■% A %'J^i ^"\^Jf <* r^ kf^-'"^ Q[0tneU ItttuBtattjj Eihrarg 3tt;ara, 5f em IJork FROM THE BENNO LOEWY LIBRARY COLLECTED BY BENNO LOEWY 1854-1919 BEQUEATHED TO CORNELL UNIVERSITY HE6185.U5"C84""'""'">' '""'"^ ^''^iiimViif miiiSiiSiiJginte'iS and therr histo olin 3 1924 030 134 013 Overs Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030134013 THE UNITED STATES LOCALS AND THEIR HISTORY. BY OHAS. H. COSTER. NEW YORK: SCOTT & COMPANY, 146 FULTON STREET. 1877. 3o Press of John Polhbmus, 102 Nassau Street, New York. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Pbefatokt Introductory . PAGE .. 6 .. 7 PAUT I. Chapter I.— The Independent Mail Routes of 1843-5 11 Chapter n.— Trans-continental Companies and their connections 15 Chapter III.— Miscellaneous Companies. . ; 19 PART II. Chapter L— Explanatory 31 Chapter II. — New York City— The New York City Despatch Post 34 Chapter III.— New York City, continued— Boyd's CiTy Express 36 Chapter IV.— New York City, Continued- Miscellaneous , . . . 39 Chapter V.— New York City, continued— Hus- sey's Post 36 Chapter VI. — New York City, continued— Mis- cellaneous 41 Chapter VII. — New York City, concluded— Miscellaneous 46 Chapter Vin.— Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — Blood's Despatch 48 Chapter IX.— Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, con- tinued— Miacellaneous 52 Chapter X. — Baltimore, Maryland — Miscellan- eous 54 Chapter XI.— Boston, Massachusetts- Miscel- laneous 56 Chapter XII.— Charleston, South Carolina- Honour's Post and its Branches 57 Chapter XIII.— Chicago, Illinois— Miscellan- eous 58 Chapter XIV.— Cincinnati, Ohio— Miscellan- eous 59 PAGE Chapter XV.— Columbia and Wrightsville, Pennsylvania^-Bridge Despatch 60 CHAPTERXVI.—Easton, Pennsylvania— Brown's Easton Despatch Post 60 Chapter XVII.— New Orleans, Louisiana— Mis- cellaneous ....... 1 61 Chapter XVIII.— St. Louis, Missouri— Squier &Co 61 Chapter XIX.— "Washington, D. C— Washing- ton City Despatch 63 Chapter XX.— Califo nia— The Penny Post Company of California 63 Chapter XXL— San Francisco, California — Miscellaneous 63 Chapter XXIL— Concluding Chapter— Miscel- laneous 66 PART m. Chapter L— Explanatory 70 Chapter IL— Printed Franks of various Com- panies 71 Chapter III.— Printed Franks of Wells, Fargo &Co ; 86 Chapter IV.— Handstamps of various Com- panies 89 Chapter V.— History of some of the leading Companies whose Franks are described in Chapters IL and IV. Chapter VL— History of Wells, Fargo & Co.. . 97 Chapter VII.— Conslusiou to Part III 99 PART IV. Chapter I.— New York City, N. Y., and Philar delphia, Pa.— Miscellaneous 103 Chapter II.— Calif ornia:.-The Penny Post Com- pany of California 105 Chapter IIL— San Francisco, California— Mis- cellaneous 113 INDEX. PAGE Adams & Co. (of the Bast) " 8 , do toftheWest) 15, ir, 90, 96 Adams' Express Post 8B Alta Express Co 71, 92 American District Telegraph Co 83 American Express Co. (New York City) 44 do do (of the East) 8,97 do do (of the West) 71,92,96 American Letter Mail Co 11, 12 Arizona and New Mexico Express Co 71 Arthur's City Post , - 8 Bacon's Express 71 Bacon & Hardy (see J. Bamber & Co.) Baldwin's K. R. Express 8 Bailou & Co.'s Cariboo Express 71, 92 Bamber.J. & Co., and Bamber & Co 71,90,92 Bancroft's City Express 8 Barker's City Post 8 PAOE Barnard & Co. (Barnard's Express) 15, 18, 72, 73 Barr's Dispatch 66 Beekraan's Express 72 Bell's Dispatch 8 Bennett, J. P. & Co 72,92 Bentley's Despatch 34 Berford & Co 15, 16, 90. 96 Beveridge & Carrick (see Diamond City Ex- press) Black & Co.'s Express 78 Blake, T.W. & Co 90 Blood's Despatch : 48, 104 Boaton, John 80 Bowery. Express 8 Boyce's City Express Post 43 Boyd's Despatch 22, 26, 32, 103 Bowers & Co 96 Brady & Co. (New York) 44 do (Chicago) 58 PAGE Brainard & Co 11, 14 Brigg's Despatch 8 British Columbia & Victoria Express Co 72 Broadway Post Office 38 Bronson & Jorbes 68 Brooklyn City BxpresB 35 Brown's Express 9U, 96 Browne's City Post (Cincinnati) 59 Browne's Easton despatch 60 Brown & McGill 46 Buchanan & Co 72 Byam's Express 90 California City Letter Express 68, 109 California R. K. Express 90 C. & W. Bridge Despatch 60 Carnes' City Letter Express 65, 110, 111 Carrier's Despatch 55 Carter, G 63 Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express •. 90 Central Poet Office 8 Cheever & Towle 56 Cherokee Express 90 Chestnut St. Line 8 Chicago Penny Post 58 City Dispatch 46 City Despatch Post (see New York City Des- patch Post) City Express Post 33 City Letter Delivery Ill City Letter Express 66, 111 City Letter Express Mail 46 Clark & Co .... r 44 Clarke's Circular Express 44 Clinton Penny Post 8 Colby's Nevada and Dutch Flat Express 72 Compagnie (Cie) Franco-Americain 8 Comwelrs MadiS'n Square P. O 34 Cram, Kogers & Co 90, 96 Cramer's Express 73 Crawford's Middle Pork Express 73 Cressman & Co 53 Crook's Express 96 Crosby's City Post 45 Cumming's City Post 31 Davis' Post 55 De Ming's Penny Post < 53 Diamond City Express 73 Dietz & Nelson 73, 93 Dodge &Co 90 Doherty & Martin 90 Domestic Telegraph Co 83 Dore's Flat Express 78 Down Town Letter Express 23 Downieville & Howland Flat Express 73 Dupuy & Schenk 31 Eagle City Post 53 East River Post Office - 34 Elko & Mountain City Pony Express 73 English & 'SVells 73, 93 Essex Letter Express 43 Eureka Express Co 74, 93 Everts, Davis & Co 74, 93 Everts, Hannon, Wilson & Co 74, 98 Everts, Wilson & Co 74, 93 Fettis. M., Oro Pino Express 74 Fisk&Rice 66 Fleming's San Leandro Express 74 Florida Express 8 Floyd's Penny Post 68 Ford's Express (J. B. Ford) 74,90 Fox's, CSiCBter P., Express 74, 90 Franklin (Head) 9 Franklin City Free Despatch Post (see Bouton). Frazer & Co B9 Freeman & Co 74, 90, 93 Gahagan cfe Howe (G. &H.) 64,110,111 Galeirs, H. F., Stage and|Express Line 7S Garland's Exprew 75 Gautier Frtos & Cie 8 Gay'sExpress 8 Gerow & Johnson 75 Gibbs, W. T., Express 75, 91 Gilbert & Hedges 96 Gilpatrick & Co.'s Express 75, 93 Glen Haven Daily Mail 9 Godfrey's 9 Gordon's City Express 33 Government City Despatch 81, 23 Grafflin's Despatch 54 Gray's Express 75 Greathouse & Slicer 91 Greenhood & Neubauer 75, 93 Gregory 00,96 Gregory & English 75, 93 Grioiey's Express 76 Hale & Co 11, Hall & Allen's Dutch Flat Express 76, Hall & Mills Hammond & Wilson's Express Hampton, T. A., Despatch Post Hanford's Pony Express Hamden's Express Harrier's, D. W., Express Harrison's Susanville & Goose Lake Express. . . Hartford Mail 11, 12, Hasting's Express Hawes, J. &Co Hawley & Co Haywood's Express Henderson & Co. Coast Express Here, W. F 92. Hinckley, A. M., & Co.'s Express Hinckley's, A. M., Express Co Hinckley & Co.'s Express Mail Hoag, J. W., &Co Hodge & Co Hodge & Lusk Hogan & Co HoUaday Overland Mail & Express Co. .76, 94. 97, Holland, Morley & Co 77, 94, Holland & Wheeler's Daily Express 77, 94, Honour's Post Hoogs & Madison (see California City Letter Express) Hopkiusou'b Express Hourly Express Post Hoyt's Letter Express 11, 12, Humboldt Express (see Langton & Co.) Hunt's Despatch Hunt's, W. P., Warren Express Hunt & Hart's Warren Express Hunter & Co 91 , Huntley, C. C, Stage & Express Line Hussey's Post 22, Indian Creek Express International Express James & Co.'s Kootenai Express Jameson's, J. C, Express Jefferson Market Post Office Jenkin's Camden Despatch Johnson's Box Jones' City Express Post Jones & Edgar's Express 77, Kennedy & Co 78, Kennedy, Long & Co 78, Kenson's Owens River Express Ker's City Post Kersey's, J. D., Express Kidder's City Express Post Kieinan, Philip J. (see Down Town Letter Ex- press) Kingman's City Post '. 67 La Forte Express Co 78 Lamping & Co.'s Express 78, 87, 94 Langton & Co 8, 15, 18, 67, 78, 91, 94- Lathrop's Express , PASS Latta Mountain Express 79 Le Beanos Express 8 Leland'a Express 91. 