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

VERY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF HAYDON'S EXPRESS FRANK. IT IS ALSO AN EXTREMELY RARE CONJUNCTIVE USAGE WITH THE PACIFIC EXPRESS COMPANY, WHO CARRIED THE LETTER FROM PETALUMA TO SAN FRANCISCO FOR OUT-OF-THE-MAILS TRANSPORTATION TO NEW YORK CITY.

This cover is the only recorded example of mail handled by Haydon's Express, established in 1855 by S. C. Haydon, who ran a drug and book store in Petaluma. Haydon advertised service between Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Russian River, Heald's Store, Godwin's Ranch, Ray's House, The Geysers, Bodega, Tomales and San Rafael. For delivery beyond the reach of his express, he connected with Wells, Fargo & Co. and with the Pacific Express Co., which operated during the same years.

This well-known cover has always been described as having an oval "Haydon's Express" handstamp, however, we are certain that it reads "Pacific Express Petaluma" (another example was offered in the Dale-Lichtenstein sale, H. R. Harmer Sep. 25, 1997, lot 110). The logical way for this cover to reach San Francisco for an eastbound Panama sailing was by the Pacific Express Co., not Haydon. Once it reached New York City, it entered the post office, which accepted the letter despite the underpayment of 3c (if March 1855) or 7c (if March 1856-57).

Express covers actually carried outside the regular mails from coast to coast are exceedingly scarce. This combination of Haydon's Express -- a unique frank -- and Pacific Express for private transport to New York is spectacularly rare.

Ex Jessup, Pearce and Haas (who paid $750 in 1973) (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF HINCKLEY & COMPANY'S PRINTED FRANK AND A VERY RARE USAGE INTO IOWA.

Hinckley & Co.'s Express was started in 1860 by C. S. Hinckley and John A. Sowers, serving mining camps in present-day Colorado and Nebraska Territory. They were bought out by the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Co. in May 1861. This example of Hinckley's printed frank is noteworthy not only for its condition, but for the fact it entered the U.S. mails at Council Bluffs, Iowa (we know of one other such usage) (Image)