Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

**Adams & Co.'s Express (CA)**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
390		Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black on Blue (1L1). Unused (no gum), ample to large margins with side imprints complete, Very Fine, the Adams 25c on Blue paper is a great rarity -- one of the few stamps that eluded David Golden -- a slightly thinned example realized $2,100 in our 2000 Rarities sale (Image)	2,500.00
391		Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black, "LR" (L. Reed) Initials in Black (1L2). Complete sheet of 40, original gum, large margins to just clear, vertical crease down one column, several stamps have slight wrinkles, one toned spot VERY FINE. ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING INTACT SHEETS OF THE ADAMS & CO. CALIFORNIA EXPRESS STAMP -- INITIALLED BY L. REED, A PARTNER IN THE ADAMS FIRM. 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. (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500
392		Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black, "ICW" (Isaiah C. Woods) Initials (1L2). Vertical block of six with sheet margin, original gum, large margins to just clear, creases, two pinholes, otherwise Fine-Very Fine (Image)	E. 200-300
393		Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black, "LR" (L. Reed) Initials (1L2). Positions 30-31, horizontal strip of three, left stamp retouched, original gum, large margins to just clear, vertical creases, two pinholes, otherwise Fine, scarce multiple (Image)	E. 200-300
394		Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black, "LR" (L. Reed) Initials (1L2). Horizontal strip of three, original gum, full to large margins, vertical crease in center stamp, Very Fine appearance, ex Caspary (Image)	E. 150-200
395		Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black, "LR" (L. Reed) and "ICW" (Isaiah C. Woods) Initials in Black (1L2). Two "LR" and one "ICW", unused (no gum), ample to large margins, both "LR" stamps have tiny corner crease, still Very Fine, scarce	270.00
396		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, mount thins in corners, hinge glue stains in margins, otherwise fresh and Extremely Fine (Image)	1,555.00
397		Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black, "Over our California lines only" (1L4). Unused (no gum), "LR" initials (L. Reed), full to large margins, Extremely Fine, very rare (Image)	750.00
398		Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black, "Over our California lines only" (1L4). Unused (no gum), "LR" initials (L. Reed), large margins, toned spot, still Extremely Fine, very rare (Image)	750.00
399		Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black, "Over our California lines only" (1L4). Unused (no gum), "LR" initials (L. Reed), large margins, slight wrinkle at top, Extremely Fine appearance, very rare (Image)	750.00
400		Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black, "Over our California lines only" (1L4). "LR" (L. Reed) initials, large margins, uncancelled, affixed to folded letter from Sacramento to San Francisco street address, red "Adams & Co. Sacramento Apr. 10" (1853) double-circle datestamp, an entirely plausible usage but offered "as is" on its own merits, Very Fine, ex Meroni (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500

Adams & Co.'s Express (CA)

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

390

Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black on Blue (1L1). Unused (no gum), ample to large margins with side imprints complete, Very Fine, the Adams 25c on Blue paper is a great rarity -- one of the few stamps that eluded David Golden -- a slightly thinned example realized $2,100 in our 2000 Rarities sale (Image)

2,500.00

391

Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black, "LR" (L. Reed) Initials in Black (1L2). Complete sheet of 40, original gum, large margins to just clear, vertical crease down one column, several stamps have slight wrinkles, one toned spot

VERY FINE. ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING INTACT SHEETS OF THE ADAMS & CO. CALIFORNIA EXPRESS STAMP -- INITIALLED BY L. REED, A PARTNER IN THE ADAMS FIRM.

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. (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

392

Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black, "ICW" (Isaiah C. Woods) Initials (1L2). Vertical block of six with sheet margin, original gum, large margins to just clear, creases, two pinholes, otherwise Fine-Very Fine (Image)

E. 200-300

393

Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black, "LR" (L. Reed) Initials (1L2). Positions 30-31, horizontal strip of three, left stamp retouched, original gum, large margins to just clear, vertical creases, two pinholes, otherwise Fine, scarce multiple (Image)

E. 200-300

394

Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black, "LR" (L. Reed) Initials (1L2). Horizontal strip of three, original gum, full to large margins, vertical crease in center stamp, Very Fine appearance, ex Caspary (Image)

E. 150-200

395

Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black, "LR" (L. Reed) and "ICW" (Isaiah C. Woods) Initials in Black (1L2). Two "LR" and one "ICW", unused (no gum), ample to large margins, both "LR" stamps have tiny corner crease, still Very Fine, scarce

270.00

396

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, mount thins in corners, hinge glue stains in margins, otherwise fresh and Extremely Fine (Image)

1,555.00

397

Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black, "Over our California lines only" (1L4). Unused (no gum), "LR" initials (L. Reed), full to large margins, Extremely Fine, very rare (Image)

750.00

398

Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black, "Over our California lines only" (1L4). Unused (no gum), "LR" initials (L. Reed), large margins, toned spot, still Extremely Fine, very rare (Image)

750.00

399

Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black, "Over our California lines only" (1L4). Unused (no gum), "LR" initials (L. Reed), large margins, slight wrinkle at top, Extremely Fine appearance, very rare (Image)

750.00

400

Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black, "Over our California lines only" (1L4). "LR" (L. Reed) initials, large margins, uncancelled, affixed to folded letter from Sacramento to San Francisco street address, red "Adams & Co. Sacramento Apr. 10" (1853) double-circle datestamp, an entirely plausible usage but offered "as is" on its own merits, Very Fine, ex Meroni (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

LOCALS