Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

2005 Rarities of the World, Part Two continued...

**British Columbia Mails**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description	Est/Cat	Realized
565		5c Red Brown, 10c Green (68, 75). Cancelled or tied by targets, "San Francisco Cal. Apr. 14, 1862" double-circle datestamp on yellow cover originating in Vancouver Island and addressed to New Brunswick, black oval "Post Office Victoria V.I." Coat of Arms handstamp, red "U. States" in framed arc, St. John transit backstamp, stamps have minor faults, cover slightly reduced at bottom and small tear in corner, otherwise Fine, an extremely rare use of the U.S. 1861 Issue on mail from one British North American colony to another via the United States, the 5c Red Brown is particularly scarce on Vancouver Island mail and the 15c rate is also rarely seen, with 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	800.00
566		10c Dark Green (68a). Deep rich color, well-centered, cork cancel, "Portland Orgn. Jun. 11" circular datestamp, used with British Columbia 1869 5c on 3p Bright Red (9), tied by "28" oval grid, "New Westminster B.C. 1869 Jun. 2" circular datestamp on bright buff cover from Burrard Inlet to Bowmanville, Canada, redirected in pencil to Ottawa, receiving backstamps, Very Fine, reported to be the earliest known use from the Burrard Inlet post office, with 1988 P.F. certificate (Image)	E. 2,000-3,000	2,100.00
567		Dietz & Nelson's British Columbia & Victoria Express. Haller FD-5 frank in combination with Wells, Fargo & Co. frank on 3c Pink entire (U59) with 24c Lilac (78) and British Columbia & Vancouver Is. 1865 3p Blue (7), 24c tied by blue "Dietz & Nelson's B.C. & V. Express" double-circle handstamp, 3p tied by blue "Paid" in oval, black "New Westminster Post Office British Columbia" double oval, each marking perfectly struck, unused and unsealed, tiny scrape below Wells Fargo frank EXTREMELY FINE. A SPECTACULAR FRANKED ENTIRE PREPARED FOR USE BY DIETZ & NELSON'S EXPRESS FOR MAIL TO ENGLAND VIA THE UNITED STATES. ONLY TWO EXAMPLES OF THIS EXPRESS FRANKING ARE KNOWN. This entire is accompanied by a contemporary note on a separate slip of paper, which reads "British Columbia. 'to secure despatch a letter from B. Columbia for England should be enclosed in an envelope stamped in this manner'". An identical unused entire was featured on the cover of the 1955 Barkhausen sale (ex Gibson, Barkhausen and Haas). It appears that these were samples sent to express company agents. No used examples are known. According to Nathan, this express company was started in 1862 by George Dietz and Hugh Nelson when they acquired the express routes and business of William T. Ballou. Dietz & Nelson served the Cariboo mining region and connected with Barnard's Express at Yale and Lillooet and with Wells, Fargo & Co. at Victoria. The company sold out to Francis J. Barnard in the late spring of 1867. Ex Dale-Lichtenstein. With 2004 P.F. certificate. (Image)	E. 4,000-5,000	5,250.00
568		Dietz & Nelson's B.C. & V. Express. Blue double-circle handstamp ties British Columbia & Vancouver Is. 1860 2-1/2p Dull Rose (2) pair and single on 3c Pink entire (U59) to Williams Creek, Cariboo, British Columbia, conjunctive usage originating in San Francisco with "Wells, Fargo & Co. San Francisco Jul. 5" oval datestamp and their printed frank, blue "Collect" in oval handstamp and ms. "1.00" express fee, ms. "1865 A.D." notation, pair has slight crease, entire has trivial opening nick at right, otherwise Very Fine, an extraordinary and very rare mixed franking, at this time the 2-1/2p stamps were used provisionally as 3p stamps, the internal rate to Williams Creek was 9p and the express fee collected by Dietz & Nelson was $1.00 (the Wells Fargo entire paid their fee and U.S. internal postage), ex Dale-Lichtenstein, with 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)	E. 2,000-3,000	1,800.00
569		2c Black, 5c Brown (73, 76). Tied by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Victoria Nov. 13" oval datestamps on 3c Pink entire (U59) with Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank to San Francisco, stamps affixed partly over blue oval "Post Office Victoria V.I." Coat of Arms handstamp, trivial edgewear, vertical file fold, traces of previous owner's handstamp at top VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE WELLS FARGO & CO. EXPRESS COVER FROM VICTORIA, VANCOUVER ISLAND, TO SAN FRANCISCO. This is one of the finest of the few known covers carred by Wells, Fargo & Co. from Victoria to San Francisco. Even the formidable Dale-Lichtenstein and Robertson sales in 2004 failed to produce more than one other similarly-franked cover of comparable quality. Ex Wellburn and Burrows. With 2004 P.F. certificate. (Image)	E. 10,000-15,000	11,500.00
