Singer & Morrow's Feather
River Express. Printed frank in black (Haller FS7 in blue) on 10c Green
Nesbitt entire (U18) to Plymouth Mass., "Bidwell's Bar Cal. May 16" (1856)
circular datestamp, small repaired nick at upper right clear of embossed
stamp, minor toning, otherwise Fine, this cover was carried during Capt.
William E. Singer's partnership with Thomas H. Morrow, at best an
unreliable partner and probably a crook with whom Singer had great
problems, examples of this frank are rare, especially on mail to the East
Coast, illustrated in Letters of Gold, ex Edwards
(Image) 
Singer, Meeks & Co.'s Feather
River Express. Unlisted printed frank with "Paid" on third line on 3c
Red Nesbitt entire (U10) to San Francisco, conjunctive usage with bold
"Pacific Express Co. Marysville Dec. 29" (ca. 1856-57) blue oval
datestamp, additional faint circular marking, slightly refolded to mask
minor edgewear, otherwise Very Fine, Singer, Meek & Co. was the last of
Capt. William E. Singer's partnerships (with Emerson E. Meek), their franks
are extremely rare and, in fact, we are unable to locate another example of
this variety, the Dec. 29 date is enigmatic -- if 1856, then the Singer
joined with Meek before 1857, as usually reported, but if 1857, then the
Pacific Express Co. was still active at the end of 1857, ex Jessup and
Pearce, with 2003 P.F. certificate (Image) 
Stanton & Co. Sacramento &
Folsom Express. Printed frank with detailed illustration of locomotive
on 3c Red Nesbitt entire (U10), ms. "N. Stockbridge Center Mass. May 29"
postmark, faintly addressed to William Crittenden in Weltown Wis., bold
"Watertown Wis. Jun. 7" circular datestamp with ms. "Mis & ford" (missent
and forwarded), soiled specks at right, slight edgewear, Fine, although
used as an envelope and not carried by express, this is the only recorded
example of the Stanton & Co. frank, the railroad design connects this to
the Sacramento Valley Railroad, which was completed between Sacramento and
Folsom in February 1856, this express probably ran briefly on the line (it
is reported that in 1860 a Pony Express rider took the train westbound to
Sacramento -- see http://ww
w.cprr.org/Museum/SVRR_Turntable_Restoration.html , with 1988 P.F.
certificate (Image) 
Swift & Co. Express.
Printed frank (Haller FS12, Ty. 1) with blue "Swift & Cos. Express Santa
Rosa" oval handstamp on 3c Red Nesbitt entire (U10) to San Francisco,
conjunctive usage with "Wells, Fargo & Co. Express Petaluma" blue
oval handstamp, sender's notation "With Pkg Coin $100", part of
backflaps torn away, indicating this entire was a paste-up with the package
of coins, skillfully cleaned and pressed, Very Fine, ex Clifford and Kramer
(Image) 
Swift & Co. Express.
Printed frank (Haller FS12, Ty. 1) with bold blue "Swift & Cos. Express
Santa Rosa" oval handstamp on 3c Red Nesbitt entire (U10 with Nesbitt seal
on backflap) to San Francisco, from the McKay correspondence, conjunctive
usage with "Wells, Fargo & Co. Express Petaluma" blue oval
handstamp, sender's notation "With Pkg Coin $189.25", ms. docketing
"Feb 24/59", Very Fine, Swift & Co. operated from 1854 to 1859,
connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co. at Petaluma, this is a colorful and
clean example of their conjunctive expresses
(Image) 
Swift & Co.'s Express.
Printed frank (Haller FS12, Ty. 2) on 3c Red Nesbitt entire to San
Francisco, McKay correspondence, conjunctive usage with "Wells, Fargo &
Co. Express Steamboat" blue oval handstamp, part of backflap removed,
otherwise Very Fine, scarce combination of express frank and Wells Fargo's
steamboat service between Petaluma and San Francisco, illustrated in Nathan
and Letters of Gold, ex Barkhausen and Edwards
(Image) 
Thomes & Skadden's
Express. Printed/embossed frank (Haller FT3, Ty. 2) with "Skaden"
spelling on 3c Green entire (U82) to San Francisco, partly visible strike
of "Thomes & Skaddens Express Susanville Cal." large double-circle
datestamp, conjunctive usage with blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Reno Sep.
8" oval datestamp, pencil docketing Sep. 7, 1871, slightly reduced at
right, Very Fine and rare frank, from 1870 to 1874 Thomes & Skadden
operated their express between Susanville (whose first residents thought
they were in Utah, then Nevada) and Reno, connecting with Wells, Fargo &
Co., Gamett census lists only four Type II franked entires, ex Kramer (Image) 
H. C. Tickner's Yreka and
Scott Bar (Cal.) Express. Bold handstamp in shield frame on cover to
Yreka Cal., uncancelled 3c Rose (65), minor perf flaws, uncancelled but
required postage, neatly docketed with Sep. 9, 1869 receipt date, Very
Fine, extremely rare, this express operated from 1866 to 1872 by various
members of the Tickner family, this is one of the rarest markings,
illustrated in Nathan and Letters of Gold, ex Jessup, Pearce, Haas
and Edwards (Haas paid $800 in 1973), with 1998 P.F. certificate (Image) 
Thompson & Co.'s and Wells,
Fargo & Co.'s California Routes. Printed frank (Haller FT4) on 3c Red
Nesbitt entire (U10) to David McKay in San Francisco, blurry "Thompson &
Cos. Express Healdsburg" oval handstamp (in Wells, Fargo & Co. style), red
pencil street address, some flap faults (possibly a paste-up)VERY FINE. ONE OF THREE EXAMPLES OF THE THOMPSON & COMPANY FRANK KNOWN TO US.
As the frank clearly states, Thompson & Co. operated in close conjunction with Wells, Fargo & Company (circa 1857). Three franked entires are known, the other two were in the Dale-Lichtenstein sales (Parts 1 and 2). All three are addressed to David McKay in San Francisco. One has Thompson Santa Rosa and Wells Fargo Petaluma ovals. The other has Thompson Healdsburg and Wells Fargo Petaluma ovals. The cover offered here has only the Thompson Healdsburg oval.
Illustrated in Letters of Gold. Ex Pearce, Haas and Edwards. (Image)
Tinnin & Owen's Weaverville &
Shasta Express. Printed frank (Haller FT7) on 3c Pink entire (U59),
paste-up usage without address, mostly clear strike of blue "Tinnin & Owens
Weaverville Apr. 16" (ca. 1868) double-circle datestamp, some back faults
and paper remnants typical of paste-up usage, slightly creased at lower
leftFINE APPEARANCE. ONLY THREE EXAMPLES OF THE TINNIN & OWEN'S FRANK ARE RECORDED.
This express operated about five or six months in 1867-68 as an accommodation to Tinnin & Owen's customers in the general merchandise business. Its franked entires are extremely rare. We record three examples (Feb. 29, Mar. 24 and Apr. 16). No examples were in the Dale-Lichtenstein dispersal. (Image)
Tinnin & Owen's Weaverville &
Shasta Express. Printed frank (Haller FT7) on 3c Pink entire (U59) to
San Francisco street address, clear strike of blue "Tinnin & Owens
Weaverville Feb. 29" (Leap Year 1868) double-circle datestamp, slightly
reduced at right, lightly soiled and minor wearVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ARGUABLY THE FINEST OF THE THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF TINNIN & OWEN'S EXPRESS FRANK.
Illustrated in Nathan. Ex Hertz and Edwards. (Image)