Siegel's Pony Express Cover Auction Posted Today

Although I know little about this area of philately, I found myself immersed in Siegel's Pony Express cover sale, the catalog which was posted today. The historical background on each and every lot, as well as the general background information included in the sale's introduction, reads like a history textbook. It provides a fascinating snapshot into the early days of long-distance mail delivery along with the perils and challenges that these couriers encountered on a daily basis. How any cover could survive the winters of the Sierra Nevadas, hostile Native American encounters, 2 or more train trips and then possibly a 2 week ship voyage is beyond comprehension. The fact that any of these well-traveled covers are still with us, speaks volumes about the dedication and perseverance of this collector. Any way, I am in awe of not just this collection, but the historical importance that it represents.

Wonderful material.

A lot of western covers, are pretty beaten up, for obvious reasons. There is a lot of high quality material in here, for what it is.

The Pony Express has always seemed like a romantic and adventurous part of history - not just postal history.

If you want to learn more about the Ponies, download the Frajola, Kramer, and Walske book for free here - https://rfrajola.com/pony/ponybookad.htm
Also, updated census information here https://rfrajola.com/PonyHTM/PonyCensus.htm

I downloaded it, and have been reading it-a comprehensive, well written and awesome historical reference, and a great freebie that everybody should take advantage of.

After you finish the Pony Express Book, you might want to read the Frajola and Walske Mails of the Westward Expansion - also a free download https://rfrajola.com/MWE/MWE.htm

The MWE book puts the Pony Express into context with other mail routes to California in the 1850s (via Panama, via Nicaragua, via Tehuantepec, the route, the Butterfield route, the central overland route).