Frajola World Covers


Steve Whitington Collection of Western Express Covers

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



Hopkinson's Express (1862 - 1864, Feb 1865 - 1869)

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 #181, $1500)

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 #182, $1200)

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 #183, $1500)

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 #184, $1500)

Hopkinson's Express, Paid, Nevada, Red Dog, You Bet and Dutch Flat, black rectangular frank with ornate type font  on 3c pink 1863 issue entire used to San Francisco, conjunctive use with Wells, Fargo, their blue oval "Dutch Flat Mar 23" datestamp, docket on reverse as being from Little York and received March 24, 1869, two reported used examples of this frank, ex Chaloner and Jarrett

(stock #185, $5000)


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 #186, $500)


Humboldt Express Company (1864)

This company was created in August 1864 as a consolidation of Cutler & Westerfield and Blake & McCommons. They originally operated from Idaho City to San Francisco with pony express service to Star City, Nevada Territory and the Boise Basin. They connected with Wells, Fargo at Starr City. The express folded in 1865 due to the Paiute-Bannock uprising.
 

Humboldt Express Co. Paid - 50 Cents, two line imprint of 3c pink 1861 issue entire directed to Jamestown, California, conjunctive use with Wells, Fargo, their blue Starr City, N.T. (Nevada Territory) "Nov 16" oval datestamp, cover expertly rebacked, the only reported used example of this frank, ex Dale - Lichtenstein

(stock #187, $2500)


Hunter & Co's Express (Mar 1851 - Jul 1854)

Alexander Hunter launched his express service with a small newspaper notice in the March 27, 1851 Sacramento Transcript stating "will leave for Coloma, Placerville and towns in that vicinity." In April he appears listed by Palmer's Express as their conjunctive express serving the area. By May he advertised as serving all forks of the American River. He later allied with Gregory's and Adams expresses before selling to Wells Fargo & Co. in July 1854 and becoming their agent in Placerville.
 

Hunter & Co's Express, blue oval handstamp on cover inbound to the mines, manuscript Spencersburg, Missouri April 1 (1851) postmark and "40" due rate, faint red Sacramento City postmark and their "Adv." advertised handstamp, carried by Hunter's from the Sacramento City post office to the addressee in Spanish Bar with manuscript express notation of location and "$1.70" express rate due, faults, fewer than five reported examples of this handstamp

(stock #188, $350)

Hunter & Co's Express, horseman illustrated double oval handstamp on cover inbound to the mines, manuscript Spencersburg, Missouri July 8 (1851) postmark and red "10" due handstamp, carried by Hunter's from the Sacramento City post office to the addressee in Spanish B(ar) Mill with manuscript express notation of location and "$1.35" express rate due, wrinkles, ex Straley

(stock #189, $1500)


C.C. Huntley Stage & Express Line (1866 - 1869)

Huntley, previously a manager of the Northwestern Stage Company, established his express to serve Idaho Territory but 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 #190, $2000)


Ish & Hailey's Pioneer Line (fall 1863 - 1865)

William K. Ish and John B. Hailey formed the Oregon and Idaho Stage Company in 1863 to operate between Umatilla, Oregon and Boise, Idaho Territory. They also served the Idaho Basin and Owyhee mines. In July 1864 the form briefly became Ish & Carr but on October 8, 1864 was Ish & Hailey. Ish sold out in 1865.
 

Ish & Bailey's Pioneer Line, Umatilla & Boise, Paid printed black on pink company frank, partner's name miss-spelled with "B" instead of "H" as always, on 3c pink 1863 issue entire addressed to "Lee's Encampment" (Oregon), roughly opened at right affecting indicia, two reported examples of this used frank

(stock #191, $2000)

 

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Richard Frajola (July 2012)