Thomes & Skaden's Express (1870 - 1874)

Walter M. Thomes and Hiram N. Skadden formed their express in 1870. The firm operated between Reno and Susanville, Nevada until 1874.
 

Thomes & Skaden's Express, Susanville & Reno, Connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co, Paid, embossed and printed frank on 3c green 1870 issue entire to San Francisco, conjunctive use with blue Wells, Fargo Reno oval datestamp, cover slightly reduced at right, ex Dale - Lichtenstein

(stock #256, $900)

Thomes & Skaden's Express, Susanville & Reno, Connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co, scroll frank with small "Paid" above on 3c green 1870 issue entire to Sacramento, conjunctive use with blue Wells, Fargo Reno oval datestamp, edges soiled

(stock #254, $600)

Thomes & Skaden's Express, Susanville & Reno, Connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co, scroll frank with large "Paid" above on 3c green 1870 issue entire to San Jose, conjunctive use with blue Wells, Fargo Reno oval datestamp, opened roughly at right

(stock #255, $900)

Thompson & Co's Express (1857)

This express was established by James Harvey Thompson in July to operate between Petaluma and Healdsburg via Santa Rosa, Bodega and Geysers Springs. It connected with Wells, Fargo at Petaluma.
 

Paid Over Thompson & Co.’s & Wells, Fargo & Co.’s California Routes, printed frank on 3c red Nesbitt entire to San Francisco, blue Thompson & Co.’s Express Healdsburg oval handstamp, conjunctive use with blue Wells, Fargo Express Petaluma handstamp, flap missing, the finest of three reported examples, ex Risvold

(stock #257, $4500)

H. C. Tickner's Yreka and Scott Bar Express (1860 - 1869)

H. C. Tickner and his family operated express in the Siskiyou and Klamath Mountains between 1860 and late 1870s. In 1866, H. C. Tickner began operating from his headquarters in Yreka to the mining camps of the Scott River Valley.
 

H.C.Tickner's Yreka and Scott Bar Express bold shield handstamp on cover to Yreka Cal., uncancelled 3c rose 1861 issue adhesive, minor perforation faults, paying required postage, neatly docketed with Sep 27, 1869 receipt date, the only reported example, illustrated in Nathan and Letters of Gold, page 219, ex Parker, Jessup, Pearce, Haas and Edwards

(stock #258, $7500)

Todd & Co's Express (Jul 1850 - Oct 1851)

Alexander Todd was one of the first express men in California. In July 1850 he took E. W. Colt as a partner under the Todd & Co's Express name. They operated between San Francisco and Stockton mines until Todd joined with Reynolds to form Reynolds, Todd & Co's Express in October 1851.
 

Todd & Co. Express shield handstamp on inbound cover addressed to "Sutters Mines, Calavaras County, California," Boston, Massachusetts red November 11 (1850) origin postmark and matching "40" rate handstamp,  manuscript sender's endorsement "Todd & Co. Express from San Francisco" & light "2.00" pencil express rate due, some minor wrinkles, ex Jessup, Pearce and Walske

(stock #260, $1500)

(C.A.) Todd's Express (Apr 1853 - Sep 1853)

C. A. Todd, no relation to Alexander Todd, purchased Reynolds, Todd & Co's Express on April 22, 1853. He operated his express between San Francisco and Stockton by steamer and ran daily stages from Stockton to the mines along the Moquelumne and Stanislaus Rivers. He he sold the company to Wells, Fargo & Co on September 1, 1853.
 

Forwarded By Todd's Express San Francisco, clearly struck blue oval handstamp and matching, octagonal "Not Paid" handstamp on cover to Tuttletown, near Sonora, California, illustrated in Letters of Gold, page 221, ex Haas and Edwards

(stock #259, $1000)

Tracy & Co's Express (1859 - Nov 1863)

Edward W. Tracy began serving as a Wells Fargo’s General Agent for the Washington and Oregon Territories in July 1859. He also formed a partnership with E. Norton and E. L. James to operate an express service to the interior. The partnership with Norton and James was dissolved in March 1862. Tracy sold out to Wells, Fargo in November 1863.
 

Tracy & Co.'s Express, Paid printed frank with Old English type and ornate frame on 3c red Nesbitt entire to Salem Oregon, blue company handstamp of the Portland office, slightly reduced at sides, sealed tear at top, ex Dale - Lichtenstein

(stock #261, $700)

Tracy & Co.'s Express, Paid printed frank in Old English type with ornamental frame on 3c red Nesbitt entire to Walla Walla, Washington Territory, blue "Tracy & Cos. Express Dalles oval handstamp, August 1860 docketing on reverse, small sealed tear at top, ex Dale - Lichtenstein

(stock #262, $3500)

Tracy & Co's Oregon Express, Paid, printed four line frank on previously franked Wells,  Fargo 3c red Nesbitt entire to "Fort Walla, Near Walla Walla City," Washington Territory, blue Tracy & Co. Express Portland oval handstamp, ex Dale - Lichtenstein

(stock #263, $3000)

Tracy & Co. Oregon Express, Paid printed frank in waving banner design on 3c red Nesbitt entire to Walla Walla, Washington Territory, blue "Tracy & Cos. Express Portland"  handstamp, cover wrinkles, ex Dale - Lichtenstein

(stock #264, $1000)

Tracy & Co. Oregon Express, Paid banner frank and two line Boise Express Paid 50 Cts  surcharge on 3c pink 1861 issue entire addressed to “Agent, O.S.N. Co, Umatilla (Oregon)” and redirected to Dalles, printed frank overstruck by blue “Wells, Fargo & Co. Bannock City I. T.” (Idaho Territory, now Montana) dateless oval, second strike of same handstamp with May 10 date ties indicia, slightly reduced at right, used after Wells, Fargo purchased Tracy & Co's Express, ex Dale - Lichtenstein

(stock #265, $5000)

Tracy & Co. Oregon Express, Paid banner frank and two line Salmon River Express Paid One Dollar  surcharge on 3c pink 1861 issue entire, paste-back only, conjunctive use with blue Wells Fargo Walla Walla (Washington Territory) Sep 8 oval datestamp, matching "Collect" in oval handstamps penciled through, slightly soiled, two reported examples of this frank used, ex Dale - Lichtenstein

(stock #266, $2500)

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