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Transcontinental Pony Express (Apr 1860 - Oct 1861)

For information see the 2005 book "The Pony Express, A Postal History" by Frajola, Kramer and Walske. All rights to this book have been recently purchased by Richard Frajola and this book is now available here as a free 48 meg PDF file.

The census section of the book has been updated with new images where possible, reclassifications and additions. See web version census table of contents page here. 

(Eastbound 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 #W231

(Westbound 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 #W230

Alta Express Company was formed after the failure of Pacific Express in Apr 1857 by Alex Badlam, Jr., C. L. Farrington, and James A. Frost. The express operated throughout the northern and central part of the state of California and into Nevada. Alta Express Company connected with Freeman Express for British Columbia and with Berford & Co. for the Atlantic States.

Alta Express Co. Paid first type printed frank with mountains in background behind bridge on 3c red Nesbitt entire to San Francisco, red "Alta Express Company Oroville" handstamp, minor edge discoloration at top left, ex Parker and Haas

stock #W103

Alta Express Co. Paid first type printed frank with mountains in background behind bridge, in blue, on 3c red Nesbitt entire to Georgetown, California, one recorded example of used frank in blue ex Dale - Lichtenstein

stock #W104

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.

Bamber & Co's Express black ribbon frank, first style with fancy ornamented scroll, on 3c pink 1864 issue entire used to San Francisco, their blue San Francisco "Jun 1" double circle datestamp, cover repair at lower left

stock #W112

The first advertisement with the new Everts, Wilson & Co. Express firm name appeared on October 8, 1856. From their principal offices at Marysville, Rabbit Creek, St. Louis and Nelson Creek and Gibsonville they served regions north of the North Fork of the Yuba River and south of the North Fork of the Feather River. The express connected at Marysville with Pacific Express until Pacific Express failed in April 1857. The express connected with connected at Marysville with Wells Fargo thereafter. On September 1,1862 the express business were sold to Holland, Morley & Company.

Everts, Wilson & Co.'s Daily Express Paid frank in double lined rectangle on 3c red Nesbitt entire used to San Francisco, docketed at left as containing a letter dated October 11, 1858

stock #W139

A June 15, 1855 newspaper notice announced that John M. Freeman, J. K. Stimson, J. Hoey and Josiah Hedden had purchased all Adams & Co interests in the California express business under the name Freeman & Co. This new firm opened offices in British Columbia in July 1858. The firm was sold to Wells, Fargo in April 1860.
 

Freeman & Co's California, Atlantic States and European Express, Paid rectangular box printed frank on 3c red Nesbitt entire used to Victoria, Vancouver Island, red oval "Freeman & Co Express" handstamp and docketed in pencil "3 Letters Recd per (steamer) Panama, Aug 9/58," minor edge faults, fewer than ten reported examples of this frank which seems to have been used primarily, if not solely, on the Victoria - San Francisco route, an early use to Victoria following the Fraser River gold discoveries

stock #W153

Holland & Wheeler's Express (late 1862 - 1863)

In late 1862 C. H. Morley sold his interest in Holland, Morley & Co. Express to Sam Wheeler. The new company served the mining camps along Gibsonville Ridge and the Feather River from a base in La Porte. They connected with Wells, Fargo at Marysville. Wheeler withdrew from the firm in mid 1863 and went into partnership with R. H. Rutherford to form Wheeler, Rutherford & Co.
 

Holland & Wheeler's Daily Express, Paid,  rectangular frank on 3c pink 1861 issue entire, franking portion of paste-up only, manuscript date of "July 28, 1863, faint strike of "Holland, Morley & Co's Express La Porte Cal" oval handstamp used after the dissolution of the original Holland Morley & Company, two reported uses of this version of their frank, ex Dale - Lichtenstein

stock #W180

In 1862 Emerson B. Hopkinson purchased a route that ran from Nevada City into the Dutch Flat area with service to Little York, Red Dog, You Bet, and Walloupa. In late 1864, he sold the route to J. A. Stone who sold the route back to Hopkinson in February 1865. All of the reported covers are dated in the period after February 1865 and the express operated until 1869. Hopkinson connected with Wells Fargo at Nevada City and Dutch Flat.

Hopkinson's Express, Paid red, ornately frame rectangular frank on 3c pink 1863 issue entire used to Nevada City, August 9, 1865 docket at left, two reported examples in red, ex Dale - Lichtenstein

stock #W181

Hopkinson's Express, Paid black, ornately framed rectangular frank, somewhat longer the pervious, on 3c pink 1863 issue entire used to Oroville, minor aging, illustrated in Letters of Gold, page 197, ex Jessup, Haas, and Edwards

stock #W182

Hopkinson's Express, Paid ornately frame rectangular frank, larger style than previous, in blue, on 3c pink 1863 issue entire used to Nevada City, September 24, 1866 docket at left, slightly reduced at right, the only reported example of this frank in blue, ex Dale - Lichtenstein

stock #W183

Hopkinson's Express, Paid black, shaded rectangular frank on 3c pink 1863 issue entire used to Nevada City, April 24, 1867 docket at left includes "S.P. Diggings" which likely indicates origin of this correspondence, ex Dale - Lichtenstein

stock #W184

Horn's Yreka, Fort Jones And Scott River Express (1874)

David Horn of Yreka, California began operating his express in 1874 connecting with Wells, Fargo at Yreka. It served the mining camps along the Scott River until early 1877 when Horn sold out to Tickner.
 