96 Leland & McComb's Express 91, 96 Letter Express 11, 18, 14 Livingston & Fargo 97 Livingston, Pargo c6 Co 97 Livingston, Wells & Pomeroy 8, 97 Livingston, Wells & Co 97 Lockwood, C. M., & Co 79 Loomis, W. E 65, 110 Loon Creek Express 79 Lount's Express 96 Hann & Co.'s Express 91 Martin's City Post 57 Mason & Co 61 McBean & Co.'s Express 79 Mclntire's City Express Post 45 McRobisli&Co 8 Mead & Clarke 79, 94 Mead & Davis 94 Menant&Co 61 Merchant's Stage and Express Line 79 Messenkope's Union Square Post Office 33 Metropolitan City Express Post 47 Metropolitan Errand and Carrier Exprv^ss Co. 41, 104 Metropolitan Post Oflice 35 Mills, G. A 85 Moody 8 Morley, Caulkins & Co 79, 95 Mossraan & Co.'s Express 80 Mumby & Co 91, 99 Nevada City and Meadow Lake Express 80 Newell & Co 96 New Haven & New York Express 8 New York City Despatch Post 84, 28 New York City Express Post" 47 New York Commissionnaire Co 23 Nichols & Co.'s Express 80, 95 Norman's, G. H., Express 80 Organ & Tibbett's Excelsior Express 80 Oregon & California E. K. Express 91 Oroville & Quincy Express Co 80 Oroville & Susanville Express 91 Overton & Co 11, 13 Pacific Express Co 80, 91, 96 Pacific Stage and Express Co 80 Pacific Union Express Co 81, 95 Palmer & Co . . 91 Panamint Pony Express 81 Pattison's Express 81 Pauly's, N. O., Express 81 Pauly & Nohrman's Express 81 Petaluma and San Francisco Express 83 Penman's, K., Express 81 Penny Post (Boston) 56 Penny Post Co. of California 62, 105 Pescadoro and Half Moon Bay Stage Co 81 Peterson's Lower California Express 91 Philip & Gregory's Express 82 Pip's Daily Mail 9 •Pomeroy & Co 11, 12, 13, 97 Pony Express (see Wells, Fargo & Co.) Post Office Despatch 55 Post Office, Paid 67 Price's City Express 47 Priest's Despatch 53 Prince's, J. H., Letter Despatch 1!) Prindle's Express 91 Private Post Office 66, 110, 111 Public Post Office 110 Public Letter Office 66, 110 Eamey, J. C, & Co.'s Express 82 Eanm''s Express 83 Eeticker's Poney Express 91 Eeynolds & Co 91, 96 Eeynolds. Todd & Co 91, 96 Khodes&Lusk 91 Ehodes & Whitney 91 Bichroond 9 ;PAGB Eoadman's Penny Post 47 Eobison & Co 67 Bobinson & Co. (see San Francisco Letter Ex- T)rGBS'l *» ......•.* Eockfellow &'c'o.''8 Express 88, 95 Bowe & Co.'s Express 91 Boyal Insurance Co 8 Euby Hill & Schellbnm Express 88 Eumrill, F., & Co.'s Express 91, 96 Eundell & Co.'s Express 82 Eundell & Jones' Express 82 Bussell's 8th Avenue Post Office 48 Butherford & Co 95 Sacramento Eiver Express 82 Salmon Elver and Nez Perces Express 88 San Francisco Letter Express (Van Dyck & Early) 63, 109 San Francisco Letter Express (J. C . Robinson) 64, 109, 111 Scoch's Copper City Express 83 Shepherd's Express 83 Smith's City Express Post 44 Snow's Despatch 67 Snow's Express 67 Snow Shoe Express 83 Spence & Brown 9 Springside P. O 9 Squier & Co 61 Stait, W , 9,52 Staten Island Express Post 48 Steinmeyer's City Post 54 Stonor & Scott's 91 Stringer & Morton 68 Swarfs City Despatch Post 29, 32 Swift & Co.'s Express 83 Taggart, Grant J., Weaverville and Shacta Ex- press 83 Teese & Co '. 54 Third Avenue Post Office , 43 Thompson & Co 83, 98 Thomes & Skaden's Express 83 Tibbett & Co.'s Excelsior Express 83 Tinnin & Owen's Weaverville & Shasta Express . 83* Todd (Todd & Co.) 91, 96 ToddABryan 96 Tracy & Co 83 Troy and Albany Express Post 9 Truman's, J. C, Express 84,95 Traman & Chapman's Express 84, 95 Truman & Co.'s Express 84, 95 Union Square'Post Office 33 United States City Despatch Post 81 U. S. Mail 81, 88 U. S. Penny Post r 56 U. S. P. O .33,58 Waldron's Express (Waldron & Co.) ... 15, 18, 84, 95 Walker's Posi 9 Walton & Co T 31 Warwick's 9 Washington City Despatch 68 Wells, L. H 84, 93 Wells & Herring 85, 93 Wells, Fargo & Co. (including Pony Express) . . 15, 16, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78. 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 86, 86, 91, 98, 96, 97. Westervelt's Post 19 Westtown 9 Wharton's, J. P., Express 85 Wheeler's Express 85, 95 Wheeler, Butherford & Co.'s Express 85, 95 Whiting & Co.'s Feather Eiver Express 86 Whitney's Express (Whitney & Co.) 92 Whitney & Co. (Bamber'a successors) . . '. 85, 96 Whittelsey's Express 68 Winan's City Post 55 Wines, G. H., & Co.'s Express ss, 96 Wood's, A. J., Express 85 Wood & Co.'s Express 85 Wyman, W 11, 13 Zacb's Snow Shoe Express 85 PREFATORY. During the years 1874 and '75 I published in the American Journal of Philately a series of papers upon the United States Locals and the Western Envelope Franks, which forms the basis of the present work. My original articles were the result of some years of careful investigation ; but subse- quent events have shown that they were far from complete. Hence, in the course of their revision, I have had occasion to insert many new facts, to illustrate or describe additional stamps ; and, indeed, to include not a few local posts previously unknown. At the same time I have been enabled to ^ improve the general arrangement of the subject, which is confusing (rather than complicated) under any circumstances, and therefore requires to be presented with all possible perspicuity. Leaving the reader ,to judge for himself as to the measure of success which has attended my efforts, I gratefully acknowledge the aid received from many friends, among whom I would mention Messrs. J. K. Furlong, J. W. Scott and W. P. Beown, of this city ; Mrs. A. G. Ceaig and C. W. LoMLEE, Esq., of "San Francisco ; and P. A. Philbeick, Q. C, of London. C. H. C. Nbw York, July 10th, 1877. THE UNITED STATES LOCALS AND THEIR HISTORY. INTRODUCTORY. The United States Locals may, as a matter of convenience, be divided into four classes : I. Adhesive stamps issued by companies carrying mail matter between different cities or towns. II. Adhesive stamps issned by companies carrying mail matter between the different portions of the same city or town, or collecting mail matter in like manner for transportation to the government post office. III. Franks impressed on envelopes issued by companies carrying mail matter between different cities and towns. IV. Franks impressed on envelopes issued by companies distributing mail matter between the different portions of the same city or town, or collecting mail matter in like manner for transportation to the government post office. The present work will be divided into four parts, to conform to these four classes, which, it must be remembered, are made as a simple matter of con- venience. Viewing the subject strictly logically, only two general classes exist, comprising respectively I. and III., and II. and IV. But a list pre- pared upon this plan would result in a hopeless confusion of adhesive and envelope franks, and I therefore prefer to follow the less logical but more practical system already laid out. The distribution of illustrations throughout Parts I. and II. of this work has, in most instances, allowed of my dispensing with detailed descriptions of the stamps. It may, however, be well to here explain that whenever it has been necessary to accompany the letter-press with two illustrations sim- ultaneously, the one placed on the left side always represents the type hav- ing precedence in the enumeration. Before going further I wish to make allusion to the popular fallacy, espe- cially in Europe, of accepting as local stamps all sorts of package labels, business envelopes, &c., also a number of entirely fantastical things due to the counterfeiters, who, not satisfied with swindling the public with " repro- ductions " (as they call them) of the genuine locals, have exercised their ingenuity by producing labels purporting to have emanated from confpanies which in reality had not for the most part even an existence; or, in the few instances where they did exist, never issued any stamps whatever. I cannot dwell upon the subject at length, and I must therefore content myself with an enumeration of a few of the labels of each of the classes described, that have generally been included in the European catalogues of the last ten or twelve years. Opposite each I note the ground upon which it should be excluded from collections. 