Pony Express

I'm curious. I just saw the request from western1688 for the use of a Wells Fargo Pony Express stamp as his avatar (very cool stamp by the way)
But I'm curious. The famous pony express that lasted only 18 months from 1860 to 61 was not started by Wells Fargo, I believe

Here's a website with it's history

http://www.ponyexpress.org/history

So my question is, if this is true, did the original pony express started Mssrs. Russell, Waddell and Majors have their own stamps?
If so, let's see 'em.

edit- Ok, so according to this site

https://www.wellsfargo.com/about/hi...nd_continued

Wells Fargo bought out pony express in 1866.
So I guess I can rephrase the question, Did the original pony express (1860-61) use stamps?

The original pony express you reference did not have a paper stamp but used handstamps at both San Fransisco CA and St Joseph MO. The initial rate was $5.00 per 1/2oz. I think this is all you will find on the surviving covers carried during the 18 months it existed.

Where I run into trouble is that you also find these Wells Fargo stamps on covers carried by the pioneer pony express riders. You also see some regular issue stamps where they entered the mail at the St. Joseph terminus.

Richard Frajola has an amazing database on these rare and very valuable covers. Each east and westbound ride is numbered chronologically an so are the surviving covers.

As to the Wells, Fargo and Co. stamps, they began as agents for the Central Overland, California and Pikes Peak Express Co. in April 1861. The first 2 stamps were #143L1 ($2 red) and #143L2 ($4 green) until July 1861 when rates were cut and the #143L3-143l5 were issued.

This reduced rate is where my stamp fits.




Also during this period Wells Fargo won a government contract for it's mail service, so from July 1 to Oct. 24 1861 stamps issued were considered official use.

Hope this helps a bit James, I'm still learning myself.

Makes it much clearer, thanks. An interesting period, to be sure.

The pony express originally used a large oval handstamp, regular stamps were used later. The pony express actually lasted longer than 18 months. In the later phases it provided service between san Francisco and Virginia City. The Siegel catalog for the Thurston Twigg-Smith is an outstanding resource:
http://www.siegelauctions.com/2009/979/Sale979.pdf

Further reading from the SCF Library...

https://goscf.com/t/6786

Beautiful auction catalogue and a wealth of information in it as well.

I wish all auction catalogues were like that lol. Thanks for sharing.

James, your url posting is good too. Hope to see you in Barrie tomorrow.

Chimo

Bujutsu

Here are 2 more types I've added in my search for a complete set.
It's interesting that used copies of these (excluding those on covers which are very rare) are priced at 2x or better than unused. Unfortunately this also means many cancels are fakes.







143L8 25 cent blue, possible Virginia City cancel but looks a bit odd to me (a rank amateur at best)



143L9 25 cent red unused



143L9 25 cent red, better looking Wells Fargo & Co cancel Nevada Territory

Scott notes that "the revival of the Pony Express in 1862, known as the Virginia City Pony resulted in the appearance of the cents values, first rate.

Bill

If the original Pony Express cost $5 to mail 1/2 oz. letter, that equates to almost $120 in today's money. It must have been a vitally important communication to warrant that kind of money back in the day!

fascinating stuff !

A few years ago on the old Stampoffers we had a lot of fun with a fellow that posted that he had some old "pony express" letters down in his safe from a long ago relative...he was going to go down and get them to show..of course we waited and waited but he never came back !