Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

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

**Western Express Franks continued...**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description	Est/Cat	Realized
669		Nichols & Co.'s Express. Printed frank (Haller FN3, Ty. Ia with small "Paid") on 3c Red Nesbitt entire (U10) cancelled by red "Nichols & Co.'s Express San Francisco" oval handstamp and ms. "X", to San Francisco street address (McKay correspondence) with sender's instructions "Please deliver immediately", couple small faint stains, still Very Fine, a choice example of Nichols & Co.'s distinctive express frank pictures a dog guarding a safe, sailing schooner, steam vessel and railroad train, rare on 3c entires, ex Dale-Lichtenstein (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	1,300.00
670		Oroville & Quincy Express Co. Red and black frank with detailed illustration of six-horse stagecoach (Haller FO2, Ty. 1a), conjunctive usage with lightly struck "Wells, Fargo & Co. Oroville" blue oval datestamp on 3c Green entire (U164) to San Francisco, Extremely Fine, certainly one of the finest in existence, carried by the Oroville & Quincy Express from Greenville in Plumas County south to Oroville, then by Wells, Fargo & Co. to San Francisco, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate, ex Barkhausen, Clifford and Jarrett (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	1,600.00
671		Oroville & Quincy Express Co. Red and black frank with wonderful illustration of six-horse stagecoach (Haller FO2, Ty. 1a), conjunctive usage with lightly struck "Wells, Fargo & Co. Oroville May 25" blue oval datestamp on 3c Green entire (U163) to San Francisco, sender's backstamps with Greenville return address, in immaculate condition, Extremely Fine, carried by the Oroville & Quincy Express from Greenville in Plumas County south to Oroville, then by Wells, Fargo & Co. to San Francisco (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	1,600.00
672		Pacific Express Co. Horse and rider printed frank (Haller FP1, Ty. 3) with ms. "LR" initials of Levi Robie on 3c Red Nesbitt entire (U10) to Barnard Vt., blue "Pacific Express Co. Auburn Jan. 4" oval datestamp applied at origin, lightly struck "Pacific Express Co. Sacramento Jan. 19" blue oval datestamp applied in transit, horizontal strip of three of 3c Dull Red (11), large margins to just barely in, plated as Positions 58-60L3, required for 10c transcontinental rate (overpaid 2c) and tied by two strikes of "New-York Feb. 13" circular datestamp on arrival in New York City, lightly creased at top but clear of stamps VERY FINE. AN IMPORTANT AND SPECTACULAR COVER, CARRIED BY THE PACIFIC EXPRESS COMPANY WITHIN CALIFORNIA, THEN BY THE VANDERBILT LINE (OUTSIDE THE MAILS) TO NEW YORK CITY, WHERE IT ENTERED THE REGULAR MAILS FOR FINAL DELIVERY TO VERMONT. TRANSCONTINENTAL COVERS ACTUALLY CARRIED BY EXPRESS ARE EXCEEDINGLY RARE. The Pacific Express Company was formed on March 2, 1855, by former employees of Adams & Company, the huge express and banking concern that went bankrupt in February 1855. Pacific Express operated until sometime in 1857, carrying mail between points in California and also through connections to the East Coast. This cover was received by the Pacific Express office in Auburn on Jan. 4, 1856. It was carried by express about 35 miles south to the office at Sacramento, where it was datestamped again on Jan. 19. The New York Feb. 13 postmark date coincides with the Feb. 13, 1856, arrival date of the Northern Light, which departed San Juan del Norte on Feb. 5 (source: Wierenga, U.S. Incoming Steamship Mail 1845-1875). The trip from San Francisco to San Juan del Sur (SJS) was probably on the Sierra Nevada, but no specific departure and arrival dates are listed in the Wierenga tables. Both ships carried mail via the Nicaragua route. Allowing for the typical 12-day transit between San Francisco and SJS, as well as the crossing to SJN, the San Francisco departure of the Sierra Nevada was probably on or about Jan. 20, which fits with the Pacific Express Co. Sacramento Jan. 19 date. We wish to emphasize the difference between an express cover to the East Coast that entered the regular mails in California (usually carried by a contract steamer via Panama) and one that was actually carried outside the mails thru an express company. They are entirely different from a postal history perspective, and covers carried outside the mails are far rarer. This cover was carried across Nicaragua during the period in which William Walker was engaged in taking control of the country. The completion of the Panama Railway, the rate wars between competing lines and the country's political instability eventually led to the decline of the Nicaragua route. Ex Chase, Knapp and Barkhausen. (Image)	E. 5,000-7,500	12,500.00