8 American Express Co., Utica. Package label. Adams Express Co. Various embossed designs. Simple advertise ments cut from the ordinary business envelopes of the company. Arthur's City Post. Probably never existed. Baldin'in's R. R. Express. Never existed. Briggs' Despatch. Never existed. Barker's City Post. Barker succeeded Cheever & Towle in Boston, but he used only a hand stamp. Bowery Express. Existed in New York City, but did not use an adhesive stamp. Bancroft's City Express. Never had anything more than a ficti- tious existence. , Bell's Dispatch. Never existed. Central Post Office. Only a hand stamp, and certainly a humbug. Clinton's Penny Post. Existence doubtful; all the specimens known are certainly spurious. Cie. Franco-Americain. ) ^-. . , ~ .. — , ^. f Never existed. Gautier Freres et Cie. ) Chestnut Street Line. Copied from an omnibus ticket. Florida Express. Never existed. Gay's Express. Carried parcels, not letters. Harnden's Express. Simple advertisement cut from the ordinary business envelope of the company. These envelopes being difScult to find, though of no value, have been counterfeited by the Boston gang. Hunt's Despatch. Never existed. International Express. Never existed. Johnson's Box. A mere advertisement. Ker's City Post. Never existed. Iiangton & Co., steamer in centre. Entirely fictitious. Lathrop's Express. Never existed. lie Beau's Express. Never existed. Livingston, Wells & Pomeroy. Only a parcel label; had no value. Moody, Chicago. Probably never existed. McRobish &. Co. Never existed. New Haven & New York Express. Never existed. Royal Insurance Co. Cut from the business envelope of a British Insurance Company that has an agency in New York. 9 Richmond, flag. Never existed. Spence & Brovrn. Probably never existed. Springside P. O. A mere bazaar stamp. W. Stait of the City Despatch, -will call, &,c., &,c. A mere advertisement. War^w■ick's. Never existed. Walker's Post. Never existed. WesttO'wn. A college stamp, of no value, and no franking powor. The foregoing list must not be accepted as complete. It comprises only a few instances, selected at random, to better illustrate the remarks that precede. Another class of stamps generally included in collections of locals, must not go unnoticed. I allude to the various Fair or Bazaar stamps issued at Albany, Brooklyn, New York, &c. They certainly are not of any philatelic value or interest, and I do not see by what right they are classed as locals. In conclusion, I desire to mention a few labels which I have purposely excluded from the chapters that follow, for want of sufficient proof as to their character, viz. : Franklin (head of Franklin) ; Glen Haven Daily Mail, Godfrey's, (this I have never seen) ; Pip's Daily Mail ; and Troy and Albany Express Post. I am inclined to think that there may be either one or two genuine types of the Glen Haven, though quite different from the specimens generally known. My impressions regarding the others do not favor their ever having existed in authentic form. PART I Adhesive Stamps issued by Companies carrying mail matter between different Cities or To'wns. CHAPTER I.— The Independent Mail Routes of 1842-5. CHAPTER II. — Trans-continbntal Companies and theie connectioX!- CHAPTER III.— Miscellaneous. CHAPTER I. The Independent Mail Routes ov 1842-5. The Independent Mail Routes of 1842-5 owed their origin to the unsatis- factory management of the government post-office at that period. The United States officials used every means in their power to crush these pri- vate enterprises — their mail bags were seized, innumerable law suits com- menced, for violation of Acts of Congress, &c., &o. The outside public, how- ever, appreciated not only the more moderate charges, but also the greater celerity of the private companies, and was not slow in bestowing its patron- age accordingly. Finally the government was obliged, in self protection, to reduce rates and effect the needed reforms in the service generally. The re- sult was that the private companies could no longer control the business, and they consequently soon withdrew from the field. The com]janies forming the Independent Mail Routes, were Hale &, Co., The American Letter Mail Co., Overton & Co., W. Wyman, Brainard & Co., Pomeroy & Co., The Letter Express, Hoyt's Letter Express, and the Hartford Mail. As will be noticed, from the brief outline of the route of each " Post," given below, several of the companies ran in direct opposition to each other; and, when this was the case, a keen competition generally resulted. Hale & Co. — This " Post " was one of the best known in the United States and did a large and profitable business. The proprietor, Mr. James W. Hale, says that it was organized about November, 1841, or January, 1842, and had 110 offices, extending from Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore in the East, to Detroit, Michigan, in the West. I am in- clined to think, however, that the date as given by Mr. Hale is rather earlier than was actually the case. It also seems probable that he reached the West by connecting with other expresses, as letters bearing his stamp are generally- postmarked from Boston, New York, Philadelphia and interme- diate towns. Ambeican Letter Mail Co. — Organized in 1844 (possibly rather earlier), and carried mail matter between the principal points in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, New York City and Philadelphia. OvEETON & Co. — Commenced in 1844, and had an existence of about one year. They ran from Boston to New York and Philadelphia. They also ran a parcel express up the Hudson River, and West to Buffalo. W. Wtman started in 1844, and extended from Boston to New York. Bkainaed & Co. certainly existed in 1844, if not before. Their route was from New York to Albany and Troy. 12 Hartfobd Mail. — Started in 1844, its routes extending, apparently, from Hartford, Conn., to New York, Boston, Albany, &c. In 1845 it was suppressed by the U. S. Government. PoMBROY & Co. — This was in all probability the earliest letter express in the United States. It was founded in 1842, and carried letters from Bos- ton, New York and Albany to Buffalo. At Buflfalo, Pomeroy & Co. connected with a concern called the Lbttee Express, by means of wliich correspondence was transported to Chicago, Milwaukee, and all the towns on or near the lakes. Hoyt's Letter Express. — This was probably a short-lived affair. It ex- isted in 1844, starting from some unknown point and connecting with Pome- roy & Co. at Rochester. With this brief history of the several companies, I proceed to the stamps which they respectively issued. Hale &, Co. Type I. — Lithographed in red and in blue on paper varying from pure white to a decidedly bluish tinge. The red stamp must have had a very short existence, as copies are rarely to be met with. The address, viz., 13 Court St., Boston, was that of the head office of the company, but the label appears to have been used by the branches also. The location of the Boston office must have soon been changed, as copies are frequently to be found with a pen-stroke drawn through the number and street. Subsequently, however, a more important al- teration was made, and we therefore have Type II., which is identical with preceding, with the exception of that portion of the address noted above. This vari- ety (which is by far the commoner one) is printed in blue on white paper. It is also said to have existed in red, but no good ground can be given for the asser- tion. American Letter Mail Co. Type I. — Metal plate engi-aving. varying materially in shade and found in numerous fancy colors. Black on white paper, quality. Repi-ints are Type II. — Engraved on metal by W. L. Ormsby. Black and blue impressions on white paper, of several distinct shades. I am aware tliat I am acting contrary to public opinion in this classification of types, but my reasons for so doing can be best explained by the following comparative table of earliest dates that I have found on letters bearing the American Letter Mail Co.'s stamps: 13 Type I.