Frajola World Covers


Steve Whitington Collection of Western Express Covers

Offered by Richard Frajola (Table of Contents and Ordering Instructions)



Chase's Express (1856 - 1863)

George W. Chase operated his one man express by wagon from Yreka to Humbug and Indian Creek along the Klamath River in northern California. He operated from the Wells, Fargo office at Yreka. The express was sold to Charles Prindle in 1863.
 

Chase's Express, Paid, Yreka - Deadwood & Indian Creek, colorless embossed ribbon frank on 3c red Nesbitt entire to San Francisco, entered mails with Sacramento City, California May 14 postmark, ex Barkhausen

(stock #123, $2000)


Cherokee Express (ca. 1860 - ca. 1866)

An obscure short-line express that operated over the range between Oroville and nearby Cherokee diggings, 14 miles distant. The express connected at Oroville with Wells, Fargo. Although this express has been reported as in operation only in 1863, known use of earlier and later dated postal stationery precludes acceptance of such a restricted period of operation.
 

Cherokee Express Paid, printed frank on 3c red Nesbitt entire to Oroville, conjunctive use with blue Wells, Fargo & Co. Oroville Mar 9  oval datestamp, reduced at right just touching indicia, five reported examples of this frank, all from same correspondence, ex Dale - Lichtenstein

(stock #124, $1500)


Clarke's Centennial Express (May 1876 - 1877)

Henry T. Clarke established his express into the Black Hills of South Dakota in the spring of 1876 to provide mail service to mining camps in  what was considered to be Indian Country. With financial assistance, Clarke build a bridge over the North Platte River north of Sidney, Nebraska and established his “Sidney Short Route” with the completion of the bridge on May 10, 1876. The express operated into 1877.
 

Clarke's Centennial Express to the Black Hills, Sidney Short Route (Paid 10 cents) green printed frank (Persson type 8) on 3c green 1876 entire to San Leandro, California, all over reverse promotional text, atypically this entered the mails with Fort Laramie, Wyoming Dec 4 postmark rather that at Sidney, Nebraska, minor aging on reverse

(stock #246, $1500)


Copley's & Co's Miners' Express (1855 - 1856)

This express operated from Marysville to the Gibsonville Ridge and the Feather River mines. It operated in 1855 and 1856.
 

Copley & Co's Miners' Express red ornamented oval handstamp on 10c Green Nesbitt entire used to Sempronius, New York, entered the mails with blue Marysville, California December 4 "Paid By Stamps" postmark and with matching grid cancel tying indicia, six recorded examples of this red handstamp, ex Kapiloff and Salzer

(stock #125, $7500)


Cram Rogers & Co Express (1851 - Mar 1855)

Cram Rogers & Co's Express operated to the mines in the Shasta area and extending into mining areas in Oregon. Over the period of operation, from 1851 until March 27, 1855, they connected with Gregory's, Adams, and Newell & Co. expresses.
 

Cram Rogers & Co Express Yreka, blue oval handstamp on cover to San Francisco with 3c dull red (#11) tied by pencil stroke cancel, carried by Cram Rogers from the mines to Shasta, conjunctive use and carried by Adams & Co express onward to San Francisco, Adams Express Shasta Jan 18 (1855) red oval datestamp and red Adams Marysville Jan 20 datestamp, ex Dale - Lichtenstein

(stock #126, $4500)


Cramer's Express (1867 -  1870)

This express, established by Charles Cramer and a partner, is reported to have operated between Susanville and Fort Bidwell in the northeast portion of California near the Oregon border. Evidence from a second cover suggest that they also ran to Reno, Nevada.
 

