The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-21
SOME RARE PRIVATE STAMPS
ISSUED Ri THE EMPRESS COW
PANIES BEFORE THE wan.

Stamps Of the mail carrying companies
- ,ich hourishe1 as early as isie and which
s~-ansported letters and mai matter from
the Atlantic TO the Pacific coast and to
different parts OF the West form a fairly
large series. certain specimens of which
are now rare.
The first stamps issued OF this character
were those OF Berford 4 Co, which, or
ganized in 1910, carried mail between New
York city and San Francisco by way OF
Parama. These stamps were all of the
same design, which showed a large oval
frame with jagged edge inclosing in largo
figures the value in the centre. At the
bottom was mo. ? Aston House. n. Y"
At the top was -Berford 4 Co.'S Express
NJ California the latter word in large
letters extending straight across the central
portion Of the stamp. The denominations
were 8. Q, 10 and IS cents.
The 3 cent stamp, which was printed
in black. is now quoted at ss5; the 8 cent
green ID valued at $50, the 10 cent purple
at $50 and the rs cent red stamp at SIS.
these value being placed upon used
specimens in perfect condition.
Wells. Fargo a Co. issued twenty varieties
OF stamps. II Is said that, contrary TO
general belief. this company was rot the
originator Of the famous pony express,
but that the Central Overland California
and Pixies Peak Company, organized and
operated in 1850. was the first pony express,
that of Wells. Fargo a Co. commencing to
do business in 1851. The rate charged
for carrying letters by the first named
company was So for each half ounce from
San Francisco to Salt Lake City. while to
all points to the east of the latter place
the charge was IS a half ounce. IL is not
known that the first pony express COM
pany ever issued stamps of any kind,
but two varieties of the Wells. Fargo & Co.
issues show in the centre a galloping horse
with rider. At the top of the first stamp
Is Pony Express" below this being 80 Cts.
y o." Further below, in two lines, are
the words Enclosed in Our Franks-Wells,
Fargo a Co." OF this variety there we're
two denominations. 10 and - cents. the
former in brown on white paper, while
the latter was printed in two different
colors, one in blue and the other in red.
These stamps are common, the rarest Of
the three being the IS cent blue, which
when used is values at s..
The next type is somewhat similar to
the frs. with pony and rider as the main
design, but bears the value and omits the
line Enclosed in our Franks. There are
four denominations of the second type
81 red, SIRED. 81 green. 81 green aud 81 black.
The rarest Of these is the 81 green stamp.
which, used and perfect, brings ST..
Another type. known as the garter stamp.
which by certain authorities is believed
TO have been the first stamp used by Wells.
Fargo Il Co., is circular in shape and about
the sire Of a silver 3 cert piece. AT the top.
around the border. is Wells, Fargo d Co..
and In the centre "a oz. sl.O0.' This
stamp. which Is blue in color. 10 valued a.
IS used and $40 unused.
A fairly rare stamp Of this company
shows an oval inside of a rectangular
frame printed IN black. At the top Of the
oval are the words ITO Be Dropped" while
at the bottom is inscribed in New York
Post Once" Within the oval at the top
and bottom are the words Wells. Fargo
a. Co. Express" enclosing the word Paid"
Either used or unused a perfect specimen
Of this design is valued at SIS.
Another stamp, somewhat like this in
general style, had the words One News
paper" at the top and over Our California
Routes" at the bottom. Within the oval
10 the word Paid" in large letters. across
which, from one end of the oval to the
other. is Wells, Fargo q Co." This va
riety. which is printed in blue, quotes at
&35, either USED or unused. Two other
varieties Of the newspaper stamps are
much like this in general design. but are
not held at much Of "A premium.
Or the 1878 issue is "A ~, pset stanlr shUe-
ing q rectangular frame Of light and heavy
blue border about an inch and urarter. long
nda little over an inch wld,. Horizontally
In three lines are the words Publishers
Paid Stamp W. +. a Co. Express" with
q long ornament Between the two Il st lines.
This Is printed in blue and is credited with
being one OF the rGrsst OF this series of
STA The one or two specimens known
TO be in existence are worth considerably
more than 500.
Still another stsmp is very similrr to the
foregoing. but smaller. With the same ar
rsngemsnt of border end lettering, but Of
different type. although it Is apparent tina
an attemrt hiss been made to initiate IT,.
Between the last two lines on this STAMP
there is a short dash. The variety is very
common, being valusda at only5 cents unused
and 81 used.
From the date OF the issue OF the latter
lamp in 1870 uo to 1858 two other varieties
q newspaper stsmrs we're Issued by Wells,
Fargo n Co. both re sernbi'ng in many
res1ects the newsnarer stomp above de-
scribed, but the insc:irtion on the last
stamp issued ~ the bottom reads "Oyer
Our Routes in the L. s." These we're both
printed in blue and bring = smill premium
Vnen III Eerlect ana used cOndiflOn.
Adams Il Co.'S EXPRESS WIS organized in
California in ls49 as 2 branch of the Eastern
omo ny, the mana ger of which was d. II.
Hasken, who nfterward becs me one of the
proprietors, This com"sny issued six veri-
eties of STAMPS embracing two general
tyres. The first of the tyres was o rect
angular stamp bearing a mans u~ortrait.
supposed to be thst Of H skell. The ror-
traits differ on the various stamrs, which
were printed in blue. black end claret,
and all were OF the dnnominp tons Of rs
cents. The rarest of the portrait stamrs
was the one in black, bearing the words
under the portrait in = horizontal line,
Adams a Co e EXrress." Tn portrait il
In an ~octagonsl frame. This stamp is worth
more than 500.
Another variety, showing the PORTRAIT in
an oval frame. with tho figures "?5" at each
extreme corner enclosed in y tinv circle.
with the words Rate 25c Per u or" rcrcss
the top. ia valued at SIS when unused. There
10 no record Of a used specimen.
There exists the simo design Of stamp
IS the foregoing without the inscription
Rate ' &c, at the to-. hut, surcharged in
red. over Our California Lines Only"
This stamp is black and is very rare.
The sans comnany also issued q news
PAPER stamn, rectangular in form. clare in