Wells Fargo Handstamp & Frank Need Help.

Good day all. I have a scarce Wells Fargo hand stamp. Northem Coast Route (42 x 24) blue
09-07 EXAMPLE (WC12991) this is one of five known to exist.
if possible I would like to see the remaining 3 covers. also what kind of real value would this be worth? everything is correct, size, color, (ROUTE) spelled in oval and center in (OLD GERMAN SCRIPT). From what I have been told my cover may be the best example of an unobstructed hand stamp of this type.
Foot note for WFE-111 (Northern Coast Route Center line in old German script)
I have included, all the information I have with it, along with a picture of the example mentioned (WC12991).
I appreciate all and any help.






EXAMPLE {WC12991}

Its the kind of thing that you should get certified

EYEONTHEWALL, why do you think I would need a cert for this item? is there something that stands out, everything in the book is correct on the cover. if genuine thoughts on value? and I'm hopeful that someone may have images of the remaining 3 covers.

My thoughts are that anything of higher value should be certified if you intend to insure the item, or later sell it. If you are just keeping in your collection, then it's your choice, as you will never be sure that an expert forgerer didn't create the item.

I agree with eyeonwall. It is an unusual piece. Most of the Wells Fargo Express handstamps are on Wells Fargo branded pre-stamped envelopes, like in your second photo. Your unstamped envelope with no other markings but the WF handstamp is unusual. Also your handstamp is a slate blue color darker than I have usually seen, again compare with your second example. Finally, taking the "Northern Coast Route" to New York City is also odd. I am not an expert, so maybe this is all normal, but this cover looks nothing like the dozen or so of Wells Fargo covers that I have.

I would not blink twice buying your second example (WC12991) without a certificate, but I wouldn't touch your first example without a cert.

As to value, is that the Kenedi auction card where the cover came from? At the time, probably 1980s, it sold for $80, to give you some sense of value. If genuine, it may be worth a little more today, but given its condition it is not exhibitable so demand is low and it may be hard to find a buyer.

PARTTIME, I appreciate your insight and advice. I do intend to send it in for a cert with the PF. I still would like to hopefully see the other 3 known examples. and also would like to know what kind of value this cover holds. thoughts on who would be a leading expert on this kind of cover.

ZEBRAMAN, I appreciate your thoughts on the cover, and at 1st blush. when I 1st got the cover, I thought more of what you mentioned. but from researching I found out more about how this cover would have come to travel and why. so there was a Route to NYC, the person and address is correct from the time frame, the cover being different then the normal one, yes unusual we see is because it's a legal thick heavy cover, most likely documents, bonds or money inside. saddle bag wear is normal and fine for an item like this that traveled the way it did. possible with the help of the pony express. the blue seems to look right, as I have others. but I have looked at this from a few different devices and the color seems to look different on everyone I have looked from. colors are not all seen the same from my end, so I can see how that could be on someone else's end as well. $80 was paid in the 80s from KENEDI. from what I know when bought it was overlooked and undervalued. kind of a slip though the cracks item. but you may be right on value and possibly not desirable. its not fancy at all. but unique and unusual. to me it's a nice piece of Americana, postal history. an artifact from a time long gone. it has lots of different history. to add. the address was the 1st presidential mansion of the 1st congress in at the time of the US capital. the building was destroyed shortly after this letter was sent to this address.

In my opinion the covers do not need certificates. They are what they are. A better option would be to send scans of the covers to the editor of the Western Express. They might find an author who could discuss the covers for in their journal for you. The other option would be to contact the editors of the two volume Western Express work. One of the editors (Oscar Thomas) has passed away, but I am sure that there are other editors that would like to see scans of these covers.

Looking at the back it seems plausible that there was a 3c postal stationary paste-up attached at back. This was common practice for larger items in particular to get the US government postage paid.

I don't know the date of mailing for this item, and I don't know the regulations, beyond 1861 regarding regarding payment of US postage in addition to private express postage - but it was certainly required up to that time.

The government wanted their cut of postage from these private expresses, and Nesbitts were born in 1853 whereby the typical 3c (for example) US postage would be prepaid by a Nesbitt, and express fees were remitted separately. Since I don't see a stamp, or a rating, a paste-up may have been used here.

I think if we can narrow down when the handstamp was used, this would have us a better time frame of usage. I do see what appears to be that something was attached to the back at some point. this envelope by itself is heavy, and what ever the content was made this even more heavier. which would have required some postage to cover the cost. as said before. the US government wants there cut. I can see if there was a nice block or strip on the back that it was removed. killing the postal history, any rates and or additional markings. with all said. seems to still bear a very scarce Wellsfargo handstamp of which only 5 are known to exist. this cover may have the best unobstructed imprint of this particular handstamp. and may be the only one mailed like this, as most are like the example (WC12991) this although not fancy and very plain would be a nice addition to anyone who collects Wellsfargo handstamp and franks. I will be looking to part with this once I have some more information. most likely a trade as I collect US classics. on and off cover.

Brilliant explanation txstamp. I can see now how the postage and other transit markings could have been attached to a WF entire on the reverse. And if that cover is out in the wild as one of the other 5 known examples, it would be nice to see the two halves reacquainted some day.

That slanted style of address reminds me a lot of many Fox fakes. A cover like this would need a cert to sell, as stated above.

https://www.philatelicfoundation.or...fake-covers/

Zebraman, I didn't think of that, that one of the other 4 covers could in fact be the other half of this cover as a paste up. if that was the case I would want to join them back together. thank you for that. now I even more so want to see the other covers.

Phade - I think you misunderstand. I think they are saying the other half of this cover was a regular post office entire (without the WF marking).,