Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc.

Part III - Locals H-Z continued...

SPECIAL NOTE: Lot Numbers with an "A" preceding them will be offered in three special sessions. Please refer to the Arrangement of the Sale web page for the schedule.
Penny Express Co. (Holladay Overland & Express Co.):
  Lot Lot Description
A 1410 imagePenny Express Co. (Holladay Overland Mail & Express Co.), 5c Black (114L1a). Complete sheet of 32, each stamp initialled "HR" by Henry Reed, full sheet margins, original gum, a few faint toned spots, several creases

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. THE ONLY RECORDED PENNY EXPRESS COMPANY SHEET WITH REED'S INITIALS -- THESE ARE ALL OF THE INITIALLED STAMPS THAT ARE KNOWN.

The "Penny Express" stamps were issued in 1866 by Henry Reed of the Holladay Overland Mail and Express Co., which in 1867 became part of Wells, Fargo & Company. One of the entries from Henry Reed's journal, published by Henry C. Needham in his American Philatelist series (Apr. 1920), makes reference to the stamps: (excerpt from entry datelined Salt Lake City, June 26, 1866) "Charge yourself ten cents for the red stamps instead of twenty cts. as first verbally instructed by me." Although the numeral "5" appears on both the Red and Blue stamps (114L2 and 114L3), as well as the Black, Reed's instructions and advertisements indicate that the standard letter rate was 10c up to a half ounce, and 10c for each additional half-ounce. No used examples of the adhesives are known, and it appears that the printed envelopes were used for Holladay's express, perhaps because the "5" denomination of the stamps caused confusion. Several sheets of Red and Blue stamps, without gum, reached the stamp market. However, only this one sheet of Black stamps with Reed's initials and original gum is known.

Ex Chapman and Middendorf. (Image)

E. 5,000-7,500
A 1411 imagePenny Express Co. (Holladay Overland Mail & Express Co.), 5c Black (114L1). Horizontal pair with full top left corner sheet margins, unused (no gum), Extremely Fine, the Black Penny Express stamp is far rarer than the Blue or Red (Image) E. 750-1,000
  1412 Penny Express Co. (Holladay Overland Mail & Express Co.), 5c Blue, Red (114L2, 114L3). Each represented by a single and complete sheet of 32, Very Fine 1,070.00

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