John Bamber first advertised July 12, 1858 as the only authorized Contra Costa express agent for daily and weekly newspapers having purchased J.W. Hoag & Co's Contra Costa Express in which he had previously held a partial financial interest. From September 20, 1858 he ran an ad looking for a purchaser of his newspaper and express business with inquires to be directed to J. Bamber's office in San Francisco, W.K. Bacon's office in Oakland or to the "subscriber" J.W. Hoag.  On September 9, 1870 Bamber incorporated as "Bamber Express Co." with four other trustees. On January 1, 1874 a change in ownership was announced, including A.D. Whitney, and the firm no longer advertised. On July 6, 1874 it was announced that Whitney & Co. Express had purchased the company.
 

J. Bamber & Co's Contra Costa Express, W.K. Bacon's Oakland Office, red oval handstamp on 3c red Nesbitt entire to San Francisco, their boxed "Answer by Bamber & Cos Express Office Davis St Between Broadway & Vallejo" on reverse, manuscript "P.D.C. / B&H" at top center, although Bamber handstamped and franked covers are among the most common, three reported examples of this Oakland office marking from the earliest period

(stock #111, $500)

(stock #112, $100)

Bamber & Co's Express Paid black ribbon frank with plain scroll on 3c pink 1864 issue entire used to San Francisco, their blue San Francisco "Apr 13" double circle datestamp, manuscript "April 16, 1869" docket on reverse, fine

(stock #113, $50)

J. Bamber & Cos Express, Bacon & Hardy, Oakland Office Paid horizontal box frank on 3c pink 1861 issue entire used to Santa Cruz, their red "Sausalito" datestamp, conjunctive use with Wells, Fargo San Francisco transit datestamp for onward carriage, fewer than ten reported used examples of this style of frank, ex Edwards

(stock #114, $300)

Bamber & Cos Express, W.B. Hardy's Office Oakland, Paid black ribbon frank with fancy ornamented scroll on 3c pink 1864 issue entire, paste-back only (missing second envelope which bore the address), their blue San Francisco datestamp, remnants of second envelope adhere to reverse

(stock #115)

Bamber & Cos Express, W.B. Hardy's Office Oakland, Paid black ribbon frank with plain scroll on 3c pink 1864 issue entire to San Francisco, their blue San Francisco datestamp. docket on verso of May 14, 1869, clipped corner

(stock #116)

Brown's Express was one of the principal express operators to the southern mines. Founded by W. A. Brown in June 1850, he connected with both Todd & Co. and Newell & Co. operating between (Stockton and San Francisco and they, in turn connected at San Francisco with Adam's Express for ocean to ocean service. Brown was murdered on April 2, 1853 and the express continued under his name even though it was then operated by Adams Express.
 

Brown's Express Murphy's large blue double oval handstamp, mostly clear, and double line octagonal "Paid" on cover to Stockton, fewer than five reported examples of this marking

(stock #117, $250)

Very little can be found regarding this express. Wiltsee reported the express operating to Shasta in 1858 but that has not be confirmed. The town site, in Shasta County, is now covered by Lake Shasta. Although founded in the 1850s, the peak boom era was in the early 1860s. A September 1864 newspaper report from Red Bluff gives the name of the Copper City expressman as "Scotch." Based on the use of 1861 issue stationery for frank, it would seem that Brown & Maguire sold out to Scotch before 1864.
 

Brown & Maguire's Copper City Express box frank on 3c pink 1861 issue entire, re-backed front only, used as the franking portion, entered the mails with blue Red Bluff, California duplex postmark, only two reported examples of this frank

(stock #118, $400)

This express operated between The Dalles, and Canyon City, Oregon from December 1866 when A.W. Buchanan purchased the route from Wells, Fargo. He apparently continued to operate through much of 1867 and is later reported as a Wells, Fargo agent. 
 

Buchanan & Co.'s Canon City Express, Paid, black printed frank on 3c pink 1864 issue postal entire to Idaho City, Idaho, conjunctive use with blue oval Wells Fargo & Co. Umatilla (Oregon) datestamp, fewer than four reported examples of this frank, ex Dale-Lichtenstein

(stock #120, $2750)

Buchanan & Co.'s Canon City Express, Paid, maroon printed frank on 3c pink 184 issue postal entire to Idaho City, conjunctive use with blue oval Wells Fargo & Co. Dalles (Oregon) datestamp, reduced slightly at left, fewer than four reported examples of this frank, ex Dale-Lichtenstein

(stock #119, $1500)

Buckley's Express is reported to have operated between Kernsville and connecting at Bakersfield with Wells, Fargo & Co. It served the mining camps along the Kern River, Owens Valley and Death Valley. All known uses are on Wells Fargo franked covers.
 

Buckley's Express, Paid blue rectangular handstamp struck vertically at left of Wells, Fargo Paid franked 3c green 1870 issue entire, entered the mails with Panamint, California postmark, fine conjunctive use, fewer than ten examples reported

(stock #121, $700)

Little is known regarding this express which is reported to have operated between Port Townsnd and Port Discovery, Washington Territory in 1871.
 

Burdin's Express, Between Port Townsend and Port Discovery imprint on 3c green 1870 issue entire to Port Discovery, Washington Territory, manuscript company cancel, cover opened roughly at bottom right, fewer than five reported examples, ex Hackett

(stock #122, $500)

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