673		Pacific Express Co. Horse and rider frank (Haller P1, Ty. 2) in blue on 3c Red Nesbitt entire (U10) to Barnard Vt., beautiful bold strikes of "Auburn Cal. Sep. 3" circular datestamp and "Paid" in oval with "7" cents ms. surcharge for 10c transcontinental rate, few soiled spots, Very Fine, this Pacific Express Co. frank is very rare in blue (two others were offered in the Knapp sale, but none in other major sales), a similar use of the black frank from Auburn to the same addressee was offered in the Barkhausen sale (lot 220), this cover comes from the 2/3/49 Costales sale (lot 232) (Image)	E. 750-1,000	1,800.00
674		Pacific Union Express. Straightline frank "P U Express - Paid - Va" in ornate Old English type applied across top of 3c Pink entire (U59) to San Francisco, blue "Pacific Union Express, Virginia City, Mar. 30" (1869) double-circle datestamp, matching "Too Late" in double-line oval handstamp, receipt docketing "Thomas Kent, March 29, 1869, Virginia City", opening tear along top right edge just barely into stamp VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE FORM OF FRANK FROM THE PACIFIC UNION EXPRESS COMPANY, A SHORT-LIVED BUT SPIRITED COMPETITOR TO WELLS, FARGO & COMPANY. POSSIBLY THE ONLY USED EXAMPLE EXTANT. The Pacific Union Express Company was formed by Lloyd Tevis, Charles Crocker, Darius O. Mills and Henry Bacon, starting service in California and parts of Nevada on July 1, 1868. Their objective to compete against Wells, Fargo & Co. was aggressively pursued, but in December 1869 the company sold out to the larger, better-capitalized firm. Pacific Union's franked entires with the familiar banner design are very common. However, the "P U Express - Paid - Va" frank is exceedingly rare and was probably printed locally at the Virginia City N.T. office (perhaps during a shortage of regular franked entires). We have been unable to locate more than three examples, including the entire offered here, the only used example. The "Too Late" handstamp probably indicates that this cover did not make the March 29 trip to California, and it was datestamped on the following day. Ex Dale-Lichtenstein. With 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)	E. 3,000-4,000	3,250.00
675		Pacific Union Express Co. Printed scroll frank in black (Haller P4) on 9c Orange on Buff entire (U67) to San Francisco, perfect strike of blue "Pacific Union Express Co. New York Sep. 16" circular datestamp, slightly reduced and small nick where opened at top, part of backflap removed, otherwise Very Fine, the black frank is rare and believed to have been used exclusively on East-to-West mail, unlisted in Haller on the 9c "Pumpkin" entire, ex Wunsch (Image)	E. 750-1,000	900.00
676		Palmer & Cos. Express. Red shield-shaped handstamp on blue folded letter to Chambers & Heiser on Bridge Street in New York City, important contents from Palmer & Co.'s New York office (with red handstamp used as a letterhead, datelined "New York March 5th/51" from James M. Moore, regarding express business and difficulty sending any freight via Nicaragua, preferring instead the Isthmus Route, file folds, Very Fine, Chambers & Heiser were prominent clipper ship owners in the Atlantic and Pacific trade, Palmer & Co. started their express in 1850 but advertisements disappeared in 1851, probably close to the time this letter was written, examples of their handstamp are rare, this example suggests that it was used at the New York office, unless duplicates were sent to other offices in California and on the East Coast, ex Jessup and Pearce, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	0.00
677		Raum's Ruby Hill, Schellburn & Rubyville Express. Printed frank in ornamental frame (Haller FR3, Ty. 1a) on 3c Green entire (U82) to Mell D. Raum (proprietor of the express) at Schellburn Nev., fresh and Very Fine, Raum operated his Nevada express in 1871 and 1872, using a variety of franks with different names, the Gamett book lists only seven examples but speculates others exist based on Haller listings, it worth noting that Dale-Lichtenstein had only one and Edwards had only one unused entire, ex Jessup and Pearce, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	1,500.00
678		Raum's Ruby Hill, Schellburn and Rubyville Express. Printed frank in ornamental frame, conjunctive use with Wells, Fargo & Co. black frank (Haller FR3, Ty. 1 with WF E-TC) on 3c Green entire to Deputy Postmaster at San Jose Cal., Extremely Fine, an extremely rare combination frank, ex Jessup and Pearce, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	1,050.00
679		Raum's Ruby Hill, Schellburn and Rubyville Express. Printed frank in ornamental frame (Haller FR3, Ty. 1) on 3c Green entire to San Francisco street address, ms. "Schellbourne Nev April 12" postmark and cancel (evidently carried by Raum and put into the mails there), Very Fine, accompanying 1998 P.S.E. certificate states genuine but declines opinion as to express usage (accompanying expert notes indicate concern that the franked entire may have been used only as an envelope, but since this express never used any handstamps, such worries seem unfounded), nonetheless extremely rare, ex Worthington (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	1,200.00

Western Express Franks continued...

