Auction Detail
July 2023
United States Postal History
Prices Realized Now Online
- (-) Remove Erivan Collection of Western Postal History filter Erivan Collection of Western Postal History
large margins, tied by red "Paid" in double line oval (a style of device used by Wells, Fargo & Co.) to cover to Oroville, California, matching red "Langston's Pioneer Express Unionville" handstamp, on 3c Pink entire (U63) with printed black Wells Fargo frank, blue Wells Fargo Carson City handstamp on indicia, extremely fine and attractive, one of just six recorded covers with the rare Humboldt's Express adhesive, widely considered to be the most attractive local stamp ever produced, 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate
This cover was carried by Langton's Humboldt Express from his office at Unionville to Carson City, where the connection to Oroville by Wells, Fargo & Co. was made.
Illustrated in Letters of Gold (p. 200). Ex Haas and Edwards Kuphal
three-line oval handstamp (LAN-102) on 3c Red Nesbitt entire to San Francisco, matching "Paid" in oval (LAN-200c), irregularly in at right just into indicia, very fine strike, the only recorded example of this handstamp, pictured in Thomas
blue printed frank with "Langton's Pioneer Express Marysville" oval handstamp on 3c Pink entire to Downieville, California, blue "W.T. Ellis, Forwarding Merchant, Marysville" label at lower left, very fine
black printed frank on 3c Pink entire to Downieville, California, red "Langton's Pioneer Express, Carson City" oval, very fine and attractive
black printed frank on 3c Red Nesbitt entire to San Francisco, blue oval "Langton's Pioneer Express Timbuctoo" handstamp used conjunctively with "Wells, Fargo & Co. Marysville Apr 15" double oval, professionally cleaned, very fine appearance
blue oval handstamp on 3c Pink entire to Downieville, California, black Langton's frank at top left, also with gray "W.T. Ellis Forwarding Merchant Marysville" adhesive label, also includes original 1859 bill of sale enclosure from W.T. Ellis on illustrated letterhead, very fine and rare, W.T. Ellis's operation is detailed by Bruce Mosher in a 2005 Western Express article (Vol. 55, No. 3)
blue printed frank with ornaments at sides (LAT‐002) on 3c Pink entire to San Francisco, black "Washington Cal Jan 16" datestamp (LAT-100) with manuscript date, additionally blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Nevada. Jan 17" oval, trivial water stain, very fine, just four examples of this frank recorded by Thomas, illustrated in Letters of Gold
blue oval handstamp (LEL-101) on cover to San Francisco, original form with John McCombe as partner, light edge wear, very fine strike, just three examples of this marking are recorded with , illustrated in Letters of Gold
Pearce
Haas
Vincent
black oval handstamp (MOS-100) with matching "Paid 50" in shield with stars (MOS-200) on cover to Turnbridge, Vermont, blue "Wailepta W.T. Aug 2" datestamp and manuscript "Paid 10", cover expertly restored, very fine appearance, this was likely the first express marking used by Mossman
steel blue printed frank (NOR-001) on 2c Brown entire to San Francisco, purple straightline "Astoria, Ore." (NOR-100) and faint double oval company handstamp, February 22, 1887 docketing at left, fine
illustrated horse and rider frank (PAC-001) with blue "Pacific Express Co. Stockton Jan 11" oval handstamp (PAC-102) on 3c Red Nesbitt entire to San Francisco, pencil docketing reads "Too late for mail of 10th - G.P.", small edge faults, fine
blue oval handstamp (PAC-102a) with matching "Pacific Express Co. Nevada Apr 23" datestamp on 3c Red Nesbitt entire to San Francisco, backflap detached and small pieces missing at top and right, fine strikes