Auction Detail
3070 – ERIVAN X
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Third Avenue Post Office, New York, 2c black on bluish paper, touching oval frameline in places as usual, pleasing dark colour, with 1855 3c dull red affixed beside and partially overtop "Paid" manuscript notation, tied by "New-York / May / 19" c.d.s., to Brunswick, Maine, an extremely attractive example of this rare local, one of only a handful of any Third Avenue Post Office examples recorded on cover, and the only recorded example of this type on cover, with 1999 Philatelic Foundation certificate; ex-Caspary, Lilly, , and Golden.
United States City Despatch Post, New York, 3c black on grayish paper, large balanced margins showing frameline on three sides, affixed to folded letter, cancelled with red framed "FREE" handstamp indicating usage as a local stamp, corresponding red "City Despatch Post NY" c.d.s. (April 30), some peripheral edge staining, else scarce and fine; with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate.
Adams Express Co., Louisville, Kentucky, 3c star die postal stationery cover, from an unknown location in the Confederacy, indicia cancelled with ideal "Adams Ex. Co. / Louisville, KY / Jul / 16 / 1861" c.d.s., to St. Louis, Missouri, entering the mails at Louisville, Kentucky, with blue JUL 20 c.d.s. tying 3c dull red, a beautiful "through the lines" cover with tremendous appeal.
Adams Express Co., Augusta, Georgia, full-front advertising cover, franked with 3c. dull red, tied by Augusta c.d.s., to Albion, Orleans County, New York, illustration depicting the company's South Western Division offices, Murphy, Printer of New York imprint on back flap, a beautiful cover, signed Jakubek, with his certificate.
Jerome & Co's Boston & Bangor Express, folded letter, with contents dated 26 August, 1848, embossed with cameo of "Major General William H. Harrison", the former President who had died seven years prior, regarding goods being shipped on board the schooner "St Jean," in port at Bangor and bound for Boston, "12 2" in manuscript on front, adjacent green imperforate stamp "Forwarded by / Jerome & Co’s / Boston & Bangor / Express", three line red handstamp "Return Answer to / Express Office / 7 State St, Boston", to Henry Ingalls in Boston, stain at top, a few light wrinkles to adhesive, some folds to contents fragile, else fine and scarce.
Angiers’ North San Juan and Humbug Express, elaborate printed frank on 3c pink postal stationery cover, cancelled in pen and postmarked with North San Juan, California c.d.s. (20 Nov), to Sacramento, the odd small toning spot mentioned for strict accuracy, reduced at right, just clear of indicia, an exceptional cover from this elusive express company; ex Lichtenstein, Clifford, Haas, and Edwards, illustrated in "Letters of Gold" (Page 171).
Angiers Express was a one-man express that operated from Humbug to North San Juan in Nevada County between 1861 and 1864, with mail being conveyed to North San Juan, as in the case of the cover offered here, or relayed to Wells, Fargo & Co.
Bannack City Express, A.J. Oliver & Co., cover franked with 3c red brown, cancelled with rosette fancy cancel in black, alongside "Cleveland O / May / 27" c.d.s., fair strike of "BANNACK CITY / EXPRESS" tombstone, reduced on three sides, resealed at top, overall wear, to Bannock City, Idaho; this portion of the Idaho Territory became part of Montana Territory on May 26, rare.
A.J. Oliver & Co operated the Bannack City Express from 1862-66, running from Bannack to the Utah Territory.
Langton's Express, cover franked with strip of three 1c blue, margins close to into design, tied by oval "Langtons Express Downieville / Jul 14" datestamp, to the Enterprise Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons in Yuba, California, with enclosed contents from Minnesota Lodge, cover endorsed in manuscript "entered on black book" and in pencil at upper left "Due Langtons / Express 25c", reverse with red double-oval "Langton's / Pioneer Express / Eureka City", piece torn from back flap, scarce and attractive.
Wells, Fargo & Co Express, San Francisco, c. 1854, very fine blue octagonal strike on 6c postal stationery cover, indicia cancelled "New-York / Apr / 4", to Albany, some hinge remnants on reverse, reduced at right, yet an indeal example of this Wells Fargo marking; ex Knapp, Barkhausen.
Wells, Fargo & Co Express, San Francisco, cover franked with 10c green, tied by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co Express / S.F.RCo / 1 Jun" double-circle c.d.s., to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, smudged "BLOOD'S PENNY POST / Jun 25 / 10 1/2AM / PHILDA" double-circle c.d.s, adjacent "BLOOD'S DESPATCH / 2 CTS" handstamp, both in black, manuscript endorsement at lower left, the odd light bit of toning including to adhesive perfs, slightly reduced at left, else a fine and scarce example of Wells Fargo's use of Blood's for local delivery.
Wells, Fargo & Co Express, San Francisco, 10c Nesbitt entire to D.B. Stacey in Philadelphia, with two red Wells, Fargo & Co. printed franks overtop green "Freeman & Co's" ribbon frank, indicia cancelled by blue circular "Wells, Fargo & Co Express / S.Frco / ? / Jul" datestamp alongside, "BLOOD'S PENNY POST / Aug 3 / 10 1/2AM / PHILDA" double-circle c.d.s, below, further struck with "BLOOD’S DESPATCH / 2 CTS" handstamp, both in black, small adhesion remnants on reverse, trivial light edge toning, else a very fine and desirable conjunctive use of Wells Fargo conveying mail to Blood’s Despatch for local delivery, further enhanced by the scarce use of overprinted Freeman & Co stationery, rare and most attractive.
Central Overland California & Pike’s Peak, Pony Express, 1860 (September 6), way cover franked with 1857 3c dull red vertical pair, paying the double 3c letter rate, showing guideline at left, tied by two strikes of black "St. Joseph Mo. / Sep / 6 / 1860" c.d.s., reverse with fair strike of "Pony Express / St. Joseph / Sep 6" in carmine, manuscript "Ft. Bridger U.T. / August 31, 1860" origin notation at upper right, endorsed "Pony Express / Paid $7.50" at lower left, being the triple $2.50 rate, to Henry H. Cumming in Augusta, Georgia, slightly reduced along top and right, adhesives gum soaked, sensible professional repairs at bottom of envelope, a superb and rare cover of very fine appearance, unique with this franking. FKW Census E17.
This cover was carried on the eastward Pony Express journey that departed San Francisco on Wednesday, August 25, arriving in St. Joseph on September 6. It is one of two covers recorded from this trip. The use of carmine ink for the St. Joseph Running Pony is recorded for only a short period; Frajola, Walkse, and Kramer note its usage from only August 20 and September 12, 1860, being discontinued on eastbound mail after September 6. This cover is the one of only six and the latest recorded examples in carmine from the eastbound route.
This cover’s recipient, Henry H. Cumming, was a noted figure in Augusta. A plantation owner, he also led the city’s Canal Commission during construction of the Augusta Canal, the initial survey for which he personally financed. He was also a legal partner of George Crawford, who became Secretary of War of the United States. Cumming’s brother, Alfred, was Governor of Utah Territory from 1851-61, succeeding Brigham Young, and his son, also Alfred, was a General in the Confederate Army.