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| Lot | Sym. | Lot Description | Est/Cat | Realized |
| 76° |  |
Wells, Fargo & Co., $1.00 Red (143L3). Large margins to clear at upper left, rich color, tied by mostly clear blue "Pony Express San Francisco Aug. 31" Running Pony oval datestamp on 10c Green, Star Die Entire (U32) with red Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank, addressed to A. W. Canfield in New York City, "St. Joseph Mo. Sep. 14" circular datestamp cancels entire, with 1861 enclosure, short sealed opening tears at top, otherwise fresh and Very Fine, an attractive Pony Express usage during the Civil War period | E. 12,000-15,000 | 10,000.00 |
| 77° | |
 Free W. H. Russell. Autograph free frank on deep buff cover with imprint TELEGRAM BY THE STEBBINS LINE across the top, addressed to Ben Holladay at San Francisco, endorsed "Free on Pony/Paid/from W. H.
Russell", clear well-inked strike of "Pony Express St. Joseph. May 6" Running Pony oval datestamp (1860) at upper left, one backflap missing, small piece out of bottom edge has been neatly mended, otherwise in excellent conditionA VERY RARE AND HISTORIC PONY EXPRESS COVER, CARRIED FREE WITH THE AUTOGRAPH FRANK OF WILLIAM H. RUSSELL, CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE FIRM THAT OPERATED THE LEGENDARY PONY EXPRESS The partners in the firm of the Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, which operated the Pony Express from April 1860 to November 1861, were William H. Russell, Alexander Majors and William B. Waddell. Russell was president of the firm, with headquarters in Leavenworth, Kansas. Ben Holladay, to whom this cover is addressed, was a major creditor of COC&PP and eventually bought the firm at public sale after it had been through long, difficult financial problems. It is known that a small amount of mail was carried free of charge by the express. Based on the ten examples recorded in the Nathan book, it appears that United States Senators William M. Gwin (one recorded cover) and Milton S. Latham (six recorded covers) were permitted to send at least some of their Pony Express mail without charge. It also seems that official company correspondence was carried without charge. The record shows three such covers, including two signed by William H. Russell and one signed by his brother, John W. Russell, who was acting company secretary. This franked cover is the earliest westbound Pony Express usage. Westbound trips were made from St. Joseph as early as April 3, 1860, but none from this first month is known to exist. Ex Knapp and Emerson, from the Weill sale (Image Magnifier) |
E. 75,000-100,000 | 65,000.00 |