570		2c Black, 5c Brown (73, 76). Tied by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Victoria Apr. 18" oval datestamps, used with Vancouver Island 1865 5c Rose (5), tied by blue "35" oval grid cancel on 3c Pink entire (U59) with Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank to San Francisco, embossed return card of cigar and tobacco warehouse on backflap, 5c Rose has trivial corner crease, tiny edge flaws at left VERY FINE. A RARE TWO-COUNTRY MIXED FRANKING ON WELLS FARGO & CO. EXPRESS COVER FROM VICTORIA, VANCOUVER ISLAND, TO SAN FRANCISCO. Prepayment of Vancouver Island postage was facilitated by handstamps or adhesive stamps. This is without question of of the finest adhesive mixed-franking express covers extant. Ex Dale-Lichtenstein. With 2004 P.F. certificate. (Image)	E. 10,000-15,000	12,000.00
571		Wells, Fargo & Co. Victoria, Jan. 9. Blue oval datestamp and Wells, Fargo & Co. frank on 10c Green entire (U41) to San Francisco, used with British Columbia 1865 5c Rose (5), wing margin at left, tied by blue "Paid" in oval, small opening nick at bottom right, otherwise Very Fine, a beautiful and clean mixed-franking express usage from Victoria, ex Dale-Lichtenstein, with 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)	E. 1,500-2,000	1,600.00
572		Wells, Fargo & Co. Victoria, Jun. 27. Blue oval datestamp and Wells, Fargo & Co. frank on 10c Green entire (U40) to San Francisco, used with British Columbia 1869 5c on 3p Bright Red (9), tied by clear strike of "35" blue oval grid, Extremely Fine, an immaculate example of this very rare mixed-franking express usage from Victoria to San Francisco, ex Dale-Lichtenstein, with 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)	E. 1,500-2,000	2,100.00
573		10c Yellow Green, F. Grill (96). Enormous margins all around and virtually perfect centering, deep rich color, tied by two strikes of blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. San Francisco Oct. (?)" oval datestamp on 3c Pink entire (U58) with Wells, Fargo & Co. frank and grocer's overall lithographed advertising design, to Victoria, Vancouver Island, neat arithmetic notation, faint stain at right, otherwise Very Fine, a rare use of the 10c F. Grill to pay required U.S. postage on an express cover carried outside the mails to Vancouver Island, ex Dale-Lichtenstein, with 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	900.00
574		2c Black, E. Grill (87). Dark shade and clearly defined grill, cancelled by Leaf cancel, used with Vancouver Island 1865 5c Rose (5), ms. "#" cancel and tied by neat strike of "35" blue oval grid, blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Victoria Jun. 25" oval datestamp on 10c Green entire (U40) with Leaf cancel to London, England, with Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank, red New York and London transits, 1868 usage, small repaired tear at top right corner VERY FINE. A RARE USAGE OF THE 1868 2-CENT GRILLED BLACK JACK ON A WELLS, FARGO & CO. EXPRESS ENTIRE FROM VICTORIA, VANCOUVER ISLAND, TO LONDON, ENGLAND. The rate to England was reduced from 24c to 12c, effective January 1, 1868. This is a correct mixed franking for the 5c internal Vancouver Island postage and the 12c rate from the U.S. to England. Ex Haas and McCracken. With 2004 P.F. certificate. (Image)	E. 7,500-10,000	8,000.00
575		2c Black, F. Grill, 12c Black, E. Grill (90, 93). Tied by quartered cork cancels, Wells, Fargo & Co. frank and blue "Post Office Victoria V.I." Coat of Arms oval handstamp on 10c Green entire (U41) to London, England, blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Victoria Jun. 7" (1869) oval datestamp, red New York (Jun. 22) and London (Jul. 3, 1869) transits, London receiving backstamp, sender's "7/6/69" origin date (Jun. 7) and "recd 5/7/69" receipt docketing (Jul. 5), opened at top causing cut thru edge of 10c embossed stamp. top left corner repaired (part of oval drawn in) A FINE-APPEARING AND COLORFUL MIXED-FRANKING WELLS, FARGO & COMPANY EXPRESS COVER FROM VANCOUVER ISLAND TO ENGLAND WITH AN UNUSUAL COMBINATION OF UNITED STATES GRILLED ISSUES FOR THE DOUBLE 12-CENT RATE. The treaty rate from the U.S. to England was reduced to 12c, effective January 1, 1868, and again reduced to 6c, effective January 1, 1870. This June 1869 usage is a double 12c U.S. rate with the Victoria Coat of Arms oval handstamp representing 5c prepaid internal postage. Ex Dale-Lichtenstein. With 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)	E. 3,000-4,000	1,800.00