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

Est/Cat

Realized

669

Nichols & Co.'s Express. Printed frank (Haller FN3, Ty. Ia with small "Paid") on 3c Red Nesbitt entire (U10) cancelled by red "Nichols & Co.'s Express San Francisco" oval handstamp and ms. "X", to San Francisco street address (McKay correspondence) with sender's instructions "Please deliver immediately", couple small faint stains, still Very Fine, a choice example of Nichols & Co.'s distinctive express frank pictures a dog guarding a safe, sailing schooner, steam vessel and railroad train, rare on 3c entires, ex Dale-Lichtenstein (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

1,300.00

670

Oroville & Quincy Express Co. Red and black frank with detailed illustration of six-horse stagecoach (Haller FO2, Ty. 1a), conjunctive usage with lightly struck "Wells, Fargo & Co. Oroville" blue oval datestamp on 3c Green entire (U164) to San Francisco, Extremely Fine, certainly one of the finest in existence, carried by the Oroville & Quincy Express from Greenville in Plumas County south to Oroville, then by Wells, Fargo & Co. to San Francisco, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate, ex Barkhausen, Clifford and Jarrett (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

1,600.00

671

Oroville & Quincy Express Co. Red and black frank with wonderful illustration of six-horse stagecoach (Haller FO2, Ty. 1a), conjunctive usage with lightly struck "Wells, Fargo & Co. Oroville May 25" blue oval datestamp on 3c Green entire (U163) to San Francisco, sender's backstamps with Greenville return address, in immaculate condition, Extremely Fine, carried by the Oroville & Quincy Express from Greenville in Plumas County south to Oroville, then by Wells, Fargo & Co. to San Francisco (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

1,600.00

672

Pacific Express Co. Horse and rider printed frank (Haller FP1, Ty. 3) with ms. "LR" initials of Levi Robie on 3c Red Nesbitt entire (U10) to Barnard Vt., blue "Pacific Express Co. Auburn Jan. 4" oval datestamp applied at origin, lightly struck "Pacific Express Co. Sacramento Jan. 19" blue oval datestamp applied in transit, horizontal strip of three of 3c Dull Red (11), large margins to just barely in, plated as Positions 58-60L3, required for 10c transcontinental rate (overpaid 2c) and tied by two strikes of "New-York Feb. 13" circular datestamp on arrival in New York City, lightly creased at top but clear of stamps

VERY FINE. AN IMPORTANT AND SPECTACULAR COVER, CARRIED BY THE PACIFIC EXPRESS COMPANY WITHIN CALIFORNIA, THEN BY THE VANDERBILT LINE (OUTSIDE THE MAILS) TO NEW YORK CITY, WHERE IT ENTERED THE REGULAR MAILS FOR FINAL DELIVERY TO VERMONT. TRANSCONTINENTAL COVERS ACTUALLY CARRIED BY EXPRESS ARE EXCEEDINGLY RARE.

The Pacific Express Company was formed on March 2, 1855, by former employees of Adams & Company, the huge express and banking concern that went bankrupt in February 1855. Pacific Express operated until sometime in 1857, carrying mail between points in California and also through connections to the East Coast.

This cover was received by the Pacific Express office in Auburn on Jan. 4, 1856. It was carried by express about 35 miles south to the office at Sacramento, where it was datestamped again on Jan. 19. The New York Feb. 13 postmark date coincides with the Feb. 13, 1856, arrival date of the Northern Light, which departed San Juan del Norte on Feb. 5 (source: Wierenga, U.S. Incoming Steamship Mail 1845-1875). The trip from San Francisco to San Juan del Sur (SJS) was probably on the Sierra Nevada, but no specific departure and arrival dates are listed in the Wierenga tables. Both ships carried mail via the Nicaragua route. Allowing for the typical 12-day transit between San Francisco and SJS, as well as the crossing to SJN, the San Francisco departure of the Sierra Nevada was probably on or about Jan. 20, which fits with the Pacific Express Co. Sacramento Jan. 19 date.

We wish to emphasize the difference between an express cover to the East Coast that entered the regular mails in California (usually carried by a contract steamer via Panama) and one that was actually carried outside the mails thru an express company. They are entirely different from a postal history perspective, and covers carried outside the mails are far rarer.

This cover was carried across Nicaragua during the period in which William Walker was engaged in taking control of the country. The completion of the Panama Railway, the rate wars between competing lines and the country's political instability eventually led to the decline of the Nicaragua route.

