The type I franks were issued June 29, 1855. The two cent frank was intended to be used for mail deposited in one of the Penny Post street boxes in San Francisco. For the two cents fee, the Penny Post Company collected the envelope from the street box and deposited it at the post office for onward transmission by mail. The sender was supposed to add the adhesive stamp for government postage but instructions were evidently unclear.

Text at left reads: "LETTERS and other MAIL MATTER deposited in any Post Office, will be DELIVERED in SAN FRANCISCO, SACRAMENTO, STOCKTON, or MARYSVILLE, immediately on the arrival of the mails, if addressed to the care of the "PENNY POST CO."
 

(click on image for larger size)

#101, Aug 23, 1855, San Francisco to postmaster at Mt. Ophir, variant with additional "CIRCULAR" imprint at top right of cover, four copies of 3c adhesive as per court testimony relating to similar uses,  "Held for postage" backstamp, manuscript correction lining out "to the care of" (Penny Post), "Filed Oct 17 1855" court evidence notation at left partially missing in image as overlapped in catalog illustration

#102, Aug 30 1855, San Francisco to Travis Masse in Marysville, 2¢ type I printed frank, 3¢ adhesive tied by San Francisco postmark, "Paid" handstamp, "DETAINED FOR POSTAGE" backstamp, "San Francisco Aug 30 3 Paid" backstamp, manuscript, stamp supplied by Penny Post and cover sent onward by mail, "Filed Oct 17 1855" court evidence notation

reverse

#103, Oct 6, 1855, manuscript docket on cover addressed to William Tiffany in San Francisco, presumably a Sacramento or Stockton origin, Wells Fargo blue "Paid" and oval "San Francisco" handstamp, uncanceled 3c adhesive, manuscript correction lining out "to the care of" (Penny Post) indicating a pure Wells Fargo use

stamp lifted and moved

#105, Penny Post San Francisco handstamp on cover from San Francisco to John Moody at Sacramento, manuscript correction lining out "to the care of" (Penny Post) - probably indicating a pure out of the mails use from origin to Sacramento

stamp did not originate

#106, Penny Post San Francisco handstamp on cover from San Francisco to John Moody at Sacramento, manuscript correction lining out "to the care of" (Penny Post) - probably indicating a pure out of the mails use from origin to Sacramento, stamp did not originate (bears a manuscript date cancel of Feb 21, 1855)

stamp did not originate

#107, Jul 10, 1855 Stockton cover to Tandler at San Francisco

#108, Jul 16, 1855 Marysville cover to Tandler at San Francisco

#109, Aug 23, 1855 Benicia evidence cover with Goodwin's "Recd' from Post Office Aug 30th" notation at lower left, used to Chapman & Folger (a co-owner of CAPP) at San Francisco

#110, Sacramento PP blue handstamp on cover to Charles Hinckley at San Francisco

#111, Sacramento PP blue handstamp on cover to Tandler at San Francisco

#113, Oct 8, 1855, Benicia to Mr. Warren in San Francisco

#X114, "City Delivery" type of 5 cents, not on postal stationery entire and no room for placement of stamp, different text in design that includes: "City Delivery / Care of the Penny Post Co"

text at left reads: LETTERS, and other Mail Matter, deposited in ANY POST OFFICE, will be delivered in San Francisco, Sacramento, Stockton and Marysville,  immediately on the arrival of the mails, if addressed Care of the "Penny-Post Co," Letters for City Delivery received at the Boxes till 6, A.M. or 12 1-2 P.M.; at the Office, 135 California Street, near Montgomery, till 6 1-2, A.M. or 1, P.M.

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