9th Floor
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70 Selected Lots, Page 1 of 7
General/Issue
Date
Wells Fargo & Co. Virginia City Pony Express, 25c Blue (143L8). Large margins to clear, tied by blue “Wells, Fargo & Cos. Express 26 Feb” double-circle datestamp on 3c Pink on Buff entire (U35) with Bamber & Cos. Express printed frank to Virginia City N.T., stamp affixed over red Bamber & Co. circular datestamp, reduced at left into printed frankVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE CONJUNCTIVE USE OF BAMBER & COMPANY’S EXPRESS AND WELLS FARGO & COMPANY’S 1862-65 PONY EXPRESS TO NEVADA.
With 2010 P.F. certificate
Wells Fargo & Co. Virginia City Pony Express, 25c Blue (143L8). Large margins to clear, tied by blue “Wells, Fargo & Cos. Express 26 Feb” double-circle datestamp on 3c Pink on Buff entire (U35) with Bamber & Cos. Express printed frank to Virginia City N.T., stamp affixed over red Bamber & Co. circular datestamp, reduced at left into printed frankVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE CONJUNCTIVE USE OF BAMBER & COMPANY’S EXPRESS AND WELLS FARGO & COMPANY’S 1862-65 PONY EXPRESS TO NEVADA.
With 2010 P.F. certificate
Wells Fargo & Co. Virginia City Pony Express, 25c Blue (143L8). Tied by blue “Wells, Fargo & Co. Virginia City. N.T. Jun. 28” oval datestamp on 3c Pink on Buff entire (U34) with Wells Fargo & Co. printed frank to Sol. Wangenheim (a furniture dealer) in San Francisco, second strike over indicia, stamp with couple small edge tears and light toned spots, cover slightly reduced at right, otherwise Very Fine, according to http://www.sfgenealogy.com, Solomon Wangenheim was an immigrant from Saxony, Germany, who was naturalized on April 30, 1855, he is listed as a merchant at 211 Powell in San Francisco as of July 25, 1866, ex Crocker and Beals, with clear 1968 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail $4,500.00
One of two recorded strips of three of the 25¢ Blue Virginia City Pony Express stamp on cover--an impressive 1861 Issue and Pony Express combination frankingWells Fargo & Co., Virginia City Pony Express, 25¢ Blue (143L8), vertical strip of three, margins mostly full to just slightly into frameline, used with three 3¢ Rose (65) and tied by two strikes of blue "Wells, Fargo & Co Virginia City N.T. Feb. 15" (1863) oval datestamp on buff legal-size paste-up cover to San Francisco, addressed to Wm. E. Wood, in care of Stanford Brothers, additional clear strike of datestamp with matching "PAID" in double-line oval handstamp, docketing at left indicates the heavy contents related to bids for a tunnel contract
Fine appearance; strip has small tear and toning at top, 3¢ stamps have small faults, cover edgewear and tears.
This is one of only two recorded strips of three of the 25¢ Blue Virginia City Pony Express stamp on cover. It is a remarkable artifact of Western Express postal history.
We record only four covers bearing multiples of the Wells Fargo & Co. 25¢ Blue, as follows:
1 Strip of 5 plus one, February 25, 1863, "Edwards" (Grombacher) Collection, Christie's sale, 10/29/1991
2 Strip of 3, February 20, 1863, ex Mitchell (Sale 859, lot 199)
3 Strip of 3, February 15, 1863, the cover offered here
4 Pair, February 19, 1863, ex Kramer
Wells, Fargo & Co. Virginia City Pony Express, 25c Blue (143L8). Large margins to barely touched at top left, rich color, tied by blue "Wells, Fargo & Cos. Express S. Frco. 1 Jun" (1863) double-circle datestamp on 3c Pink on Buff entire (U35) with printed frank to Gold Hill, Nevada Territory, small tear at top just touches Wells, Fargo printed frankVERY FINE. A CHOICE VIRGINIA CITY PONY EXPRESS COVER FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO GOLD HILL, NEVADA TERRITORY, WITH THE 25-CENT BLUE HORSE & RIDER ISSUE.
Ex Walske. With 2007 P.F. certificate
Wells, Fargo & Co. Virginia City Pony Express, 25c Blue (143L8). Large margins to full, tied by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Express, Sonora" oval datestamp with second strike canceling indicia of 3c Pink entire (U34) with printed frank to Mrs. C. C. Crittenden, San Francisco, with original letter enclosure datelined "Aurora April 24th" (1863) from her son Howard, accompanying certificate states stamp with "small faults" but they consist only of a tiny tear and crease in right marginVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE WELLS, FARGO & COMPANY 25-CENT BLUE VIRGINIA CITY PONY EXPRESS STAMP ON A COVER FROM THE CELEBRATED CRITTENDEN CORRESPONDENCE.
This cover and letter were sent to Clara C. Crittenden by her son Howard, from Aurora in April 1863. Clara's husband, Alexander Parker Crittenden, was a prominent West Coast attorney, who also resided in Virginia City. The move to Nevada became necessary after California passed a law prohibiting the practice of law by anyone who would not take the loyalty oath. “Parker” Crittenden was a pro-Southerner who chose to relocate to Virginia City, rather than swear allegiance to the Federal government. His wife stayed in San Francisco for some time, and the two corresponded frequently while he was away. A few years later he was shot dead by his mistress in front of his wife and son.
Illustrated in Gamett's Nevada Express: Wells, Fargo & Co. and Other Letter Expresses 1857-1895 on p. 38. Ex Reinhart, Gamett and Walske. With 2007 P.F. certificate
Wells, Fargo & Co. Virginia City Pony Express, 25c Blue (143L8). Sheet margin at left, other margins to clear, tied by “Wells, Fargo & Co. Virginia City. N.T. Nov. ?” (1863) oval datestamp on 3c Pink entire (U34) with Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank to San Francisco, second strike over embossed stamp, accompanying certificate states stamp is "lifted, repaired and replaced during restoration" but the only apparent repair is a tiny portion of the top right corner, stamp also with corner crease, appears Very Fine, with 1994 P.S.E. certificate
Wells, Fargo & Co. Virginia City Pony Express, 25c Blue (143L8). Ample to full margins all around, tied by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Virginia City N.T." oval datestamp on 3c Pink entire (U34) with printed frank to San Francisco, slightly reduced at right and indicia oxidized, faint edge toning, still an attractive use with a sound and Very Fine stamp
Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, 25c Blue (143L8). Large margins to clear, tied by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Sacramento" double-circle datestamp on 3c Pink on Buff entire (U35) with printed frank, cancelled by blue oval "Wells, Fargo & Co., Strawberry Val." to Woodbridge Cal., expertly repaired along right edge affecting indicia, rejoined at left and bottom, otherwise Very Fine and attractive, ex Hollowbush, with 2010 P.F. certificate
Wells, Fargo & Co. Virginia City Pony Express, 25c Blue (143L8). Full to huge margins, tied by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Virginia City N.T., ?" oval datestamp on 3c Pink on White entire (U34) with printed frank to San Francisco, expertly restored at right with small portions of embossed stamp drawn in, Very Fine appearance, with 2004 P.F. certificate
70 Selected Lots , Page 1 of 7
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