-T-PWladelphia, February 3, 1844. Type IL— rblack) Philadelphia, September 16, 1844. Type II. — (blue) Philadelphia, January 4, 1845. Overton &, Go. Lithographed by G. Hayward & Co., of Boston. Black on thin yellow paper. " " greenish -" varying to grey. A label similar though not identical in form and inscription to the one last described, but having a postman carrying a letter for the central device, has recently appeared ; and, while at first sight it impressed me favorably, I am now satisfied that it is a hoax. It is printed in blue on white paper, and is cancelled by a most natural looking hand stamp. This same hand stamp has also been used for the purpose of cancelling well executed coun- terfeits of the bird type, presumedly made by the ingenious concoctor of the postman variety. I have seen the grey stamp of Type I. on a letter bearing a hand-struck impression, reading : Forwarded by Davenport & Co., 291 State St., Boston. At first I was inclined to think that Davenport & Co. might have been a heretofore unknown letter express ; but I am now led to consider it as the name of a commercial firm. The hand stamp was probably impressed on all letters that they mailed, according to the custom still prevalent among many houses. W. Wyman. Engraved on copper and printed in black on white paper. A curious thing about these stamps is, that Mr. Wyman himself is quite certain that they were printed in blue, though nobody has ever seen or heard of speci- mens in that color. Fomeroy & Co. Type I. — Metal plate engraving by Mr. Gavit, more recently connected with one of pur Bank Note Companies. Red-orange on thin, crisp white paper. Blue " " " " Black " " " " " " thick yellow " These have all been reprinted, and an additional color, viz. white, added. brown on 14 Type II. — Same as preceding, but with " $1 ' (see lower margin) cut from the frame. Black on thick yellow paper. In addition to the above there is also found a large rec- tangular label bearing the name of Pomeroy & Co., and having a locomotive for the central design. This was not, however, a postage stamp in any sense of the word, but merely a label used for pasting on parcels and money pack- to indicate that P. & Co. were the forwarders. Brainard & Co. Apparently a wood-block, though it has been pronounced typographed. Black on white paper. The Letter Express. Types I. and II.— (10 for $1.00) Appar- ently from wood-blocks. Type I. — Black, on flesh-colored paper. " II. — Black, on red glazed paper. Type III. — (20 for $1.00) Wood-block impression. Black, on green paper. ] " " pink " I Generally dull, but " " brown " | sometimes glazed. " white Hoyt's Letter Express. Only two specimens of this stamp have ever come under my notice, and as neither of them is now in my possession, it will be necessary to dispense ■ngth the usual illustration. Describing from memory I can only say that the design (if such it may be called) consists of the words " IIoty's Letter Expeess to Rochestbe," enclosed in a neat type-set border, the whole forming about as insignificant an affair as can well be imagined. A variety is also found in having the word "Letter" misspelt '■^ Letter. " The impression is in black on red glazed paper. 15 Hartford Mail. The design was engraved on copper and repeated a sufficient number of times to make up a sheet, so that each specimen shows minute differences in the details. Across the stamps is usually written the destination of the letter, those for New York being generally marked S. or South, though sometimes W. or West. Black, on pink paper. " " yellow paper. c- The pink stamps were of the value of jw cents, and the yellow ones of ±^ cents. CHAPTER II. Tbajsts-continental Companies and thbib Connections. But few of these companies issued adhesive stamps, as their business, for the most part, came in such direct competition with the P. O. system of the United States that, in order to avoid seizure, on the ground that they were reducing the government revenue, they printed their franks on U. S. stamped envelopes. Of coursS the government, as long as it got its regular pay, did not object to allowing the companies to do the work. These franked envelopes form the subject of Part III. of this work. The earliest of the companies was Bebfobd & Co., which was started in 1849, and which carried mail matter between New York and San Fran- cisco, via Panama. So, perhaps, the term trans-continental is a misnomer ; but I nevertheless use it in default of a better. Wells, Faego & Co. — This company was started in 1852, and is still in existence. It is hardly necessary to mention this last fact, as it has a world- wide reputation, and its branches are to be found in nearly all portions of the globe. Among the companies absorbed by it were the following, whose stamps are described in this chapter, viz. : Adams & Co., Langton & Co., Barnard & Co., Waldron & Co. In Parts III. and IV. will be found various items of interest regarding the companies mentioned in the present chapter. It» therefore only remains for me to enumerate their adhesive locals. 16 Berford & Co. 3 cents, black on white. 6 " green " 10 " purple " 25 " red " One original set of the Berford stamps is said to exist, in the collection of an individual who, perhaps, appreciating their rarity and desiring that the semblance of the reality should be within the reach of all, caused photo-lithographic " reproductions " to be made a couple of years ago. These imitations (or "reprints" as they were called by the individual already referred to) have been fully ventilated in the columns of the Philatelic press. Wells, Fargo Sl Co. Type I. — Apparently a fine metal plate engraving, 10 cents (^ oz.) brown on white paper. 25 " " blue on white paper 25 " " red " " Type II.- —This was employed for all tl viz : $1.00, red on white paper 2.00, " 2.00, green " " 4.00, " " 4.00, black " " When the use of these stamps was discontinued, a large stock must have remained on hand (or else a reprinting must have occurred), which found its way into the hands of a prominent New York dealer, so that unused copies can easily be obtained. Cancelled specimens exist also in large quan- tities with the original gum intact, and showing unmistakable signs of the obliteration having been "done to order in quantities to suit." These im- positions can easily be recognized by the fresh look which they bear, and also by the hand stamp being generally impressed in bright red-brown, a color seldom met with in the originals. Typbs III. and IV. — Our next two illustrations are those of very rare stamps, which are respective- ly printed in black on white paper, and blue on slightly yellow-toned paper. 