Lot Details

Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, printed "PAID / Central Overland Pony Express Company" frank on 10c Nesbitt green entire (U18), to Henry A. Lyons in Bayou Sara, Louisiana, indicia cancelled with circular black grid and blue oval "Pony Express / San Francisco / Nov 3", alongside very fine oval "The Central Overland California / & Pikes Peak / Express Company / St. Joseph / Nov 15" datestamp, "Saint Joseph MO / Nov / 16" double-circle c.d.s. at lower left, small professional repairs at upper corners, an extremely attractive and fresh cover; FWK Census E35.

Illustrated in the Western Express, October, 1960, 
This cover was carried on the eastbound mail of the Pony Express, which departed San Francisco on Saturday, November 3, 1860, arriving in St. Joseph, Missouri, twelve days later, on November 15, when it was cancelled with the Central Overland oval, having been carried by steamer to Sacramento and by rail to Folsom, onwards via pony. It was postmarked at the Saint Joseph post office the following day, to be carried onwards via the postal system to Bayou Sara. The PAID / Central Overland Pony Express Company printed franks are scarce; the Frajola-Walske-Kramer census records only eight examples.