Hale & Co., (5c) Red on
Bluish, Address Deleted in Ms. (75L2 var). Our Type D (see Sale 830,
lot 257), with additional ms. "P NH" initials of Portsmouth N.H. office,
ms. crossed-lines precancel, cut to shape, Very Fine, affixed to a cover
from Providence but does not belong, extremely rare -- we currently record
ten examples of this manuscript overprint variety, including 6 covers and 4
off cover (Image)
Hale & Co., (5c) Blue, Street
Address Omitted (75L5). Second State of plate, three with
crossed-lines precancellation, each with square margins touching design
on one or two side, used on Jul. 20, 1844 folded letter from Boston to New
York City, faint red Boston oval handstamp, stamps have been lifted and
moved about a quarter inch from top edge and the letter has been refolded,
file folds clear of stamps, Very Fine, a rare multiple franking with
precancelled stamps, the earliest precancel in the world (Image)
A. M. Hinkley's Express Co.,
New York N.Y., 1c Red on Bluish (82L1). Unused (no gum), large margins,
rich color, small internal tear, otherwise Extremely Fine, the genuine
Hinkley's stamp is very rare (in contrast to the ubiquitous reprints), with
2000 P.F. certificate (Image) 
Hussey's Post, New York N.Y.,
(unstated value) Black, Wove (87L43). Horizontal pair, large to huge
margins, tied by purple "Hussey's Special Messenger Express Paid, 54 Pine
St." double-line oval handstamp on lavender cover to local street address,
Extremely Fine, an extremely rare pair of the 1872 Issue (Image)
Jenkins' Camden Dispatch,
Camden N.J., 1c Black on Grayish, Typeset (89L3). Halstead Type 1,
large margins, couple negligible faults, "tied" by single pen stroke on
buff cover to Franklin S. Hovey, Philadelphia, Very Fine stamp, only four
examples recorded, with 2001 P.F. certificate stating "genuine stamp, but
decline opinion as to whether it originated as the tying cancellation is
fraudulent" (Image) 
Jones' City Express, Brooklyn
N.Y., 2c Black on Pink Glazed (91L1). Slightly cut in with framelines
mostly complete on three sides, uncancelled as usual, appears to be
genuinely used on beautiful embossed Valentine cover to Miss Jane Case, no
street address but delivered in Brooklyn, light diagonal bend in stamp,
original gum visible thru lace pattern of coverVERY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE NINE RECORDED FULL COVERS WITH THE RARE STAMP ISSUED BY JONES' CITY EXPRESS OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.
It has been written that Jones' City Express existed from late 1844 through early 1845 (Patton book), but dated covers are known only as early as Jan. 29, 1845, and as late as Nov. 4, 1845. It is supposed that the proprietor was George G. Jones, based on the 1844 Brooklyn directory, listing him as an engraver with residence at Clinton Avenue and Jamaica Road. George G. Jones is listed in later directories as manager of the Metropolitan Errand and Carrier Express Company in New York City (source: Abt notes). Conjunctive usages indicate that Jones linked with Boyd's in Manhattan for local city delivery and with American Letter Mail Co. and Hale & Co. for inter-city service (prior to July 1, 1845).
Our updated records contain nine covers and two fronts (or pieces) with the 91L1 stamp: 1) uncancelled, used on Feb. 17, 1845 folded letter to John Jay, New York City, red Boyd's oval, ex Caspary, Boker, Lilly, Golden (Siegel Sale 817, lot 1281, realized $7,500 hammer), 2) uncancelled, used on cover to Junins L. Taylor, local addressee, "Paid" straightline, ex Caspary, 3) cut to shape, used with American Letter Mail Co. 5L2 cut to shape (tied), on folded cover to Counsellor Gieloeu (spelling?), Philadelphia, red Am. Letter Mail oval (NYC) and circle (Phila.) handstamps, ex Patton (Robson Lowe sale, Mar. 1, 1973, lot 1604), 4) uncancelled, ms. "Paid" on cover to J.D. & C.S. Pratt, East Chatham, N.Y., ex Boker, 5) uncancelled on Aug. 10, 1845 folded letter to Wm. Danforth, Hartford Conn., red Brooklyn datestamp and "5" rate, Siegel 1995 Rarities sale, 6) described as "Uncancelled on cover pmk. Boyd's Brooklyn City Express. Creased from letter fold and rubbed on face. Rare.", Siegel Sale 164, lot 759, no photo, 7) uncancelled on turned folded cover to Jno. W. Mitchell, New York City, red Brooklyn datestamp and "5" rate, ex Golden (Siegel Sale 817, lot 1282, realized $3,000 hammer), 8) part of stamp (torn) on front only to Isaac Wendell, Philadelphia, with red American Letter Mail Co. (Phila.) circle and framed Collect handstamp, ex Golden (Siegel Sale 817, lot 1283, unsold), 9) tied by Hale & Co. oval with Collect box on large piece, Siegel Sale 358, lot 1004, 10) uncancelled on embossed Valentine cover to Miss Jane Case, the cover offered here, and 11) uncancelled on 1845 folded letter to Constant Guilleau, Phila., red Brooklyn Nov. 4 datestamp, "Paid" and "5", Gronowski collection.
Although the physical appearance supports the use of the Jones stamp on this cover, it is offered "as is" with respect to usage. (Image)
Wm. E. Loomis Letter Express,
San Francisco Cal., (5c) Rose (98L1). Three large margins, touched at
top, blue "Paid" in frame cancel, faults, Fine appearance, rare in used
condition, with 2000 P.F. certificate
(Image) 
Priest's Despatch,
Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black on Rose Wove (121L4). Large margins to
ample at left, intense shade, uncancelled as usual, affixed to blue folded
cover to Marion Ala., blue "Philada. Pa. 10 Apr. 25" integral-rate circular
datestamp with matching "Paid" in frame, red pencil marking, bleached
spots, Very Fine stamp, Steven M. Roth's census lists eight covers with
121L4, and we have added one additional cover (see Golden sale, lot 1445)
-- ex Gibson, with 2001 P.F. certificate stating "it is a genuine stamp
which did not originate on this otherwise genuine stampless cover." (Image)
Prince's Letter Dispatch,
Portland Me., (unstated value) Black (122L1). Complete sheet of 40,
original gum, hinged at edges affecting four stamps, other 36 stamps
Mint N.H., bright white paper, light vertical crease between stamps and
light vertical bend, tiny thin spot in margin, appears Very Fine, a
beautiful sheet (Image)