17 Type V. — Engraved on metal, and printed in blue on white- paper, both imperforate and roughly rou- letted. There exists a stamp identical in general design with Type V., but so much superior to it in the execution of all the details, that I for a long time thought it must be a genuine issue. I have since heard that it owes its existence to a European dealer in counterfeits, and, if the information be correct, the dealer in question is to be congratulated upon having far sur- passed the model from which he copied. It may not be out of place for me to mention certain peculiarities to be found in the label just referred to which distinguish it from authentic specimens of Type V. . They are as follows: "Wells, Fargo & Co." is on a straight white band. No period after the word " Routes." The bunches of flowers on the sides are heavier and more clearly denned. Type VI. — Engraved on metal and issued in 1875. Blue impression on white paper. Imperforate, roulet- ted and perforate. Type VII. — This has been long obsolete, but I place it sev- enth on the list, so as to classify all the newspaper stamps con- secutively. It is printed from metal in blue, on white paper. Uncancelled copies can be easily obtained. Type VIIL— Issued ISTe-'TV. on white paper. Blue impression PUBLISHERS' PAIDSTAMP W. F. St Co.'s Express. Adams &. Co. Adams & Co.'s Express was started in California in September^ 1849, as an appendage to the still existing Eastern company of like name, which was founded in 1840 by Alvin Adams. The control of the Western branch (if I may so call it) was entrusted to D. Hale Haskell, a man of great energy, who succeeded in. placing the en- terprise on a successful footing from the very start. The head ofiice was in 18 San Francisco, and the chief occupation of the Company was in the trans- portation of gold dust. Among the clerks in the oflSce was John M. Free- man, who afterwards became famous as the proprietor of Freeman «fc Co.'s Express. (See Part HI.) In 1854 Adams and Wm. B. Dinsmore (his partner, now President of Adams' Express in the East) retired from the California Company, Has- kell and J. C. Woods assuming the proprietorship; but the name of Adams & Co. was retained. From one cause or another, the new association was not successful like it's predecessor, and bankruptcy, with ultimate absorption of assets by Wells, Fargo & Co., resulted. Types I. and IT. — These were cer- tainly the two earliest adhesive franks issued west of the Mississippi river, and both of them are of more than ordinary rarity. Tradition tells us that the head is that of D. H. Haskell. Th» type with the head turned towards the right is printed in black on blue paper, while the variety with it in the opposite direction is impressed in black on white paper. The blue paper stamp has the following marginal inscription, half on each side of the design : " JSntered according to Act of Congress in the year 1853, 5y J. G. Woods, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Northern District of California.'''' Iiangtou & Co. Brown on white paper. Apparently from a metal plate. Barnard's Cariboo Express. Typographed. The "Paid" is printed in black on red paper, and the " Collect " in black on green. BARNARD'S Cariboo Express. PAID. BARNARD'S Cariboo Express. COLLECT. aldron's EXPRESS. Waldron & Co. ^ Type, printed in black on claret paper. It is certain p that Waldron & Co. carried letters, and it seems probable % that the original of the' design herewith reproduced I»A.II>. % served for postal purposes. Diligent inquiry, however, I Kg fails to settle the matter definitely. CHAPTER HI. Miscellaneous CosirANiEs. .There are only two to mention, viz. Despatch. Westervelt's Post and J. H. Prince's Westervelt's IChesteryN.T.l Westervelt's Post. This was the only stamp issued by Mr. Westervelt for strictly postal purposes. As will be observed, it is a very plain type-set design, but it is neatly printed in black on lavender, and on flesh-colored paper. In addition to the foregoing, Mr. Westervelt issued several years ago two more pretentious labels, the one being adorned with a very bad likeness of General Grant, and the other with the head of an Indian very similar to that which we every day see on our one-cent pieces. It is' quite possible that a few of these stamps (which are printed in every color of the rain- bow) were allowed to pass through Westervelt's post, so as to give them a more high-toned character, but in my mind there is no doubt that the main object in preparing them was to realize a handsome profit from sales to philatelists. Of the Indian-head type, two varieties exist. In the first issued (of which a few may have passed through the post while it had an existence), there are noticeable in the frame directly over " WesterveWs " and under " Post" small numerals " 1 "; while in the other variety (which was undoubtedly got up to sell) they are not found. J. H. Prince. — Letter Dispatch. Black on white paper. This express formerly ran until within a comparatively recent date, between Portland, Maine, and Boston, Mass., leaving the former city at 6 p. m. (or three hours after closing of the government mail), arriving per steamei", in Boston at an early hour on the following morning. PART 11, Aclhesh'e Stamps issued by Companies carrying mail matter bet^^^een the different portions of tire same City or Town, or collecting mail matter in like manner for transpor- tation to the Grovernment P. O. CHAPTER I.— EXPLANATOEY. CHAPTERS II. to VII.— New York City, N. Y. CHAPTERS VIII. and IX.— Philadelphia, Pa. CHAPTER X.— Baltimore, Md. CHAPTER XI.— Boston, Mass. CHAPTER XII.— Charleston, S. C. CHAPTER Xni.— Chicago, III. CHAPTER XIV.— Cincinnati, O. CHAPTER XV.— Columbia and Wrightsville, Pa. CHAPTER XVI.— Easton, Pa. CHAPTER XVII.— New Orleans, La. CHAPTER XVIII.— St. Louis, Mo. CHAPTER XIX.— Washington, D. C. CHAPTER XX.— Calipornian Cities. CHAPTER XXI.— San Francisco, Cal. CHAPTER XXII.— Miscellaneous. CHAPTER I. Explanatory. As a I'ule all the City Despatch Companies performed the tieo functions either of which entitles them to a place under this class, but there were some exceptions which only acted in a single capacity. Under the term " various portions of any one city," I include the nume- rous suburbs of most of our large towns, which, although they may bear distinctive names, are in reality nothing more than the various districts or environs of one vast settlement. Thus, for instance, I embrace Brooklyn, Jersey City, the Staten Island villages, &c., under the city of New York; and an express, of which the route lay among these localities, did actually run between the various portions of one city. Acting on this principle, I shall take up each city in order, dividing the matter into chapters, as indicated on the preceding page. It must be borne in mind that only the adhesive labels are here considered. Several of the companies also issued prepaid envelopes, and these will be found mentioned in Part IV., in accordance with the system adopted at the beginning of this work. it will be noticed that I have made three omissions, viz.: the stamps known as belonging to the United States City Despatch Post, the U. S. Mail, One Cent,. Prepaid, and the Government City Despatch. Regard- ing these, a few words of explanation may not be amiss. The United Si'atbs City Despatch Post labels were issued in 1842, by John Lorimer Graham, Postmaster of the City of New York, under special authority received by him from the Post Office Department at Washington. The object is best explained by the following circular which was published by Postmaster Graham, about the same time as the stamps were issued : United States City Despatch Post. 1. « •» * Delivery eveiy day (Sunday excepted), at the principal office, upper P. O., "Park, and lower P. O., Merchants' Exchange. «**x- ******«*»«.