedah, Wis. with manuscript "Due 3cts" in pencil and "Madison Wis., Feb. 25, 1861" forwarding cds, franked upon arrival with 1857, 3¢ dull red canceled by grid handstamp, Extremely Fine; with 1990 P.F. certificate. Scott No. U27+26 Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
AN OUTSTANDING HINCKLEY & CO. PRINTED FRANK USAGE AND RARE FORWARDING WITH A 1857 3¢ ISSUE.
Hinckley & Co.'s Express began operations in 1860 by C. S. Hinckley and John A. Sowers. They serving the mining camps in Colorado and Nebraska Territory. Eventually they were bought out by the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Co. in May of 1861.
Lot
3
Reynolds & Co.'s Express, San Francisco, Stockton & Sonora, blue oval backstamp with matching "Not Paid" in oval handstamp on cover from Angouleme, France to San Francisco Cal. red "Angouleme 13 Juin '51" origin cds with "PD" and "P.P." framed handstamps with manuscript "2.80" 2fr80c paid rating on reverse for transit fees via Panama by West Indies route, red London (6.16) transit, carried by RMSPC Medway from Southampton Jun. 17 to Chagres arriving Jul. 11, San Francisco red "20" cents due rating, Very Fine, ex-Winter. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED 28 DÉCIMES RATES VIA PANAMA TO CALIFORNIA WITH EXPRESS COMPANY HANDLING.
Letter endorsed for British route to Panama, a 2 Franc 80 centime rate for eight months only, and paid in cash (manuscript on reverse). Empire City Line steamer Constitution carried letter from Panama City to San Francisco. French prepayment was to Panama only leaving 20¢ postage due for American contract steamer transit to San Francisco. Letter carried from San Francisco to the northern gold fields by Reynolds & Co. Express for an additional charge of $1.00.
Lot
4
Wells Fargo & Co., Sac. Messenger, Oct, blue oval (Leutzinger type 11-9) cancels 3¢ red Star die entire to Virginia City, Nevada Territory with all-over advertising in light blue of "Philip A. Roach, Dealer in Wines and Liquors" with large illustration of his Building and Street Scene, Wells Fargo & Co. printed frank on back flap (Haller type E), Very Fine and beautiful, ex-Tatham. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A STUNNING WELL'S FARGO & CO. ALL-OVER SHADED AD COVER.
This is the only advertiser that we are aware of that required the Frank be printed on the back flap, very scarce with only about 6 known.
Realized: $1,700
Lot
5
Wells Fargo & Co's Express, California & Mexican Coast Routes, Paid 10 Cents, blue printed franked at top of cover to San Francisco, Cal., franked with 1882, 5c Juarez, Mazatlan, cons 2782 tied by blue Wells, Fargo & Co., Mexican Route oval handstamp, with blue Wells, Fargo & Co's Express printed franked at top, "Wells, Fargo & Co., Guaymas, Mexo." oval transit handstamp; cover slightly reduced at right, Very Fine. Scott No. Mexico 133 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A VERY RARE USAGE OF THE BLUE WELLS, FARGO & CO. CALIFORNIA & MEXICAN COAST ROUTE FRANK FROM MAZATLAN.
Realized: $2,000
Lot
6
California Pony Express, Paid, red oval handstamp of New York applied on 1860 3¢ Star Die entire and address to "Messrs Crosby & Dibbler" in San Francisco, manuscript directive "Pony Express" at bottom left and "Paid" at upper left, Pony Express pencil rate "500" indicating that the double $2.50 rate had been paid, oval handstamp of The Central Overland California & Pike's Peak Express Company, St. Joseph, Mo., Oct. 18 applied on the date of departure of the Westbound Pony arriving in San Francisco on October 30, 1860, flap missing and tiny mended tear at top, Extremely Fine. Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
A STUNNING PONY EXPRESS COVER PAYING THE DOUBLE RATE DURING THE SECOND PERIOD FROM THE FAMOUS CROSBY-DIBBLER CORRESPONDENCE.
This is an outstanding usage with two very interesting features. Westbound Pony covers are rarer than eastbound with only twelve listed in the Frajola-Kramer-Walske census with the red New York oval "California Pony Express, Paid" handstamp. This cover demonstrates the under 3,000 miles loophole that allowed westbound mail to be sent in bundles from the East Coast to St. Joseph by mail with only 3¢ domestic postage prepaid. This loophole was closed by the Act of February 27, 1861 that eliminated the mileage provision and required 10¢ postage on any letter crossing the Rocky Mountains.
Lot
7
(Virginia City Pony Express) 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 margins large to just in at bottom, black company frank at top, with original enclosure on Howard & Sanchez Banking House letterhead datelined April 7, 1863; some minor light gum toning around stamp, Very Fine; with 1981 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 143L8 Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
A LOVELY VIRGINIA PONY EXPRESS USAGE FROM THE FAMOUS CRITTENDEN CORRESPONDENCE IN AURORA.
Lot
8
(Virginia City Pony Express) Wells, Fargo & Co., Virginia Cty, N.T., blue oval handstamp tying Wells Fargo & Co., 1862-64, 25¢ blue (large margins to slightly in, bright fresh color, light wrinkle) on 1861 3¢ pink entire with black company frank & additional strike of "Virginia City" oval, addressed to San Francisco, Very Fine and choice, ex-Kramer. Scott No. 143L8 Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A LOVELY VIRGINIA PONY FROM THE CRITTENDEN CORRESPONDENCE.
Realized: $2,800