Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

Carriers and Locals continued...

**Wells, Fargo & Co. and Pony Express**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description	Est/Cat	Realized
745		Pony Express, St. Joseph. Oct. 4 (1860). Sharp but lightly inked strike of Running Pony oval handstamp on 3c Red Star Die entire (U27) from New York City to San Francisco, red "California Pony Express Paid" double-line oval handstamp applied at New York, sender's note "Private", tiny scrape at top VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE NEW YORK "PAID" OVAL HANDSTAMP IN COMBINATION WITH THE ST. JOSEPH RUNNING PONY OVAL. ONE OF THE FEW RECORDED PONY COVERS SUBJECT TO THE 3-CENT UNDER-3,000 MILES UNITED STATES POSTAGE RATE. There are several interesting features to this cover. First, westbound Pony covers are generally rarer than eastbound, and only a few are known with the oval "Paid" handstamp applied at the company's New York office. Second, according to Nathan-Boggs (p. 21), the U.S. 3c under-3,000 miles rate was used only on westbound letters beginning in early September 1860, evidently phasing out in 1861. The authors speculate that the lower rate was justifiable because some westbound letters were carried privately in a pouch to St. Joseph, where they technically "entered" the mails (the start of the Pony trip being considered the mail route). There is no documentary evidence supporting this supposition, other than the covers themselves. A third unusual feature of this cover is the date change in the St. Joseph oval. Close examination reveals that the "SEP" month slug was used in the oval and was over-struck by "OCT" in a separate operation. October 4, 1860, is the correct date. In September 1860, the St. Joseph Running Pony oval was struck in carmine, with trips departing on September 6 and 13. Ex Caspary. With 1996 P.F. certificate. (Image)	E. 7,500-10,000	12,500.00
746		Pony Express, St. Joseph, Nov. 22 (1860). Bold black strike of Running Pony oval handstamp on westbound cover addressed to "J. E. Bromley Esq., Agt. South Pass", ms. "Free W H Russell" and "Pony", bold strike of "The Central Overland California & Pike's Peak Express Company, Nov. 22, St. Joseph, Mo." on back, cover reduced at right and some staining VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ST. JOSEPH "RUNNING PONY" COVER FREE FRANKED BY THE MOST COLORFUL OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE PONY EXPRESS. The Pony Express began its inaugural trip on April 3, 1860, under the ownership of the Central Overland and Pike's Peak Express Company. The three founders were William H. Russell, Alexander Majors and William B. Waddell. The Pony Express was absorbed by Wells, Fargo & Co. in April 1861 after failing to secure a government contract at the beginning of the Civil War due to a variety of circumstances, including Russell's often reckless behavior. (Image)	E. 7,500-10,000	10,500.00
747		Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $2.00 Red (143L1). Ample margins to just touching, tied by blue "Wells, Fargo & Cos. Express. Sacramento. May 12" (1861) double-circle datestamp on 10c Green Nesbitt entire (U16) to New York City with Wells, Fargo & Co. red printed frank, green "St. Joseph Mo. May 24" circular datestamp, stains removed and top left corner repaired VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE PONY EXPRESS STAMP CANCELLED AT SACRAMENTO. With 1963 P.F. certificate (prior to restoration) (Image)	E. 7,500-10,000	9,500.00
748		Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $2.00 Red (143L1). Full to large margins, blue Pony Express oval datestamp, Very Fine, with 1996 P.S.E. certificate (Image)	600.00	850.00
749		Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $4.00 Green (143L2). Full margins, cancelled by blue San Francisco Running Pony oval datestamp with trace of ms., tiny thin spot and minute tear, otherwise Very Fine, used examples of the $4.00 are extremely rare (Image)	800.00	950.00
750		Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $1.00 Red (143L3). Block of four, unused (no gum), large margins, rich color on bright paper, tiny corner crease in lower right margin only, Extremely Fine (Image)	475.00	280.00
751		Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $1.00 Red (143L3). Two large margins, others just touching to slightly in, deep shade, tiny tear, tied by blue "Pony Express, San Francisco, Aug. 3" (1861) Running Pony oval datestamp on 10c Green Star Die entire (U33) to New York City, red Wells, Fargo & Co. frank, 10c cancelled by grid, minor cosmetic restoration incl. top backflap expertly reattached and lightly cleaned VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE AND RARE PONY EXPRESS COVER. Ex Barkhausen. With 1997 P.S.E. certificate (Image)	E. 5,000-7,500	3,750.00
752		Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $2.00 Green (143L4). Block of four, unused (no gum), full to huge margins with sheet margin at top left, rich color, vertical creases in margins at sides with one ending in tiny tear, small blue ink stains at top and on back of left margin, otherwise Very Fine, blocks of four are unpriced in Scott, with 1982 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail for singles (Image)	1,200.00	1,100.00
753		Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $1.00 Blue, Garter (143L6). Large margins, cancelled by single pen stroke, thins and large adherence, appears Very Fine, with 1996 P.S.E. certificate (Image)	1,250.00	250.00
754		Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, 10c Brown (143L7). Vertical block of eight, unused (no gum), ample to large margins, top right stamp with small toned spot in margin, otherwise fresh and Very Fine, Scott Retail for two blocks of four (Image)	1,000.00	900.00
755		Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, 10c Brown (143L7). Block of four, unused (no gum), large to huge margins, rich color, top right stamp couple small toned spots and light horizontal crease between stamps, otherwise Very Fine (Image)	500.00	425.00

Wells, Fargo & Co. and Pony Express

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

Est/Cat

Realized

745

Pony Express, St. Joseph. Oct. 4 (1860). Sharp but lightly inked strike of Running Pony oval handstamp on 3c Red Star Die entire (U27) from New York City to San Francisco, red "California Pony Express Paid" double-line oval handstamp applied at New York, sender's note "Private", tiny scrape at top

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE NEW YORK "PAID" OVAL HANDSTAMP IN COMBINATION WITH THE ST. JOSEPH RUNNING PONY OVAL. ONE OF THE FEW RECORDED PONY COVERS SUBJECT TO THE 3-CENT UNDER-3,000 MILES UNITED STATES POSTAGE RATE.

