9th Floor
New York, NY 10036
8 Selected Lots, Page 1 of 1
General/Issue
Date
Carnes' City Letter Express, San Francisco, (5c) Rose (35L1). Full to large margins, tied by black "Paid" handstamp with second strike on large cover addressed in blue to 267 Washington Street South in San Francisco, bold matching "CARNES' EXPRESS/SAN FRANCISCO" straightline handstamp at center, blue manuscript instructions in corner "send by Carnes Carier", cover with vertical folds not affecting stampA MAJOR LOCAL POST RARITY, REPRESENTING THE PROPER USE OF THE CARNES CITY LETTER EXPRESS STAMP DURING CARNES'S OWNERSHIP. 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). This is one of only a few Carnes covers known to us that was clearly carried by the original Carnes service, for which it was created.
Ex Kuphal. With 1994 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $15,000.00
Carnes' City Letter Express (Loomis as Owner), San Francisco, (5c) Rose (35L1). Large margins all around, tied by dotted greenish-blue grid cancel, matching "San Francisco Letter Express" horse-and-rider oval handstamp on ornately-crafted envelope with Eagle and Shield printed on back, "July 4, 1868" in ribbon, addressed to "Society of California Pioneers"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, see lot ???).
Illustrated in the Nathan book. Ex Caspary, Haas, Edwards and Golden. With 1999 P.F. certificate
Carnes' City Letter Express, San Francisco, (5c) Rose (35L1). Large margins, tied by needle-point grid that pierces the paper, affixed over red "City Letter/Carnes/Express" double-line oval handstamp on yellow cover to local shipping house, with original letter dated Feb. 17, 1865, tiny nick at top leftEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF TWO COVERS KNOWN TO US WITH CARNES CITY LETTER EXPRESS STAMP USED DURING HIS OWNERSHIP OF THE POST. 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. Among his competitors were 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 and in our 2006 Edgar Kuphal sale. 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, Richardson and Golden. With 1987 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $17,500.00
Carnes' City Letter Express, San Francisco, (5c) Rose (35L1). Full to large margins, tied by black "Paid" handstamp on large cover addressed in blue to 267 Washington Street South in San Francisco, bold matching "CARNES' EXPRESS/SAN FRANCISCO" straightline handstamp at center, blue ms. instructions in corner "send by Carnes Carier", cover with light vertical folds not affecting stampA MAJOR LOCAL POST RARITY, REPRESENTING THE PROPER USAGE OF THE CARNES CITY LETTER EXPRESS STAMP DURING CARNES'S OWNERSHIP. 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). This is the only Carnes cover known to us that was clearly carried by the original Carnes service, for which it was created.
With 1994 P.F. certificate.
Carnes' City Letter Express (Loomis as Owner), San Francisco, (5c) Rose (35L1). Large margins all around, tied by dotted greenish-blue grid, matching "San Francisco Letter Express" Horse and Rider oval handstamp on ornately-crafted envelope with Eagle and Shield printed on back, "July 4, 1868" in ribbon, addressed to "Society of California Pioneers"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".
Carnes' City Letter Express, San Francisco, (5c) Rose (35L1). Large margins, tied by needle-point grid that pierces the paper, affixed over red "City Letter/Carnes/Express" double-line oval handstamp on yellow cover to local shipping house, with original letter dated Feb. 17, 1865, tiny nick at top leftEXTREMELY 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.
Carnes City Letter Express, San Francisco, Cal., (no value) Rose (35L1). Full to large margins, tied by black "PAID" hs on large locally addressed cover with bold matching "CARNES' EXPRESS/SAN FRANCISCO" straightline hs at center, blue ms. instructions in corner "send by Carnes Carier", cover with light vertical folds not affecting stampA MAJOR LOCAL POST RARITY, REPRESENTING THE PROPER USAGE OF THE CARNES CITY LETTER EXPRESS STAMP DURING CARNES'S OWNERSHIP.
The "Grizzly Bear" stamp was issued by George A. Carnes, a former post office clerk who started a local delivery service and acquired the better known San Francisco Letter Express in 1865. He and his partner sold out to William E. Loomis in 1867, and examples of Carnes's stamp are known on a few covers mailed after ownership changed hands. Loomis removed the Carnes name from the design and printed his own stamps, probably late in 1868. This is the first example we have seen showing the Carnes stamp used on a cover that was clearly carried by the original Carnes service, for which it was created.
With 1994 P.F. certificate
Carnes City Letter Express, (5c) Rose (35L1). Affixed Over Red Oval "City Letter Express/Carne's/San Francisco" and "tied" by heavy Black Dots cancel on Fresh Yellow Cover, Feb. 1865 enclosure, Very Fine, Only Three Covers Known
8 Selected Lots , Page 1 of 1
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