California Mails and Western Expresses, Carriers, Locals and Independent Mails continued...

Western Expresses (LaPorte thru Wood) continued...

Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
4381		Wells, Fargo & Co. Mexican Frank. Green printed frank (Haller WF-M18) on legal-size 4c Green entire (U254) to Cuidad de Mexico, "Wells, Fargo & Co. El Paso, Texas Nov. 25, 1891" oval datestamp, receiving backstamp, vertical fold, slightly toned, otherwise Fine, very rare in used condition (Image)	E. 400-500 SOLD for $375.00 Will close during Public Auction
4382		Wells, Fargo & Co. Collection. 57 covers (incl. a few fronts and paste-ups) plus several off-cover labels, a tremendous range of usages, mainly from the 1850's and 60's but as late as 1913, incl. handstamped office markings and labels (printed franks were of little interest to Mr. Hahn), highlights include 1855 with Boyd's oval, 1859 to New York with "Collect" oval applied by McIntire's local post, red Sacramento oval with "Free" to newspaper editor (plus other "Free" usages), 1859 from Havana, blue ovals with "San Bernardino", "Mexican Route", "Sonora" and "Spanish Ranch", many different labels incl. Ogden Utah, Dalles Ore., Walla Walla and Portland, condition is quite mixed (representation was the goal) but the scarcity and unusual character of these covers outweighs minor faults, worth careful examination, a treasure trove of Western Expresses	E. 3,000-4,000 SOLD for $6,250.00 Will close during Public Auction
4383		Wheeler's Express. Printed frank in banner (Haller FW10, Ty. 1) modified from earlier "Holland & Wheeler's Express" woodcut (Haller FH11, Ty. 3) on 3c Pink entire (U35) to San Francisco, blue "Wheeler's Express La Porte" double-circle handstamp (also modified by removing Holland's name), conjunctive use with blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Marysville Nov. 13" oval datestamp, repaired corner at bottom right, otherwise Very Fine, according to Nathan early in 1862 Sam Wheeler bought H. C. Morley's interest in Holland, Morley & Co., which served the Gibsonville Ridge and Feather River mining camps, and eventually he and Holland renamed the express Holland & Wheeler, in December 1863 Wheeler withdrew from the partnership and started his own express with his brother, operating along the same route, and he evidently took the "Holland & Wheeler" woodcut and handstamp and altered them by removing Holland's name, the two brothers closed down their express after a short time and one or both became partners in Wheeler, Rutherford & Co. (Image)	E. 750-1,000 SOLD for $900.00 Will close during Public Auction
4384		Wheeler's Express. Printed frank in banner (Haller FW10, Ty. 1) modified from earlier "Holland & Wheeler's Express" woodcut (Haller FH11, Ty. 3) on 3c Pink entire (U58) to Oroville Cal., blue "Wheeler's Express La Porte" double-circle handstamp (also modified by removing Holland's name), conjunctive use with blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Marysville Jan. 22" oval datestamp, soiled specks and toning along right side, otherwise Very Fine (Image)	E. 500-750 SOLD for $425.00 Will close during Public Auction
4385		Wheeler's Express. Printed frank in banner (Haller FW10, Ty. 1) modified from earlier "Holland & Wheeler's Express" woodcut (Haller FH11, Ty. 3) on 3c Pink entire (U35) to San Francisco, conjunctive use with blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Marysville Oct. 10" oval datestamp, minor edgewear, Very Fine, this scarce frank was made by removing "Holland &" from the "Holland & Wheeler" woodcut after Wheeler left the partnership, ex Dale-Lichtenstein and Kramer (Image)	E. 500-750 SOLD for $575.00 Will close during Public Auction
4386		Wheeler's Express. Two-line printed frank in frame (Haller FW10, Ty. 2) on 3c Pink entire (U35) to Morristown Cal., no markings, reduced into embossed stamp at right, otherwise Fine, this simple typeset frank is one of the rarest of all associated with the ubiquitous Wheeler name, it was probably released by Sam Wheeler during one of the brief periods when he operated on his own, as a measure of rarity there were no examples of this frank in the Barkhausen, Edwards, or 1997-2004 Dale-Lichtenstein sales (Image)	E. 750-1,000 SOLD for $1,050.00 Will close during Public Auction
