Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc.

EXTREMELY FINE. ARGUABLY THE FINEST OF THE FEW KNOWN COVERS BEARING CARNES'S CITY LETTER EXPRESS STAMP -- IN THIS INSTANCE, USED UNDER OWNERSHIP OF ITS SUCCESSOR, WILLIAM E. LOOMIS, ON AN INVITATION ENVELOPE DATED JULY 4, 1868. ONE OF THE RAREST AND MOST SPECTACULAR OF ALL AMERICAN LOCAL POST COVERS.

The local-post scene in San Francisco during the 1863-67 period is confusing to reconstruct, due to the similarity of names among competing posts and the changes in ownership, with one selling out to the other. All of this must be reconstructed from dated material and city directories. According to information gleaned by Ernest A. Wiltsee from contemporary sources, the Carnes City Letter Express was started in 1865 by George A. Carnes, a former postal clerk. Very early on, Carnes issued the Grizzly Bear stamps with his name. During the first year, Carnes also acquired the San Francisco Letter Express and changed the post's name to Carnes San Francisco Letter Express. Whether Carnes or William E. Loomis bought out Gahagan & Howe's City Express has been debated, but in late 1866, Carnes and his partner sold out to Loomis. From 1867 on, we find the Carnes stamps and San Francisco Letter Express Horse & Rider marking used by Loomis. Eventually Loomis altered the Grizzly Bear printing plate by removing the Carnes name and printed his own stamps (Scott 98L1).

Illustrated in the Nathan book. Ex Caspary, Haas and "Edwards". (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF TWO COVERS KNOWN TO US WITH CARNES CITY LETTER EXPRESS STAMP USED DURING HIS OWNERSHIP OF THE POST.

As noted in the previous description, beginning in early 1865, George A. Carnes operated the Carnes City Letter Express in San Francisco. Among his competitors was the California City Letter Express operated by Hoag & Madison and the San Francisco Letter Express, which used the distinctive oval Horse & Rider handstamp. Sometime in 1865, Carnes acquired or took over the San Francisco Letter Express and changed its name to Carnes San Francisco Letter Express. This cover was mailed in February 1865, which is an early Carnes usage. The red oval marking beneath the stamp (as well as the stamp itself) is inscribed "Carnes City Letter Express." In late 1866 Carnes sold out to William E. Loomis, from which point the supply of 35L1 was used while new stamps were printed with the Carnes name removed (Scott 98L1). We know of one other cover with 35L1 used under Carnes's ownership. It was sold in our 1996 Rarities sale for $29,000 hammer. The Knapp collection contained a cover with 35L1 tied by a blue dotted grid, which is believed to have been a Loomis cancel, and there is a 35L1 cover in the P.F. records with the stamp tied by a "Paid" straightline (possibly by Loomis).

Ex Worthington, Caspary, Boker and Richardson. With 1987 P.F. certificate. (Image)