British Columbia Mails

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

Est/Cat

Realized

565

5c Red Brown, 10c Green (68, 75). Cancelled or tied by targets, "San Francisco Cal. Apr. 14, 1862" double-circle datestamp on yellow cover originating in Vancouver Island and addressed to New Brunswick, black oval "Post Office Victoria V.I." Coat of Arms handstamp, red "U. States" in framed arc, St. John transit backstamp, stamps have minor faults, cover slightly reduced at bottom and small tear in corner, otherwise Fine, an extremely rare use of the U.S. 1861 Issue on mail from one British North American colony to another via the United States, the 5c Red Brown is particularly scarce on Vancouver Island mail and the 15c rate is also rarely seen, with 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

800.00

566

10c Dark Green (68a). Deep rich color, well-centered, cork cancel, "Portland Orgn. Jun. 11" circular datestamp, used with British Columbia 1869 5c on 3p Bright Red (9), tied by "28" oval grid, "New Westminster B.C. 1869 Jun. 2" circular datestamp on bright buff cover from Burrard Inlet to Bowmanville, Canada, redirected in pencil to Ottawa, receiving backstamps, Very Fine, reported to be the earliest known use from the Burrard Inlet post office, with 1988 P.F. certificate (Image)

E. 2,000-3,000

2,100.00

567

Dietz & Nelson's British Columbia & Victoria Express. Haller FD-5 frank in combination with Wells, Fargo & Co. frank on 3c Pink entire (U59) with 24c Lilac (78) and British Columbia & Vancouver Is. 1865 3p Blue (7), 24c tied by blue "Dietz & Nelson's B.C. & V. Express" double-circle handstamp, 3p tied by blue "Paid" in oval, black "New Westminster Post Office British Columbia" double oval, each marking perfectly struck, unused and unsealed, tiny scrape below Wells Fargo frank

EXTREMELY FINE. A SPECTACULAR FRANKED ENTIRE PREPARED FOR USE BY DIETZ & NELSON'S EXPRESS FOR MAIL TO ENGLAND VIA THE UNITED STATES. ONLY TWO EXAMPLES OF THIS EXPRESS FRANKING ARE KNOWN.

This entire is accompanied by a contemporary note on a separate slip of paper, which reads "British Columbia. 'to secure despatch a letter from B. Columbia for England should be enclosed in an envelope stamped in this manner'". An identical unused entire was featured on the cover of the 1955 Barkhausen sale (ex Gibson, Barkhausen and Haas). It appears that these were samples sent to express company agents. No used examples are known.

According to Nathan, this express company was started in 1862 by George Dietz and Hugh Nelson when they acquired the express routes and business of William T. Ballou. Dietz & Nelson served the Cariboo mining region and connected with Barnard's Express at Yale and Lillooet and with Wells, Fargo & Co. at Victoria. The company sold out to Francis J. Barnard in the late spring of 1867.

Ex Dale-Lichtenstein. With 2004 P.F. certificate. (Image)

E. 4,000-5,000

5,250.00

568

Dietz & Nelson's B.C. & V. Express. Blue double-circle handstamp ties British Columbia & Vancouver Is. 1860 2-1/2p Dull Rose (2) pair and single on 3c Pink entire (U59) to Williams Creek, Cariboo, British Columbia, conjunctive usage originating in San Francisco with "Wells, Fargo & Co. San Francisco Jul. 5" oval datestamp and their printed frank, blue "Collect" in oval handstamp and ms. "1.00" express fee, ms. "1865 A.D." notation, pair has slight crease, entire has trivial opening nick at right, otherwise Very Fine, an extraordinary and very rare mixed franking, at this time the 2-1/2p stamps were used provisionally as 3p stamps, the internal rate to Williams Creek was 9p and the express fee collected by Dietz & Nelson was $1.00 (the Wells Fargo entire paid their fee and U.S. internal postage), ex Dale-Lichtenstein, with 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)

E. 2,000-3,000

1,800.00

569

2c Black, 5c Brown (73, 76). Tied by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Victoria Nov. 13" oval datestamps on 3c Pink entire (U59) with Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank to San Francisco, stamps affixed partly over blue oval "Post Office Victoria V.I." Coat of Arms handstamp, trivial edgewear, vertical file fold, traces of previous owner's handstamp at top

VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE WELLS FARGO & CO. EXPRESS COVER FROM VICTORIA, VANCOUVER ISLAND, TO SAN FRANCISCO.

This is one of the finest of the few known covers carred by Wells, Fargo & Co. from Victoria to San Francisco. Even the formidable Dale-Lichtenstein and Robertson sales in 2004 failed to produce more than one other similarly-franked cover of comparable quality.