« "Letters to be sent free, must have a free stamp attached to them, which can be pur- " chased at the upper and lower post oflBces, and at all the stations. The charge will "be 36 cents per dozen, 2 dols. 50 cts. per hundred. All letters intended to be sent "forward to the General Post Office for the inland mails must have a free stamp at - "tached to them. Letters not having a free stamp will be charged three cents on de- " livery. John Lorimeii Graham, P. M." 31 22 The stamp in question is herewith reproduced. The origi- nal is from a fine metal plate, and is found impressed as fol- lows: Black on violet colored paper. " " straw " " ' Black on blue enameled paper of various shades, varying to green. I may mention that although I consider the impression in black on violet (of which only one copy is extant) genuine beyond peradventure, there are some well informed persons who are inclined to look upon it as a " change- ling " from the blue stamp. These United States City Despatch PosTlabelsmust not be confounded with those of the City Despatch Post described in the next chapter. The latter was entirely a private enterprise, and was founded by Alexander M. Greig a few months before the starting of the Government post. Upon the formation of this latter, Greig became its first letter carrier; but, neverthe- less, his own post was continued, or else, almost immediately afterwards re- suscitated by other parties. In this connection, certain correspondence published in the American Journal of Philately, Vol. XI., page 49, may be read with interest. The U. S. Mail, One Cent, Prepaid, was also issued by the Postmaster of New York City, in or about the year 1849 ; and was at first printed in black on rose paper, and after- wards in black on paper varying from bright yellow to pale drab, generally glazed. In regard to the GovEENiiENT City Despatch, I cannot speak so precisely; but, from the result of very careful investigation, I am satisfied that it was emitted by the Postmaster of the City of Baltimore, Md., in the year 1860 or 1861. It is a rough, lithographic impression, and is found in black and in rose (varying to red) on white paper. Specimens of the black stamp have been discovered with the inscrip- tion reading one sent instead of one cent. From these explanations it will be seen that the labels here mentioned were issued by Government Postmasters, and not by private companies. They are as much Government, or, rather, semi-oflicial stamps, as the Brattle- boro'. Providence, St. Louis, &c. One more point before we proceed further. It is a mistake to suppose that all local posts have been abolished, for there are two still in existence in New York City, viz. : Hussey's and Boyd's, which have a regular daily 1 and 2c. delivery (circulars and letters); and also perform such special mes- senger service as may be desired, making their chnrgL' proportionate to the time required. In the way of special messenger service there :ire also two other companies, viz.: the Ahikrican District Telegraph Co. and the Domestic Telegraph Co. (both incorporated), each of which, in addition 23 to such business as is brought by outside customers, has regular subscribers in whose counting-rooms or dwellings it inserts very simple telegraphic instruments connected with the nearest office of the company, so that mes- sengers, policemen or firemen — all of whom are in attendance — can be instantly summoned. The American Disteict Tblegbaph Co. was incorporated in 18V2, and during the month of April in that year, commenced business in New York City, soon extending to Brooklyn and Philadelphia. It is now in operation at the following places : Albany, N. Y. New York, N. Y. Brooklyn, N. Y. New Orleans, La. Boston, Mass. New Haven, Conn. Baltimore, Md. Nevada City, Nev. Buffalo, N. Y. Philadelphia, Pa. Chicago, 111. Pittsburg, Pa. Cincinnati, O. Providence, R. I. Columbus, O. Rochester, N. Y. Dayton, O. Springfield, Mass. Detroit, Mich. Syracuse, N. Y. Erie, Pa. San Francisco, Cal. Elmira, N. Y. St. Louis, Mo. Hartford, Conn. Troy, N. Y. Jersey City, N. J. TJtioa, N. Y. Milwaukee, Wis. Washington, D. C. The company has twenty-four offices located in New York, and seventeen in Philadelphia. In the other cities there are not, of course, as many. The Domestic Telegraph Co. was organized in December, 1874, in op- position to the District Co. It is now in working order at Baltimore, Md., 1 office. Hartford, Conn., 1 office. New Haven, Conn., 1 office. Newark, N. J., 1 office. New York, N. Y., 4 offices. Pittsburgh, Pa., 1 office. Providence, R. I., 1 office. Neither the American District Telegraph Co. nor the Domestic Tele- graph Co. has issued any adhesive stamps, though the foi-mer sometimes marks letters, &c., delivered by it with a small hand-struck impression, reading A. D. T. Co.— Paid. A couple of years ago an enterprise was started in New York City under the name of the New York Commissionnaire Co., upon the same general principles as the French Company whence the name was derived. The pro- ject did not succeed, however, and it was abandoned after a short existence. I bring this chapter to an end by mentioning the Down Town Letter Express, which was opened in New York City some two years ago, and is still in existence. The accompanying circular explains the objects of its foi'mation. 24 Nkw Yobk, 51 William St,. September 7th 1875. To Merchants & Bankers : A Letter Express has this day been opened at the above number by the undersigned formerly and for ten years Superintendent -of the Supplementary Mail Office at the Merchants' Exchange News Room, Pine Street, with the object of facilitating the prompt transmission of mail matter from the lower section of the business portion of the Cit^ to the New General Post Office. _ '. Letters and other mail matter will be received to connect with all mails, forei^ and domestic, leaving the City, up to 5 minutes of the closing of the same, to be delivered to the General Post OflBce, by special express, in time for each successive mail as made- up there. Facilities wiU be afforded for stamping letters, or addressing them when de- sired. Office open from 7 A. M. to 7 P. M. Philip J. Kibrnan. Ml'. Kiernan has many subscribers who pay him 12.00 per month, and have their correspondence cared for in the way explained. His express is a great convenience to New York City, being situated in its most active busi- ness portion (near Wall St.), which is some distance removed from the main Post Office or any of its branches. Mr. Kiernan issues no stamps, and it is for this reason that I mention him here, rather than in the chapters that follow, as they are devoted entirely to the companies that have left philatelic tokens. CHAPTER 11. New York City. The New York City Despatch Post. The circular transcribed below will explain the objects for which this company was fonned. New York City Despatch Post. Prindpal Office, 46 WiUiam Btreet. The necessity of a medium of communication by letter from one part of the city to another being universally admitted, and the Penny Post, lately existing, having been relinquished,the opportunity has been embraced to reorganize it under an entirely new proprietary and management, and upon a much more comprehensive basis, by which Despatch, Punctuality and Security — those essential elements of success — may at once be attained, and the Inconvenience now experienced be entirely removed. *#»*#«»#»»#■*##* The following is a brief outline of the plan : Branch Offices. — Letter boxes are placed throughout every part of the city in con- spicuous places; and all letters deposited therein not exceeding two ounces in weight, will be punctually delivered three times a day, at 9, 1 and 4 o'clock, at three cents each; option being given either to free the letter in the mnnner shown in the following regu- Intinns, or to leave the postage to be collected from the party to whom the letter is addressed. 25 Post-Patd Letters. — Letters which the writer desires to send free, must have a free stamp affixed to them. An ornamental stamp has been prepared for this purpose, and may be procured at the principal office as above, or at those stores which will be adver- tised in the daily papers as having authority to sell them. The charge will be 36 cents per dozen, or 2 dolls. 