50th Auction Anniversary Auction - Day 8

Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika - Lokalausgaben + Carriers Stamps: WELLS, FARGO & CO. 1861: 2$ red (S
WELLS, FARGO & CO. 1861: 2$ red (Scott 143L1), position 14, tied by blue "WELLS FARGO CO. PLACERVILLE APR 28" oval datestamp on pasteback envelope to Newbury Port MA, green arrival "ST. JOSEPH Mo. MAY 10" c.d.s., endorsed "April, 28, The dear Boys birth" in upper left; the adhesive with strong color and four margins, slight pre-use crease at top, glue stains around stamp from being pasted to a 10c entire as evidenced by envelope remnants on reserve.

THIS UNIQUE COVER IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED USAGE OF ANY PONY EXPRESS POSTAGE STAMP.

One of three known covers from the first day of the Pony Express postal service (without a stamp just with the Pony-Express postmark) on paste-up fetched USD 400.000 hammer price in the Twigg-Smith sale at Siegel/New York in 2009, highlighted as an "ARTIFACT OF THE LEGENDARY PONY EXPRESS".

In April 1861, Wells Fargo & Co. introduced adhesive stamps in their capacity as agents for the Pony Express. At this time the Trans-Continental Pony Express was a privately owned operation that carried mail between California an St. Joseph Mo. at the rate of two dollars per half ounce. This cover departed Placerville, Carlifornia on April 28 and was carried east by a relay of riders on ponies. It entered the United states mails at St. Joseph, Missouri on May 10, 1861.

A MAJOR RARITY AND A KEY ITEM OF CLASSIC US PHILATELY AND POSTAL HISTORY.

This cover is illustrated on page 113 of the Walske-Frajola-Handbook (position E70). Expertization: certificates American Philatelic Society (2002): "used on earliest documented cover" and Philatelic Foundation (2013).