Wylie & Co.'s Esmeralda &
Monoville Express. Manuscript frank "By Wylie & Co.'s Esmeralda
Express Paid" on 3c Red Star Die entire (U26), conjunctive usage to
Alvarado Cal. with Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank and "J. Bamber & Co.
Contra-Costa Express, San Francisco" oval handstamp, blue "Wells, Fargo
& Co. Carson City May 5" oval datestamp, trivial flap tear and slight
diagonal creaseVERY FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF WYLIE & COMPANY'S EXPRESS FRANK. ONLY THIS COVER IS A CONJUNCTIVE USAGE WITH WELLS FARGO AND BAMBER.
This cover is illustrated in the Gamett book (p. 151) with the following information: "Wylie & Co. operated an express in the Esmeralda District [of Nevada] during 1861. Based on the surviving two covers that were carried by Wylie, the letters from the Esmeralda District connected with the U.S. mail in Placerville and Wells, Fargo & Co. in Carson City. This indicates that the route from the Aurora area ran into both California and Nevada Territory." This cover was carried by Wylie to Wells, Fargo & Co. in Carson City, then by Wells Fargo to San Francisco, where it was given to Bamber & Co. for the southbound journey to Alvarado in Alameda County. Triple conjunctive usages are scarce in any combination of companies, but this conjunctive usage with Wylie & Co.'s Nevada express is extraordinarily rare.
Ex Reinhart and Jacobitz. (Image)