50 cents per hundred ; the reduction in price for the large quantity being made with a view to the accommodation of those parties sending a considerable number of circulars, accounts, &c. Parcels not exceeding 1 lb. in weight will be charged a proportionate rate. NO MONEY MUST BE PUT INTO THE BOXES. All letters intended to be sent forward to the General Post Office for the inland mails, must have a free stamp affixed to them. Unpaid Letters. — Letters not having a free stamp will be charged three cents, pay- able by the party to whom they are addressed, on delivery. Registry and Despatch. — A Registry will be kept for letters which it may be wished to place under special charge. Free stamps must be affixed to such letters for the ordinary postage, and three cents additional be paid (or an additional free stamp be affixed), for the Registration ; but all such letters must be especially deposited at the principal office. A special "Despatch" will be expedited with any Letter or Packet not exceeding one pound in weight (to an address within the limits) at 13i cents a mile, upon application at the Principal office. Alexander M. Greig, Agent. The Limits of tTie Despatch Post will extend to Twenty-first Street. • It will be noticed that, in this circular, reference is made to an .older city post, which had been relinquished, and which was undoubtedly the first in- stitution of the kind in the country. But beyond the fact of its existence I have been unable to ascertain anything whatever regarding this p'oneer company, which probably did not issue any stamp. The City Despatch Post was started about January 1st, 1842, by A M. Greig, but he soon relinquished its control for a position in the (government Post Office. His enterprise seems, however, to have been continued or else to have been shortly afterwards revived by other persons. In 1848 it is said to have passed into the hands of one Charles Cole, at No. 492 Broadway, and he in turn is reported to have been succeeded by Edward N. Barry, by whom it was conducted up to 1859. The stamps issued while under these several managements are numerous, but not difficult of classification. Type I.^Fine metal plate engraving. 3 cents black on white glazed paper. 3 " " green " 3 " " yellowish flesh paper. 3 " " grey " 2 " " green " Type II. — Similar to the preceding, but with the letters This change was made during Cole's administration. I have also seen a solitary specimen of the 2c. green, reading G G, and another with one of the C's reverse^ thus : C 0. 2 cents black on green. 2 " " " white. 2 " " " Vermillion. 2 « « " yellow. at sides. 26 The foregoing must not be confounded with the " United States City Despatch Post," described in the previous chapter. CHAPTER III. New Yoek City, Coxtinued. Boyd's City Express. This post was established about July 1, 1844, by John T. Boyd, and as it is still in existence (though under a different management), it can claim the honor of being the oldest institution of the kind now in the country. In former days it had boxes located in every part of the city to receive letters for delivery by its can-iers, or for transportation to the General Post Office, but at present its business is confined to letters and circulars left at its office for distribution. The stamps issued by Boyd's Post are numerous, and have been the sub- ject of no little discussion. Two Cents Stamps. Type I. — Until recently this stamp was almost tradi- tional, only one specimen being known. Of late, however, a dozen or more copies have come to light. The impres- sion is black, and the paper green glazed. Types II. and III. are both printed in black on green glazed paper. The former seems to have been current from October, 1844, to January, 1845; and the latter from February to April or May, 1845. TYPE II. TYPE III. TYPE IV, Type IV.-— In use from some time in 1845 till 1848 or early in 1849. Specimens are frequently found showing more or less de- terioration in the design. Black on green glazed paper, varying greatly in shade. Gold on white " " (for visiting cards, &c.) 27 Types V. and VI., of which the former is herewith re- produced, are identical with the exception that the first named has a period after the word " cents," which is lacking in the other. They appear to have been used simultaneously ■ from 1849 to 1853. ^ Type V. — Gold on white glazed paper. '; y^ -^\f^ r S^'T PT"- [ More or less glazed. type t. Type VII.— Date 1854-5. Black on green, sometimes glazed, but generally dull. The impression is frequently very imperfect. TYPE VII. Type VIII. — Black on dark olive green. Date 1856. Red varying. ) ^^ ^^.^^_ to Orange, j Black on vermillion glazed. 185'7. about 1805-1875. TYPE VIII. Type IX. — Black on green glazed paper. Date 1857-60. Type X. — Black on vermillion glazed paper ; Gold on green glazed paper ; Gold on blue glazed >g; paper ; Gold on crimson glazed paper ; Gold on TYPE IX. white glazed paper. Date 1860-65. TYPE X. Type XL— Date 1876. Blue on white paper. Specimens of this type are also found in black, but Mr. Boyd disclaims their issue; and their general appearance' would lead to the belief that they are printers' proofs. Type XII.— Date 1876-7. Same design as last ; but with address, 1 Park Place, added. Lilac on rose-tinted paper. Unperforate and perforate. Brown on yellow paper. Lilac on bluish tinted paper. Type XIII.~Date 1877. Same as Type XII., but with the inscriptions — 2c. — omitted from the four corners. LUac on bluish tinted paper. Perforate. Perforate. 28 ; One Cent Stamps. Type XIV. — Same as IX., with value veiy badly altered, so that portions of the figure 2 and letter S of "cents" are generally visible. Date 1857-60. Black on green glazed paper. « « « " " (Rouletted.) Type XV. — Same as X., with value also imperfectly changed. A few copies are known reading plainly ".1 cents," no attempt having been made to erase the S. Black on lavender glazed paper, varying to lilac. Date 1860-70. Type XVI.— Date about 1 870-76. Black on lilac glazed paper. " " blue " " Boyd's stamps of Types VI. to IX. are oftentimes found punched out (in oval form) from the sheet, by means of an ap- paratus which was undoubtedly used in his office to save the TYPE XVI. labor attendant upon their separation by scissors. These " punched out " varieties are not at all scarce, nor* do they seem to rae wor- thy of any special distinction. It may be well to mention, that all of Boyd's stamps are imperforate ex- cept those otherwise designated under Types XII., XIII. and XPV. CHAPTER IV. New York City, Continued. — Miscellaneous. Svrarts' City Despatch Post. The " Chatham Square Post Office," as Swarts' Post was generally called, and as, indeed, it is designated on some of the stamps, was one of the largest of the local posts in this country. It was established in or about the year 1845, at the junction of East Broadway and Chatham Square, by Aaron (?) Swarts. It afterwards passed into the hands of Mr. Lockwood, by whom it was continued until 1863, and perhaps rather later. Type I. — This I presume to have been the oldest of Mr. Swarts' productions. The portrait is that of General Zachary Taylor, better known as " Old Rough and Ready." The engraving is on metal and impressed in Black on light and dark green glazed paper. Lake ] Rose , ■. Dirty red r"" ^^P^P"'- Blue J Type II. — Here we have General George Washington, and although the engraving, which is on metal, leaves much to be desired, we certainly must appreciate Mr. Swarts' patriotic in- tentions. Of this type two varieties (which we shall designate as a and 5, respectively) exist, presenting several minutg