Lot
53 
(A.J. Oliver & Co's) Bannack City Express, tombstone handstamp clearly struck on "Direct To Salt Lake City, In Care Of Bannack City Express, Oliver & Co., Proprietors" company text advertising cover to Westborough, Massachusetts, and forwarded to Cincinnati, Ohio, entered the mails with "Brigham City, U.T., Sept 11" manuscript postmark at lower left and franked with pen canceled 1861, 3¢ rose (s.e. at top), "Westborough, Ms., Sep 30" cds applied when forwarded along with second 1861, 3¢ rose tied by circle of wedges cancel, likely an 1863 use given the manuscript postmark; trivial moisture stains along the bottom, Extremely Fine and attractive, cover illustrated in Nathan's Franks of Western Expresses (page 15). Scott No. 65 Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
THIS IS THE FINEST KNOWN EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE EXPRESS - WITH APPROXIMATELY SEVEN COVERS RECORDED.
Oliver & Co. operated as a stage line and express company from 1862 until 1866 in the part of the original Idaho Territory that became Montana Territory in 1864. Oliver's Bannack Express ran overland from Bannack City (aka East Bannack) through unsettled Indian country to Utah Territory. Oliver's intent was to provide a direct connection to the Central Overland Route for letters going to and from the eastern states. The need for Oliver's service to Utah diminished when a mail contract between Salt Lake City and Bannack City was awarded in 1863.
Realized: $4,000