There are several interesting features to this cover. First, westbound Pony covers are generally rarer than eastbound, and only a few are known with the oval "Paid" handstamp applied at the company's New York office. Second, according to Nathan-Boggs (p. 21), the U.S. 3c under-3,000 miles rate was used only on westbound letters beginning in early September 1860, evidently phasing out in 1861. The authors speculate that the lower rate was justifiable because some westbound letters were carried privately in a pouch to St. Joseph, where they technically "entered" the mails (the start of the Pony trip being considered the mail route). There is no documentary evidence supporting this supposition, other than the covers themselves. A third unusual feature of this cover is the date change in the St. Joseph oval. Close examination reveals that the "SEP" month slug was used in the oval and was over-struck by "OCT" in a separate operation. October 4, 1860, is the correct date. In September 1860, the St. Joseph Running Pony oval was struck in carmine, with trips departing on September 6 and 13.

Ex Caspary. With 1996 P.F. certificate. (Image)

E. 7,500-10,000

12,500.00

746

Pony Express, St. Joseph, Nov. 22 (1860). Bold black strike of Running Pony oval handstamp on westbound cover addressed to "J. E. Bromley Esq., Agt. South Pass", ms. "Free W H Russell" and "Pony", bold strike of "The Central Overland California & Pike's Peak Express Company, Nov. 22, St. Joseph, Mo." on back, cover reduced at right and some staining

VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ST. JOSEPH "RUNNING PONY" COVER FREE FRANKED BY THE MOST COLORFUL OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE PONY EXPRESS.

The Pony Express began its inaugural trip on April 3, 1860, under the ownership of the Central Overland and Pike's Peak Express Company. The three founders were William H. Russell, Alexander Majors and William B. Waddell. The Pony Express was absorbed by Wells, Fargo & Co. in April 1861 after failing to secure a government contract at the beginning of the Civil War due to a variety of circumstances, including Russell's often reckless behavior. (Image)

E. 7,500-10,000

10,500.00

747

Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $2.00 Red (143L1). Ample margins to just touching, tied by blue "Wells, Fargo & Cos. Express. Sacramento. May 12" (1861) double-circle datestamp on 10c Green Nesbitt entire (U16) to New York City with Wells, Fargo & Co. red printed frank, green "St. Joseph Mo. May 24" circular datestamp, stains removed and top left corner repaired

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE PONY EXPRESS STAMP CANCELLED AT SACRAMENTO.

With 1963 P.F. certificate (prior to restoration) (Image)

E. 7,500-10,000

9,500.00

748

Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $2.00 Red (143L1). Full to large margins, blue Pony Express oval datestamp, Very Fine, with 1996 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

600.00

850.00

749

Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $4.00 Green (143L2). Full margins, cancelled by blue San Francisco Running Pony oval datestamp with trace of ms., tiny thin spot and minute tear, otherwise Very Fine, used examples of the $4.00 are extremely rare (Image)

800.00

950.00

750

Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $1.00 Red (143L3). Block of four, unused (no gum), large margins, rich color on bright paper, tiny corner crease in lower right margin only, Extremely Fine (Image)

475.00

280.00

751

Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $1.00 Red (143L3). Two large margins, others just touching to slightly in, deep shade, tiny tear, tied by blue "Pony Express, San Francisco, Aug. 3" (1861) Running Pony oval datestamp on 10c Green Star Die entire (U33) to New York City, red Wells, Fargo & Co. frank, 10c cancelled by grid, minor cosmetic restoration incl. top backflap expertly reattached and lightly cleaned

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE AND RARE PONY EXPRESS COVER.

Ex Barkhausen. With 1997 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

E. 5,000-7,500

3,750.00

752

Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $2.00 Green (143L4). Block of four, unused (no gum), full to huge margins with sheet margin at top left, rich color, vertical creases in margins at sides with one ending in tiny tear, small blue ink stains at top and on back of left margin, otherwise Very Fine, blocks of four are unpriced in Scott, with 1982 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail for singles (Image)

1,200.00

1,100.00

753

Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $1.00 Blue, Garter (143L6). Large margins, cancelled by single pen stroke, thins and large adherence, appears Very Fine, with 1996 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

1,250.00

250.00

754

Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, 10c Brown (143L7). Vertical block of eight, unused (no gum), ample to large margins, top right stamp with small toned spot in margin, otherwise fresh and Very Fine, Scott Retail for two blocks of four (Image)

1,000.00

900.00

755

Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, 10c Brown (143L7). Block of four, unused (no gum), large to huge margins, rich color, top right stamp couple small toned spots and light horizontal crease between stamps, otherwise Very Fine (Image)

500.00

425.00