4387		Wheeler, Rutherford & Co.'s Express. Printed frank in banner (Haller FW11) on 3c Pink entire (U58) to San Jose, conjunctive use with "LaPorte Express Co. La Porte May 10" and "Wells, Fargo & Co. Marysville May 11" oval datestamps (ca. 1865), opened at left but barely reduced, Very Fine, a fascinating cover, which could be a triple-conjunctive use involving Wheeler, Rutherford & Co. and the LaPorte Express Co. as separate entities, another possibility is that Wheeler started the LaPorte Express Co. after splitting with Rutherford in early 1865 (continuing to serve the Gibsonville and Feather River mining camps) and accepted the frank from his partnership with Rutherford (who kept the woodcut and altered it by removing Wheeler's name), the same markings with the same dates are found on a LaPorte Express franked entire in the 2004 Dale-Lichtenstein sale (lot 1179), another bit of circumstantial evidence linking Wheeler to LaPorte is that Dr. E. L. Willard, a pharmacist in LaPorte, was agent for Wheeler, Rutherford & Co. and then turns up as agent for the LaPorte Express Co. -- ex Dale-Lichtenstein, with 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)	E. 1,500-2,000 SOLD for $1,800.00 Will close during Public Auction
4388		Wheeler, Rutherford & Co.'s Express. Printed frank in banner (Haller FW11) on 3c Pink entire to "Madame Silvy" in San Francisco, conjunctive use with blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Marysville Oct. 5" oval datestamp, slightly reduced at top and tiny edge tear above embossed stamp, still Very Fine, this partnership was created when Wheeler took in Rutherford as partner, this rare frank was used until Wheeler left in 1865 and Rutherford carried on (removing Wheeler's name from the woodcut frank -- see lot 4281), ex Kramer (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500 SOLD for $1,300.00 Will close during Public Auction
4389		Whiting & Co.'s Feather River Express. Printed frank (Haller FW12, Ty. 2) on 10c Green Nesbitt entire (U16) to Liberty N.Y., entered mails with blurry Marysville Cal. "Paid by Stamps" circular datestamp and matching large grid of squares, minor edgewear, Fine, scarce transcontinental Whiting & Co.'s usage (Image)	E. 500-750 SOLD for $600.00 Will close during Public Auction
4390		Whiting & Co.'s Feather River Express. Printed frank (Haller FW12, Ty. 2) on 3c Red Nesbitt entire (U9, unlisted on this entire) to Harrison Eastman "Designer & Engraver" at San Francisco street address (Golden Era Building), Extremely Fine, according to the UC Berkeley Library website "Harrison Eastman ranks as one of the important artists of gold rush California. He arrived in San Francisco by ship in February of 1849 and secured a position as a clerk in the post office. During 1849 he painted a portrait of James Marshall. He also worked with William Keith and the Nahl brothers. The sketchbook is open to a drawing entitled, 'Steamer Day, Calif. Post Office.'" -- ex Dale-Lichtenstein (Image)	E. 750-1,000 SOLD for $1,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
4391		Whiting & Co.'s Feather River Express. Printed frank (Haller FW12, Ty. 2) on 3c Red Nesbitt entire (U10) to Quincy Cal., conjunctive use with blue "Everts, Wilson & Co.'s Express Marysville" circular handstamp, vertical fold and small mended tear at bottom right, part of backflap removed, otherwise Very Fine, an unusual conjunctive usage because both company's served the same area, according to Nathan "Everts and Whiting were close friends and so Whiting made arrangements to turn over his express business on the Quincy to Marysville part of the route." -- this may be an example of that route sharing (Image)	E. 750-1,000 SOLD for $1,050.00 Will close during Public Auction