Cramer's Express attractive blue on violet ribbon frank on 3c pink 1864 issue entire used to San Francisco, Sender endorsement at left from "Susanville, Idaho (sic)" entered the mails with double oval "Susanville Cal Feb 27 1870" postmark which was doodled over after delivery, two types of frank are known, the only reported example of this frank and one of two reported uses of the company, ex Dale - Lichtenstein

(stock #127, $5000)


Crooks' Express (1855 - Feb 1860)

A. D. Crook established his express to operate from Yreka to the mines along the Scott and Klamath Rivers. Crooks is believed to have connected with Wells Fargo at Yreka.
 

Crooks Express Scott River partially clear blue oval handstamp on 10c green Nesbitt entire, entered the mails to New York City with red "Scottsburg Jun 30" Collins style postmark, small tear at foot, three recorded examples, ex Dale - Lichtenstein

(stock #128, $1000)


Deming & Wall Union and Eureka Express (ca. 1856 - 1857)

This express was founded by Byron Deming and William H. Wall and operated in Humboldt County, California between Union (Uniontown, now Arcata) and Eureka. In 1860 Byron Deming is listed in "Stimson's Express Directory" as an agent for Wells, Fargo in Uniontown.
 

Deming & Wall, Union and Eureka Express, Paid printed steamboat and sailing ship illustrated frank, on cover to Bucksport (nearby in Humboldt county), the only known cover of this express company, illustrated in Letters of Gold, page 181, ex Haas, and Edwards

(stock #129, $7500)


Edgar & Burke's Canyon City Express (Fall 1864 - 1865)

After Jones left Jones & Edgar's Express, Ad Edgar took in A.J. Burke as a partner and changed the name to Edgar & Burke's Canyon City Express. This express  operated from Dalles, Oregon to Canyon City and points in Idaho between 1864 and 1866.
 

Edgar & Burke's Canyon City Express Paid rectangular printed frank on 3c pink 1861 issue entire to Eureka, California, entered the mails at Canyon City with manuscript "Canyon City Ogn Sep 9" postmark for onward transmission, cover opened roughly at right and faults, three reported examples of this frank, all opened roughly, ex Dale - Lichtenstein

(stock #130, $1000)


(J.R.) English's Express (1865 - 1866)

This express operated briefly between Alpha, Omega, Washington and Nevada City where they connected with Wells, Fargo. It has been suggested that English sold out to Latta's Mountain Express which began operating over the same route in 1866.
 

English's Express, Paid rectangular frank on 3c pink 1861 issue entire addressed to Folsom, additional notation of sender "(Sing Lee is a China man)" at lower left, conjunctive use with Wells, Fargo Nevada Apr 19 blue oval datestamp for carriage to Folsom, the only reported example, an expertly rebacked front that appears extremely fine, illustrated in Letters of Gold, page 183, ex Haas and Kramer

(stock #131, $750)


Eureka Express Co. (1878 - 1894)

This express operated from Eureka south to Nevada City, California between 1878 and circa 1894. It connected with Wells, Fargo Express at Nevada City.
 

Eureka Express Co. Nevada City, Paid printed frank on 3c green 1870 issue entire to San Francisco, conjunctive use with Wells, Fargo & Co Nevada blue oval datestamp, ex Barkhausen and Pearce

(stock #132, $450)

Eureka Express Co., Paid printed frank on 3c green 1870 issue entire to San Francisco, conjunctive use with Wells, Fargo & Co Nevada faint blue oval datestamp, ex Barkhausen and Pearce

(stock #133, $250)


Evans & Co. Jacksonville & Crescent City Express (1862 - 1863)

This express was apparently operated by Henry Evans and operated in 1862 and 1863. The route was between Crescent City, California and Jacksonville, Oregon.
 

Evans & Cos. Express, Jacksonville (Oregon), & Crescent City (California), all over lithographed frank design on 3c pink 1861 issue entire used to Jacksonville, with original letter datelined "Crescent City, Feb. 3, 1863", edges faulty, only two reported examples of this frank from same correspondence, illustrated in Nathan and Letters of Gold, page 183, ex Parker, Haas and Edwards

(stock #134, $2500)

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Richard Frajola (July 2012)