Freeman & Co.'s Atlantic States and European Express. Printed frank (Thomas FRM-007) with "124 Montgomery Street" address on 10c Green on Buff Nesbitt entire (U16) to Athens N.Y., entered the government mails with "New-York Sep. 28, 1858" circular datestamp, small mended nick at top left corner clear of frank, backflap tears, otherwise Very Fine, after the failure of Adams & Co. in 1855, John M. Freeman (an agent for Adams) continued his long career as an expressman by opening his own Freeman & Co.'s Express with routes between the coasts, despite his success as a competitor with Wells, Fargo & Co., Freeman's Atlantic & European Express frank is very rare, Barkhausen had another from this correspondence, but it was carried by overland mail, a couple others with Boyd's ovals delivered locally in New York City are known, the Thomas book records only five in total of this frank, ex Poland, Kramer and Lyons

Image Magnifier / Download

Freeman & Co.'s Express. Two-part printed frank with list of national, international and California offices (Thomas FRM-008) on 3c Red on Buff Nesbitt entire (U10) to San Jose Cal., two manuscript X's thru frank but no postal markings or cancel on embossed stamp, therefore express use is likely but uncertain, in any case extremely rare, the Thomas book CD illustrates only three examples (both of the others with 1856 docketing), one is without an embossed stamp, the other is on a 3c entire with pen cancel and an edge tear, ex Lyons, with 2011 P.F. certificate as "genuine use"

Image Magnifier / Download

Freeman & Co.'s Express. Clear strike of red "Freeman & Co's. Express" small double-line oval handstamp (Thomas FRE-102) on blue folded cover to San Francisco, small stained spot, Very Fine and attractive example of this early marking from the 1850 iteration of Freeman & Co.'s Express, ex Haas, with 2011 P.F. certificate

Image Magnifier / Download

Freeman & Co.'s Express, San Francisco. Red oval handstamp (Thomas FRE-103) with matching "Reply by/Freeman & Cos. Express" two-line backstamp on Jul. 2, 1855 blue folded letter from Portland Me. to Sacramento Cal., part of another marking (?) at top left, Fine, ex Clifford and Hahn

Image Magnifier / Download

Forwarded by Freeman & Co's Express Marysville. Clearly struck greenish blue handstamp (Thomas FRE-104a) on 1851 folded letter to San Francisco, appears to say "Refused" in pencil at top left, edge wear and file fold, Very Fine strike of this scarce early Freeman & Co. handstamp from the 1850 iteration of the express, illustrated in Thomas on p. 321

Image Magnifier / Download

Forwarded by J. M. Freeman, Agent of Adams & Co's Express, Panama. Clear strike of red oval handstamp (Thomas ADA-114 in Adams Express chapter) on Jan, 1, 1855 printed notice from Valparaiso, Chile announcing the partnership of Freeman with Nye & Co. for a forwarding, commission, exchange and ship-agency business in Valparaiso, Talcahuano and Callao, also announcing an express and exchange business with Adams & Co., connecting with their house in Panama, central file fold, Very Fine

Image Magnifier / Download

Freeman & Co.'s Express, Sacramento. Red printed frank in banner with star after "Express" (Thomas FRM-002), on 3c Red on Buff Nesbitt entire (U10), blue "Freeman & Co. Sac. Mess. Sep. 12" oval datestamp, addressed to San Francisco, Hoffman & Co. grocer's corner card at bottom left, Extremely Fine and attractive with the corner card

Image Magnifier / Download

Freeman & Co.'s Express. Red printed frank in banner (Thomas FRM-003) on 3c Red on Buff Nesbitt entire (U10) to San Francisco, blue "Freeman & Co. Marysville Aug. 3" oval datestamp, Extremely Fine, unusually choice

Image Magnifier / Download

Freeman & Co.'s Through our California and Atlantic Express. Green printed frank in banner (Thomas FRM-004) on 10c Green on Buff Nesbitt entire (U18) to Commissioner of Pensions, Washington D.C., clear blue "Freeman & Co. San Francisco Aug. 12" oval datestamp, entered mails with bold "New-York Sep. 12" circular datestamp, "Pension Office Sep. 13, 1859" receiving datestamp, tiny edge tear just above embossed stamp, still Very Fine, scarce Freeman & Co. transcontinental use, within months after this mailing Freeman sold out to Wells, Fargo & Co.

Image Magnifier / Download

Freeman & Co.'s Through our California and Atlantic Express. Green printed frank in banner (Thomas FRM-004) on 10c Green on Buff Nesbitt entire (U18) to New York City street address, bold "Freeman & Co.'s Express Angel's (Camp)" backstamp, "Collect" in oval handstamp applied by McIntire's Post in New York City, who delivered Freeman & Co. express letters (and Wells, Fargo & Co.'s) to street addresses, some slight edgewear, Fine, a very rare transcontinental conjunctive use between Freeman and McIntire (see Siegel Sale 817, lot 1319), with 2010 P.F. certificate

Image Magnifier / Download