Horn's Yreka, Fort Jones And Scott River Express, Paid purple handstamped frank over-struck at left of Wells, Fargo frank on 3c green 1870 issue entire to San Francisco, conjunctive use with Wells, Fargo with their blue Yreka "Mar 2" datestamp, cover minor reduction at left

stock #W186

Huntley, previously a manager of the Northwestern Stage Company, established his express and expanded in 1867 to include service between Fort Benton and Helena, Montana Territory.
 

C.C. Huntley Stage & Express Line, Paid, purple printed fancy express company frank on 3c pink 1863 issue entire, manuscript cancel on indicia, a complete paste-up used to Helena, Montana Territory, indicia with manuscript cancel, roughly opened at right, three reported used examples of this frank

stock #W190

Horatio Jones and Addison Edgar operated express their between Canyon City and the John Day Mines in central Oregon to The Dalles on the Columbia River where they connected with Wells, Fargo. In 1864 Jones became an agent for Wells, Fargo and Edgar joined that firm in 1865.
 

Jones & Edgar's Canyon City Express, Paid, three line frank at lower left of 3c pink 1861 issue entire to Dalles (Oregon), three reported examples of this frank used, ex Dale - Lichtenstein

stock #W192

Jones & Edgar's Canyon City Express, Paid, unframed frank at top of of 3c pink 1861 issue entire to San Francisco, conjunctive use with Wells, Fargo with their Dalles (Oregon) December 5 datestamp, cover somewhat soiled, three reported examples of this frank used,  ex Dale - Lichtenstein

stock #W193

Little is known of this express which operated from the Gibsonville Ridge area to La Porte and San Francisco in 1865.

La Porte Express Co., Paid printed frank on 3c pink 1863 issue entire to San Francisco with blue LaPorte Express Co, Laporte "Apr 25" datestamp, fewer than ten reported examples, ex Barkhausen

stock #W207

This express operated briefly in 1874 between Oroville and Quincy, California. It also served Greenville, Crescent City and Taylorsville. It connected with Wells, Fargo at Oroville.

Oroville & Quincy Express Co., and Wells, Fargo & Co's Routes, Paid red and black, stagecoach illustrated  frank on 3c green 1870 issue entire to Meridian, Connecticut, entered the mails with manuscript "Cana Sep 21" (Butte County) postmark, eight reported examples of this attractive frank, ex Lichtenstein, Clifford, Beals and Edwards

stock #W222

Pacific Union Express (1868 - 1864)

On December 18, 1867 Pacific Union Express Company was incorporated in California with stockholders A. K. Grim and Lawrence W. Coe appointed as managers for the express on the West Coast with A. K. Tilton in New York. Grim was named President. When service commenced on June 1, 1868, it was announced to include express matter and letters by every steamer via Panama and similar service to Hawaii, China and Japan. The company was set up "on the Wells, Fargo plan" to compete with them. Service to Nevada and Arizona was begun in 1869. On December 1, 1869 the company discontinued operations and its business transferred to Wells, Fargo.

Pacific Union Express, Paid, red scroll franks on 3c pink 1864 issue entires, two covers, horizontal frank on cover to Wisconsin that entered the mails at San Francisco and vertical frank on cover to San Francisco that entered the mail at Colchester, Connecticut, minor edge fault on first cover

stock #W324 and 325

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 #W234

Rockfellow & Co's Express (May 1863 - Oct 1863)

This express ran from Walla Walla to John Day Country in Oregon and to Boise Basin in Idaho following Wells, Fargo's withdrawal from the route on May 17, 1863. Later when Indian troubles lessened and production of bullion greatly increased, Wells, Fargo purchased the Rockfellow Express on Oct 17, 1863.
 

Rockfellow & Co's Express Paid 75c printed frank with elaborate scrolls and ovals on 3c pink 1861 issue entire used to Dalles, Oregon, a complete paste up, a conjunctive use with  blue Wells, Fargo, Walla Walla Sep 7 oval datestamp, identical datestamp on unfranked reverse, pencil enclosure “Aug 23rd, Last eve a man by the name of Tony was accidentally killed by a pistol. He was from the Dalles, A. Butcher,” five reported examples of this frank, ex Dale - Lichtenstein

stock #W241

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 #W256

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 #W254

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 #W255

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 #W257

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