Part II - LOCALS A - G
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.
| Lot | Lot Description | ||
| A | 428 |
 Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal.,
25c Black, "ICW" (Isaiah C. Woods) Initials in Black (1L2). Complete
sheet of 40, unused (no gum), large margins all around, several stamps have
slight wrinkles (very trivial)EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING INTACT SHEETS OF THE ADAMS & CO. CALIFORNIA EXPRESS STAMP -- INITIALLED BY ISAIAH C. WOODS, A PARTNER IN THE ADAMS FIRM. A TRULY REMARKABLE EXHIBITION ITEM. The California branch of the Eastern express company founded by Alvin Adams was established late in 1849, following the discovery of gold that led to the great Gold Rush. Under the direction of Daniel H. Haskell, the Adams firm prospered as an express company and banking house in California. In 1855, in the midst of a national banking crisis, the firm was dissolved, and its express business was taken over by Freeman & Co. Isaiah C. Woods, whose name appears in the minute copyright inscriptions along the sides of the design, initialled each of the stamps in this sheet. Woods left for Australia after the Adams California branch folded. Haskell's portrait appears on the different Adams stamps, which were used to prepay express charges on letters carried by Adams & Co. Their rarity suggests that they were not issued until soon before the firm collapsed (the copyright is dated 1853). Ex Boker. With 1973 P.F. certificate. (Image) |
E. 5,000-7,500 |
| 429 | Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black, "LR" (L. Reed) and "ICW" (Isaiah C. Woods) Initials in Black (1L2). Three "LR" and one "ICW", unused (no gum), ample to large margins, one of former slightly toned, another slightly creased, otherwise Very Fine, scarce | 360.00 | |
| A | 430 |
 Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal.,
25c Black on Pink Glazed Card (1L3). The so-called "Poker Chip" stamp,
rumored to have circulated in California saloons during the Gold Rush era,
complete sheet of 40, one stamp (Pos. 30) shows retouched flaw over bottom
right "25", large margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, an impressive sheet,
with 1970 P.F. certificate (Image) |
1,555.00 |
| A | 431 |
 Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal.,
25c Black on Pink Glazed Card (1L3). Another complete sheet of the
so-called "Poker Chip" stamp, Position 30 shows retouched flaw over bottom
right "25", large margins, fresh and Extremely Fine
(Image) |
1,555.00 |
| A | 432 |
 Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal.,
25c Black, "Over our California lines only" (1L4). Unused (no gum),
"ICW" initials (Isaiah C. Woods), large margins, Extremely Fine, very rare
(Image) |
E. 750-1,000 |
| A | 433 |
 Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal.,
25c Black, "Rate 25c Per 1-2 Oz.", Black Overprint (1L5). Unused (no
gum), "LR" (L. Reed) initials, large margins, Extremely Fine and very rare,
ex Boker (Image) |
E. 750-1,000 |
| A | 434 |
 Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal.,
25c Black (1L6). Vertical pair, unused (no gum), three huge margins,
probably from the upper right corner of sheet, frameline just touched at
leftVERY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE ADAMS & CO. 1L6 STAMP. Ex Boker (realized Sfr. 2,400 in 1973 Robson Lowe sale). (Image) |
E. 3,000-4,000 |