Lot
865 
T.F. Tracy's Express, Paid., blue oval handstamp on 3¢ red (U10) Nesbitt entire cancelled by "Placerville, Cal. Oct 14" cds to San Francisco Cal.; couple small edge flaws and partial flap, Very Fine and rare, ex Dale-Lichtenstein. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS T.E. TRACY'S EXPRESS FRANK HANDSTAMP, A GREAT WESTERN EXPRESS RARITY.
In June 1857, Theodore F. Tracy organized a short-lived express company in which he was proprietor, Messenger and did all the work. It ran between Placerville and over the Sierra to the small Mormon settlement at Genoa, Nevada. It advertised in the Placerville Mountain Democrat June 28, 1857. "Connecting with Wells Fargo at Placerville, leave Placerville three times a week for Carson Valley… to Genoa or Mormon Station," via T.B. Crandall's Pioneer State Line. This was before the Comstock Lode had been discovered. The Express only lasted a few months.
This cover was picked up by T.F. Tracy and carried to Placerville where it was placed in the U.S. Mail.
Realized: $2,300