Sharing today is a rare (1843/1850) WELLSFARGO hand stamp in blue, notated in the census as only 5 known. WELLS, FARGO & CO. /Express/NORTHERN COst ROUTE on thick cargo cover with saddle bag burn marks on front & back from horseback or stagecoach, the cover was partially sticking out. during its travel. the footnotes (3): explains about the word ROUTE & Center line in old German script. the example WC-12991 is in the last picture of a post card. very scarce artifact. My cover is the only one with a clear almost full unobstructed strike.
Postal History: The cover is addressed to Mr. Henry W. Corbett in New York City. Corbett was a prominent figure—a businessman and later a U.S. Senator from Oregon—who was heavily involved in the development of stagecoach and express lines in the West.
New York Origins: Before moving West, Corbett worked as a clerk for Williams Bradford & Co., a dry goods merchant in New York City, from 1843 to 1850. The Barclay Street address was likely his residence or a business contact point during his return trips to the East.
Oregon Pioneer & Senator: Corbett moved to Portland, Oregon, in 1851 with $25,000 in goods to start a business. He eventually became a U.S. Senator from Oregon (1867–1873) and was a major philanthropist in Portland.
Express & Stagecoach Connections: Most significantly for this artifact, Corbett owned the Oregon Stage Coach Company. In 1866, he consolidated several lines to control the vital stagecoach business between Sacramento and Portland until the railroad arrived in 1887. This makes his receipt of a Wells Fargo "Northern Coast Route" cover particularly poignant, as he was a direct competitor and collaborator in Western transportation.
Leutzinger Classification: WC-12991
The notation WC-12991 refers to the specific listing in the definitive guide for these artifacts: The Handstamps of Wells, Fargo & Co. 1852 to 1895 by John F. Leutzinger.
The Catalog: Leutzinger's work, specifically the Second Edition (1993), is the "bible" for Western express collectors. It provides a standardized numbering system (like WC-XXXX) to identify every known variation of Wells Fargo handstamps based on their text, shape, and size.
The Northern Coast Route Marking:
Rarity: As noted in your census, this specific blue oval is incredibly scarce. While common "Express" black franks exist in the thousands, route-specific handstamps for the Northern Coast are rare survivors of the coastal maritime and stage lines.
Visual Markers: The classification identifies the exact dimensions of the oval and the font style used for "NORTHERN COAST ROUTE." Blue ink was often used by specific regional offices to distinguish their mail from the main hubs like San Francisco or Sacramento.
Census Status: Being one of only 5 known examples places this cover in the top tier of Western Postal History. Collectors value such items for the "story" they tell—evidenced here by the saddle bag burn marks—of the physical hazards of 19th-century mail delivery.
Posted 03/14/2026 01:01 am
