Western Overland Routes



 



13 August 2018 Update - The sale is over. Any unsold items have been moved to regular inventory on the census site. Page is here.

Section 8. The Trans-continental Pony Express, 1860 to 1861

For background information, see my one page summary PDF file here

The Frajola, Kramer and Walske book, "The Post Express, A Postal History" is available as a download PDF file here.

See web version of updated image census: table of links here.
also Chapter 13 in MWE book here



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Ordering Information - Items that have red stock numbers and "sold" have been sold but prices will remain online as a value guide and reference. Please email me to confirm availability and order by stock number.


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#3496
 
sold $14,000

[Eastbound Pony Express] cover carried on eastbound trip departing San Francisco on September 1, 1860, bold COC&PP St Joseph Sep 13 pony arrival postmark (the earliest reported date of use of handstamp) and manuscript "1/2" ounce rate ($5.00), entered the mails with St Joseph postmark,10c green (#35) tied, addressed to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, cover restored tear at top, Frajola, Walske Kramer census #E18, PF cert

The addressee of this cover, Alfred Burton Greenwood, had served as a Congressman from Arkansas before appointment as Indian Commissioner. He resigned in March 1861 and after Arkansas seceded from the Union he became an ardent Confederate supporter. Confederate president Jefferson Davis first called on Greenwood, to seek the enlistment of Cherokee and Chocktaw Nations into the Confederate army.

ex Dale-Lichtenstein, Walske and New

#4166
 
sold $17,500

[Central Overland Pony Express Company frank] on 10c Nesbitt entire to Utica, New York, a way use on September 15 trip, oval "St. Joseph COC&PP Express Co. Sep (2)6" arrival datestamp, entered the mails with St. Joseph, Mo postmark, the only reported example carried on #ET31 trip, Frajola Pony Express census #E20
only eight reported examples of the COPEC frank, most likely used from Virginia City, Nevada area

(illustrated on p72 of Pony Express book) ex Haas and Walske

#3495
 
price $17,500

now
$15,000

[Eastbound Pony Express], San Francisco Running Pony "Sep 22" blue oval origin datestamp on 10c green Nesbitt entire to New York, endorsed "Via Pony" by sender at bottom left, pencil "1/4" indicating $2.50 prepaid pony express fee for a one-quarter ounce letter, oval "3 Oct St. Joseph COC&PP Express Co." arrival datestamp, entered the mails with St. Joseph, Mo postmark, the only reported example carried on this trip, Frajola Pony Express census #E20A

ex David New

#4171
 
sold $32,500

[Eastbound Pony Express], COC&PP dateless oval at left, San Francisco Running Pony "Jan 12" blue oval origin datestamp on 10c green Nesbitt entire to New Hampshire, "Chips" endorsed at left, endorsed in pen "1/4" indicating $2.50 prepaid pony express fee for a one-quarter ounce letter, oval "2 Feb St. Joseph COC&PP Express Co." arrival datestamp, entered the mails with St. Joseph, Mo postmark, the only reported example carried on this #ET65 trip, Frajola Pony Express census #E53, a condition rarity

ex Dale Lichtenstein and Walske

#4178
 
sold $35,000

[Westbound Pony Express to Oregon], 10c Star Die entire addressed to Portland, Oregon, bold March 10 St. Joseph COCPP/PE green datestamp, manuscript $2.50 express charge, entered the mails at San Francisco for carriage onward to Oregon, their San Francisco Mar 25 1861 postmark, PF cert, 9 reported examples of this marking on westbound mail, rare use that entered the mails for carriage beyond California, PF cert, Frajola Pony Express census #W34, extremely fine

(MWE Figure 13-9), ex Dale Lichtenstein and Walske

#4179
 
sold $25,000

[Eastbound Pony Express to Confederate Virginia], Wells Fargo franked 3c Nesbitt entire addressed to Col. Wm. H. Caruthers at Orange Court House, Virginia, $2 Pony express adhesive (repaired tear at left where cover opened) tied by May 1 San Francisco Running Pony Express datestamp, entered the mails with green May 14 St. Joseph, Missouri postmark, Virginia was admitted to the CSA on 7 May 1861, Frajola Pony Express census #E71

ex Walske

#4182
 
sold $17,500

[Westbound Pony Express Franked Entire], fancy Wells Fargo Pony Express franked 10c Nesbitt entire used to San Francisco, blue California Penny Post New York May 7 oval datestamp, St Joseph COCPP / PE May 11 transit corrected day in pencil, the indicia has been expertly repaired and restored, only 12 known examples of the New York marking, Frajola Pony Express census #W41

(MWE Figure 13-7), ex Crocker, Vogel and Walske

#3494
 
sold $1,250

[from London, too late for the Pony Express] letter to San Francisco headed "London, 2 November 1861" (image here) and "p (Cunard Steamer) Niagara & Pony Express" and with additional "p Pony Express" endorsement on the address leaf of letter sent under separate cover via a forwarding agent in New York City, at New York City they realized the Pony Express had just stopped running (Wells Fargo announced the termination of the Pony Express on 26 October) and they corrected the address leaf endorsement to read "Overland Mail via St. Joseph Mo," letter posted by the forwarder with 10c Green, Type I (#62B) tied by New York 18 November postmark

ex David New




Richard Frajola (July 29, 2018)