Lot 1224
Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, red type II East-to-West frank, 10c Green on white entire (U40), cancelled by "Philadelphia Pa Aug 16 1861" octagonal datestamp duplexed with dotted cork cancellation, printed frank endorsement to the "Agent of Pony Express, St. Joseph, Mo." and handwritten address to San Jose Cal.; top edge refolded slightly and nick at left, Very Fine and rare.
Estimate 25,000 - 30,000
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED PONY EXPRESS COVERS FROM PHILADELPHIA, THIS ONE BEING UNLISTED IN THE MOST RECENT CENSUS.
Provenance: From the Collection of Robert Bureski
This Pony Express usage was mailed on August 16, 1861 from the Philadelphia post office and treated as regular mail until it reached the Wells, Fargo & Co. agent at St. Joseph, Missouri. From there it made the 1861 August 22, westbound pony trip (WT-133) to California. At Placerville, it was carried by Wells, Fargo & Co. to San Jose. Similar to the other cover from this correspondence, the St. Joseph office did not apply a Pony Express datestamp.
The other recorded Pony Express cover from Philadelphia is listed and illustrated as census number W53 in "The Pony Express, A Postal History". It is from the same correspondence as the example offered here, mailed only 10 days later on August 26. Both were sent during the fourth rate period from July to October 1861.
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| Realized $25,000 |