Ex Chase, Knapp and Barkhausen. (Image)

E. 5,000-7,500

12,500.00

673

Pacific Express Co. Horse and rider frank (Haller P1, Ty. 2) in blue on 3c Red Nesbitt entire (U10) to Barnard Vt., beautiful bold strikes of "Auburn Cal. Sep. 3" circular datestamp and "Paid" in oval with "7" cents ms. surcharge for 10c transcontinental rate, few soiled spots, Very Fine, this Pacific Express Co. frank is very rare in blue (two others were offered in the Knapp sale, but none in other major sales), a similar use of the black frank from Auburn to the same addressee was offered in the Barkhausen sale (lot 220), this cover comes from the 2/3/49 Costales sale (lot 232) (Image)

E. 750-1,000

1,800.00

674

Pacific Union Express. Straightline frank "P U Express - Paid - Va" in ornate Old English type applied across top of 3c Pink entire (U59) to San Francisco, blue "Pacific Union Express, Virginia City, Mar. 30" (1869) double-circle datestamp, matching "Too Late" in double-line oval handstamp, receipt docketing "Thomas Kent, March 29, 1869, Virginia City", opening tear along top right edge just barely into stamp

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE FORM OF FRANK FROM THE PACIFIC UNION EXPRESS COMPANY, A SHORT-LIVED BUT SPIRITED COMPETITOR TO WELLS, FARGO & COMPANY. POSSIBLY THE ONLY USED EXAMPLE EXTANT.

The Pacific Union Express Company was formed by Lloyd Tevis, Charles Crocker, Darius O. Mills and Henry Bacon, starting service in California and parts of Nevada on July 1, 1868. Their objective to compete against Wells, Fargo & Co. was aggressively pursued, but in December 1869 the company sold out to the larger, better-capitalized firm.

Pacific Union's franked entires with the familiar banner design are very common. However, the "P U Express - Paid - Va" frank is exceedingly rare and was probably printed locally at the Virginia City N.T. office (perhaps during a shortage of regular franked entires). We have been unable to locate more than three examples, including the entire offered here, the only used example. The "Too Late" handstamp probably indicates that this cover did not make the March 29 trip to California, and it was datestamped on the following day.

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

E. 3,000-4,000

3,250.00

675

Pacific Union Express Co. Printed scroll frank in black (Haller P4) on 9c Orange on Buff entire (U67) to San Francisco, perfect strike of blue "Pacific Union Express Co. New York Sep. 16" circular datestamp, slightly reduced and small nick where opened at top, part of backflap removed, otherwise Very Fine, the black frank is rare and believed to have been used exclusively on East-to-West mail, unlisted in Haller on the 9c "Pumpkin" entire, ex Wunsch (Image)

E. 750-1,000

900.00

676

Palmer & Cos. Express. Red shield-shaped handstamp on blue folded letter to Chambers & Heiser on Bridge Street in New York City, important contents from Palmer & Co.'s New York office (with red handstamp used as a letterhead, datelined "New York March 5th/51" from James M. Moore, regarding express business and difficulty sending any freight via Nicaragua, preferring instead the Isthmus Route, file folds, Very Fine, Chambers & Heiser were prominent clipper ship owners in the Atlantic and Pacific trade, Palmer & Co. started their express in 1850 but advertisements disappeared in 1851, probably close to the time this letter was written, examples of their handstamp are rare, this example suggests that it was used at the New York office, unless duplicates were sent to other offices in California and on the East Coast, ex Jessup and Pearce, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

0.00

677

Raum's Ruby Hill, Schellburn & Rubyville Express. Printed frank in ornamental frame (Haller FR3, Ty. 1a) on 3c Green entire (U82) to Mell D. Raum (proprietor of the express) at Schellburn Nev., fresh and Very Fine, Raum operated his Nevada express in 1871 and 1872, using a variety of franks with different names, the Gamett book lists only seven examples but speculates others exist based on Haller listings, it worth noting that Dale-Lichtenstein had only one and Edwards had only one unused entire, ex Jessup and Pearce, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

1,500.00

678

Raum's Ruby Hill, Schellburn and Rubyville Express. Printed frank in ornamental frame, conjunctive use with Wells, Fargo & Co. black frank (Haller FR3, Ty. 1 with WF E-TC) on 3c Green entire to Deputy Postmaster at San Jose Cal., Extremely Fine, an extremely rare combination frank, ex Jessup and Pearce, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

1,050.00

679

Raum's Ruby Hill, Schellburn and Rubyville Express. Printed frank in ornamental frame (Haller FR3, Ty. 1) on 3c Green entire to San Francisco street address, ms. "Schellbourne Nev April 12" postmark and cancel (evidently carried by Raum and put into the mails there), Very Fine, accompanying 1998 P.S.E. certificate states genuine but declines opinion as to express usage (accompanying expert notes indicate concern that the franked entire may have been used only as an envelope, but since this express never used any handstamps, such worries seem unfounded), nonetheless extremely rare, ex Worthington (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

1,200.00