Pony Express

It was the 80th anniversary of the pony express in 1940, was the service by pony still existing in 1940? Thank you

Hi Nic.

The Pony Express only ran for a short time - from April 1860 to October 1861. It ended with the completion of the transcontinental telegraph to Salt Lake City.

It's logo was later used by Wells Fargo on guard and armoured car services.

Balf

I've seen something about all the hoopla for the anniversary celebration within the last few days in one of the philatelic journals or websites. I'll try to get my old brain working and find it.

Doubtless, what you've seen are ads for an auction of a major collection of pony express philatelic material by a major auction house. The auction is later this month.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Pony Express. There are several pictorial postmarks for the anniversary this year. Also, there is an annual Re-ride from Sacremento CA to Saint Joseph MO by the National Pony Express Association. I am thinking of requesting a cover to be sent along for the ride. Check out the NPEA's website for details. The Museum of Transportation in St Louis even had a multi stop Pony Express activity for kids a couple weekends ago. It focused on the 3 men whom started the service. My son enjoyed that and looking at all the trains, cars, and a tug boat. I even got him a cowboy hat, which he loves.

Let's see some stamps and covers commemorating the Pony Express

You asked for it

acknowledgement : blair rcsd.

Pony Express

A famous American mail service operated by pony riders
over 2,000 miles of hazardous country between St. Joseph,
Missouri, and Sacramento California. The service started
in April, 1860, when William H. Russell, one of the
proprietors, won a $200,000 wager by proving that the mail
could be carried over this route in ten days.

In 1861 stamps inscribed 'Pony Express' were issued by
Wells, Fargo and Co., who were the San Francisco agents
for the Pony Express. Genuine used examples are now
rare and the stamps have been extensively forged.

Despite its great achievements in speeding up the California
mails -- which previously had been taken by sea via Panama --
the Pony Express was not a financial success and after
eighteen months it was discontinued on the completion of
the transcontinental telegraph.

In that time about 35,000 letters were carried. A second
Pony Express was operated by Wells, Fargo and Co. in
1862-4 between San Francisco and Virginia City, Nevada,
at the time of the great Comstock Lode operations, and
stamps similar to the earlier issue were used. This
became known as the 'Little Pony' in contrast to the
'Big Pony' original service.

- R. J. Sutton 6th edition revised by K. W. Anthony
The Stamp Collector's Encyclopaedia
Published 1966

Some Pony Express info cynosure on Wells Fargo
"Rover" Boys Annual 1953

Well, I once worked for the Pony Express and now I work for Wells Fargo.
Go figure!

Very nice. Thanks everyone. Can't wait to see more.

1 place in the US still gets it's mail via Horses(ALMOST). The Havasupai Indian Reservation inside the Grand Canyon in Arizona. It is delivered by Mule Train. They even have their own special Postmark. "Mule Train Mail - Havasupai Indian Reservation". If you send a stamped envelope to the Postmster they will postmark it for you at N/C. I would post a picture but, I am not home at the moment and will not be for a few days.

If I recall correctly, the National Postal Museum has an exhibit geared around the Pony Express open right now. Linn's had a story about it around a month ago. Here's their page on the exhibit: http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/pony...s/index.html

-Allen

Rod, out of curiosity, just how many images do you have??

revstampman,
I am always looking for covers from there. That reservation has a nice tie in to my Route 66 collection. I think I had even seen a Helicopter Mail cover from there before.