Penman's Express (ca 1871 - 1882)

Penman's Express ran between Truckee and Quincy via Jamison, Mohawk, Eureka Mills and the Gibsonville Mines from 1871 to 1882. It was a small feeder express to Wells, Fargo.
 

R. Penman's Express Truckee, Jamison, Mohawk & Eureka Mills albino embossed frank on backflap of 3c green 1870 issue entire with Wells, Fargo & Co frank, entered mails to Flint, Michigan with faint R.P.O. datestamp, ink splatter and edge faults, the only reported example of this style of Penman's frank

(stock #234, $1000)

The California Penny Post was established by Henry L. Goodwin in San Francisco on June 25, 1855. The latest advertisement found appeared in the October 4, 1855 issue of Prices Current & Shipping List although the firm continued to operate. Exceptionally, this company operated only as a letter express and did not carry express matter. They provided city delivery via their local post. Goodwin ran afoul of the San Francisco postmaster as he usually used government mails for carriage between cities. The latest newspaper notice found, not related to lawsuits, appeared in the May 26, 1856 Sacramento Daily Union thanking the Penny Post for delivery of San Francisco news.
 

To The Penny Post Co., Penny Postage Paid 7, black frank (#34LU11B), with imprint on reverse listing the Penny-Post Company address and the several cities to which service was provided, on 3c red Nesbitt entire used to San Francisco, entered the mails with Pleasant Springs, California Jun 2 double circle postmark

(stock #228, $3500)

To The Penny Post Co., Care Of, Penny Postage Paid 7, blue frank (#34LU11a var, unlisted in blue) on 3c red Nesbitt entire used during last month of operation of the post with Benicia, California May 12 (1856) postmark, three reported examples of this frank in blue, ex Dale Lichtenstein and Golden

(stock #226, $8500)

From the Post Office, Care of the Penny Post Co, Paid 5, frank (#34LU3) on 3c red Nesbitt entire to San Francisco, dark blue "Sacramento Penny Post" handstamp, pencil note on verso “Please ask your correspondent to give the number of your store” applied by the company, heavy wrinkles

(stock #227, $1500)

Summary of the Operational Phases:

I. Operated by the Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company as a private express (Eastbound April 3, 1860 to April 14, 1861; Westbound through March 31, 1861)

II. Operated as a joint private operation of the Overland Mail Company and the Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company with Wells Fargo acting as agent (Eastbound April 15 through June 30, 1861; Westbound April 15 through June 30, 1861)

III. A government mandated premium postal service operated by the Overland Mail Company in conjunction with their daily overland mail. Wells Fargo proved private service between San Francisco and Placerville (Eastbound July 1 through October 26, 1861; Westbound through October 31, 1861)
 

(Transcontinental Pony Express), Wells, Fargo & Co Pony Express $1.00 red adhesive, margins two sides, tied to 10c green Nesbitt entire from Weatherbee correspondence to Westfield, Massachusetts, by blue oval Pony Express San Francisco Jul 6 (1861) running pony datestamp, two red Wells, Fargo franks over green Freeman & Co's frank, entered the mails with St, Joseph, Missouri Jul 18 (1861) postmark, illustrated in The Pony Express, A Postal History by Frajola, Kramer and Walske, census #E111, five reported examples of overprinted Freeman franks used with pony express, cover top right corner repaired, ex Dale - Lichtenstein and Walske

(stock #231, P.O.R.)

(Transcontinental Pony Express), Wells, Fargo & Co Pony Express $1.00 red adhesive, large margins and good color, tied to 10c green star die entire to Greenville, Maine by blue double oval Marysville August 21 (1861) datestamp, blue oval "Pony Express Sacramento" August 22 datestamp, entered the mails with St, Joseph, Missouri Sep 2 (1861) postmark, illustrated in The Pony Express, A Postal History by Frajola, Kramer and Walske, census #E145, cover minor corner repair at top right

(stock #229, P.O.R.)

(Transcontinental Pony Express), Wells, Fargo & Co Pony Express 1/2 ounce Paid ($1) from St. Joseph to Placerville Per Pony Express, red frank vertically at left of 10c green 1861 issue entire used to San Francisco, New York October 12 (1861) postmark and St. Joseph Pony Express double oval dated for October 17, 1861 departure, manuscript "received October 29, 1861" docket at top, this frank is only found on westbound mail carried in the fourth period, illustrated in The Pony Express, A Postal History by Frajola, Kramer and Walske, census #W65, carried on the westbound trip that departed St. Joseph on October 17 and the last through westbound pony trip departed just one week later, cover has been lightly cleaned

(stock #230, P.O.R.)

Phillips Express is known to have operated between Nevada City and Dutch Flat, Alpha and Washington mining towns in 1860.
 

“Pr Phillips Express” manuscript endorsement and “With $3.00 in coin” notation on 3c red Nesbitt entire to Nevada California, Mar 21, 1860 docketing, minor edge tear, the only reported use from this company and the basis for the Nathan listing, illustrated in Letters of Gold, ex Haas and Edwards

(stock #232, $1000)

Prindle's Express (1860 - 1862)

Charles W. Prindle was successor to Crook's Daily Express and operated his route between Yreka and the Scott and Klamath River Mines from 1860 to 1862, and that Prindle had “several partnerships” and operated alone at various times between 1861 and 1866. , the few known Prindle's Express covers have an oval handstamp, this is only one of two examples of the printed frank known, from the Berry/Roseborough (attorneys) correspondence, illustrated in Letters of Gold.
 

Prindle's Express To Scott & Klamath River frank on 3c pink 1861 issue entire to Yreka, California, docketed at left as having been received June 26, 1865, illustrated in Letters of Gold, two reported examples of this frank, ex Jessup, Pearce, Haas and Edwards

(stock #233, $2500)

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