Ex Wellburn and Burrows. With 2004 P.F. certificate. (Image)

E. 10,000-15,000

11,500.00

570

2c Black, 5c Brown (73, 76). Tied by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Victoria Apr. 18" oval datestamps, used with Vancouver Island 1865 5c Rose (5), tied by blue "35" oval grid cancel on 3c Pink entire (U59) with Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank to San Francisco, embossed return card of cigar and tobacco warehouse on backflap, 5c Rose has trivial corner crease, tiny edge flaws at left

VERY FINE. A RARE TWO-COUNTRY MIXED FRANKING ON WELLS FARGO & CO. EXPRESS COVER FROM VICTORIA, VANCOUVER ISLAND, TO SAN FRANCISCO.

Prepayment of Vancouver Island postage was facilitated by handstamps or adhesive stamps. This is without question of of the finest adhesive mixed-franking express covers extant.

Ex Dale-Lichtenstein. With 2004 P.F. certificate. (Image)

E. 10,000-15,000

12,000.00

571

Wells, Fargo & Co. Victoria, Jan. 9. Blue oval datestamp and Wells, Fargo & Co. frank on 10c Green entire (U41) to San Francisco, used with British Columbia 1865 5c Rose (5), wing margin at left, tied by blue "Paid" in oval, small opening nick at bottom right, otherwise Very Fine, a beautiful and clean mixed-franking express usage from Victoria, ex Dale-Lichtenstein, with 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)

E. 1,500-2,000

1,600.00

572

Wells, Fargo & Co. Victoria, Jun. 27. Blue oval datestamp and Wells, Fargo & Co. frank on 10c Green entire (U40) to San Francisco, used with British Columbia 1869 5c on 3p Bright Red (9), tied by clear strike of "35" blue oval grid, Extremely Fine, an immaculate example of this very rare mixed-franking express usage from Victoria to San Francisco, ex Dale-Lichtenstein, with 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)

E. 1,500-2,000

2,100.00

573

10c Yellow Green, F. Grill (96). Enormous margins all around and virtually perfect centering, deep rich color, tied by two strikes of blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. San Francisco Oct. (?)" oval datestamp on 3c Pink entire (U58) with Wells, Fargo & Co. frank and grocer's overall lithographed advertising design, to Victoria, Vancouver Island, neat arithmetic notation, faint stain at right, otherwise Very Fine, a rare use of the 10c F. Grill to pay required U.S. postage on an express cover carried outside the mails to Vancouver Island, ex Dale-Lichtenstein, with 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

900.00

574

2c Black, E. Grill (87). Dark shade and clearly defined grill, cancelled by Leaf cancel, used with Vancouver Island 1865 5c Rose (5), ms. "#" cancel and tied by neat strike of "35" blue oval grid, blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Victoria Jun. 25" oval datestamp on 10c Green entire (U40) with Leaf cancel to London, England, with Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank, red New York and London transits, 1868 usage, small repaired tear at top right corner

VERY FINE. A RARE USAGE OF THE 1868 2-CENT GRILLED BLACK JACK ON A WELLS, FARGO & CO. EXPRESS ENTIRE FROM VICTORIA, VANCOUVER ISLAND, TO LONDON, ENGLAND.

The rate to England was reduced from 24c to 12c, effective January 1, 1868. This is a correct mixed franking for the 5c internal Vancouver Island postage and the 12c rate from the U.S. to England.

Ex Haas and McCracken. With 2004 P.F. certificate. (Image)

E. 7,500-10,000

8,000.00

575

2c Black, F. Grill, 12c Black, E. Grill (90, 93). Tied by quartered cork cancels, Wells, Fargo & Co. frank and blue "Post Office Victoria V.I." Coat of Arms oval handstamp on 10c Green entire (U41) to London, England, blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Victoria Jun. 7" (1869) oval datestamp, red New York (Jun. 22) and London (Jul. 3, 1869) transits, London receiving backstamp, sender's "7/6/69" origin date (Jun. 7) and "recd 5/7/69" receipt docketing (Jul. 5), opened at top causing cut thru edge of 10c embossed stamp. top left corner repaired (part of oval drawn in)

A FINE-APPEARING AND COLORFUL MIXED-FRANKING WELLS, FARGO & COMPANY EXPRESS COVER FROM VANCOUVER ISLAND TO ENGLAND WITH AN UNUSUAL COMBINATION OF UNITED STATES GRILLED ISSUES FOR THE DOUBLE 12-CENT RATE.

The treaty rate from the U.S. to England was reduced to 12c, effective January 1, 1868, and again reduced to 6c, effective January 1, 1870. This June 1869 usage is a double 12c U.S. rate with the Victoria Coat of Arms oval handstamp representing 5c prepaid internal postage.

Ex Dale-Lichtenstein. With 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)

E. 3,000-4,000

1,800.00