points of difference. In a the eyes are small and looking straight ahead. The fore- head has but little shading, and the mouth has a peculiar, sunken appear- ance, as though the General had lost his teeth. In h the eyes are larger and turned to the left. The mouth is small but firm. The entire face is covered with dots and under the chin is a black mark, peculiarities not found in a. a is printed in black on white paner. rose " " " , red " " " " slightly bluish paper. h is printed in black on white paper, rose " " " 30 Type III. — Has full justice done to it by the engraving, so that I need only add that it is impressed in blue on white paper. All of Swarts' stamps have been reprinted, and although some of the original colors (blue and green of Type I.) have been omitted, the deficiency has been made up by numerous fancy hues of Type II. Hanford's Pony Express. ''^^^^S^ This post was evidently started at an early date, as I have f2 ^^a S^ one of its stamps on a letter dated November 11, 1845. It ^J existed until about 1850, or 1851. *^^M^^ Apparently a wood engraving. Black impression, on yel- low glaized paper, and on thin white paper. Mr. Hanford also had two hand stamps, which, although somewhat larger, corresponded in general design with his adhesive ; the words ' ' City Express Post " being, however, on one of them substituted for " Pony Ex- press." They are generally found impressed in orange, black, brown or blue on letters not bearing the adhesive, but they did not have any postal value. 'ATCH P* TYPE II. John Bouton. The date of the establishment of Mr. Bouton's post is uncertain, but I find in the New York Directory of 1848, the following advertisement : "Franklin and Manhattan City Express Post, for letters and small hand packages. John BoutoD, 175 Bowery." ■ I have Bouton's hand-stamp on a letter dated Februaiy 11, 184S. Types I. and II. — The accompanying il- lustrations are those of the two earliest stamps issued by Mr. Bouton, and neither could have been current for any lengthy pe- riod, as both are of extreme rarity. The TYPE I. " Fbanklin City " is impressed in black on green glazed paper, and the " Manhat- tan ExPBESs" in black on flesh colored paper. The engraving of the " Fkanklin City " can only be regarded as approximate, it having been copied from a rough pencil sketch made by me from an original copv several years ago. The die of Type II. is still in existence, but in such a battered state as to render reprinting almost impossible. Type III. — (Dots in corners.) Black on white, blue and green glazed paper. Type IV. — (Leaves in corners.) Black on white and on green glazed paper. 31 Both types are engraved on copper, and have been reprinted, viz. : Type III., in black on white paper. Type IV., in black, orange, blue, green and mauve on -white paper. Cumming's City Post was conducted dilring the years 1846-7, by Arthur H. Cumming, his office being at No. 19 Nassau street. This stamp was very roughly engraved on wood, and the accompanying illustration is a greatly flattered likeness. It was printed in four colors, viz. : Black on white paper. " " green " " " yellow " " " pink Camming used a hand stamp, ooncerniag which I find the following in Vol. III., page 60, of the American Journal of Philately : " There is one remarkable thing connected with local stamps, that may " as well be mentioned here as elsewhere. We refer to the fact that they " are nearly all cancelled with initials instead of a regular post-mark, and "yet all the proprietors of the local offices seem to have been well provided " with cancelling stamps; for instance, the letter before us has Cumming's " stamp on the upper left-hand corner of fold, cancelled with the initials A. " H. C. ; under this is stamped Paid A. H. C. in red ink, and in the centre " is starnj^ed a device representing a steam engine on legs, galloping, with " Cumming's above and Express below, with 2 and ots. in small squares to " the right and left." Walton & Co. This was a Brooklyn company, and existed in 1846. As I have not at present a copy of the stamp before me, I must content myself with a de- scription taken from the American Journal of Philately, viz. : — Walton & Co.'s City Express Post, 2 Cts., in oval, composed of fancy band, the whole enclosed in a rectangle formed of a heavy line. The spandrels are filled with a ground work of horizontal lines. Black impression on pink paper. KIDDER'S \ Kidder's City Express Post. This was also a Brooklyn enterprise, and, I believe, con- temporaneous with Walton. The stamp seems to be from ^x ;^.jiajgi»» —x c.-.y a wood-cut, and is printed in black on blue, and on green V EXPRESS POSTy glazed paper. Reprints exist on the latter colored paper. Dupuy & Schenck. Started about 1846, by Mr. Henry Dupuy, and discontin- ued about 1848. The stamp herewith reproduced was neatly engraved on metal, and struck off on smoke-colored paper. 32 Gordon's City Express. Existed in 1848. From what I can learn I do not tliink it could have been in operation for over four years. Black on green glazed paper. Broadway Post Office. "Was started in 1848 on the north side of Canal street, the first door east of Broadway, by James C. Harriott, who in 1849 moved it to No. 416 Broadway, and in 1851 to No. 422| Broadway. In 1855 Mr. Harriott sold the concern to Dunham & Lockwood, and they subsequently sold it to Charles Miller, who continued it until about 1862-3 when he died at Ma- maroneck, Westchester County, New York State. Mr. Harriott employed, on an average, four carriers, and on extra occa- sions as many as twenty. The business done by this office was large, and the receipts therein reached seven thousand dollars per annum up to the time Dunham & Lockwood purchased the place. The business of the post was the delivery of letters throughout the city, and the carrying of mail matter to the \J. S. Post Office. The uniform charges were: Ic. on each letter or parcel carried to the TJ. S. mail. 10. on each circular, [ ^eii^gred to any address in New York City. 2c. on each letter, ) •' ■' There was one carrier whose sole Office the matter destined for it. duty it was to take to the U. S. Post The stamps of the Broadway Post Office were printed in sheets of 100 from a wood block of the annexed design. The colors ran as follows: Black on white paper, Gold on black glazed paper. Although no values were stated on the stamps, a distinction was made according to their colors; those in black on white representing one cent; and those in gold on blaick, two cents. The Broadway Post Office also used various hand stamps, but I will only mention the two earliest. One was similar in design to the adhesives, and was impressed in i-ed or black ink on unpaid letters; the other differed in having the word paid substituted for the locomotive as a central design, and was struck (also in red or black) on matter that had been prepaid in cash, without the use of the adhesive. Sometimes the Broadway P. O. used to turn over matter that it received to Boyd or Swarts for delivery, but the general impression that Boyd had a contract to deliver all the letters of the Broadway P. O., excepting those intended for the government mails, is certainly erroneous. No such con- tract existed in the days of Mr. Harriot, nor can I find that one was made by any of the successors of that gentleman. 33 I may conclude my remarks upon this post by mentioning that its founder, Mr. Harriott, died at Brooklyn, New York State, during the month of Octo- ber, 1876. Union Square Post Office. I find this post mentioned in the 1850 Directory, and the name of its pro- prietor given as P. C. Godfrey. It subsequently passed into the control of J. E. Dunham, and was, I believe, continued until about 1866. There is also found a label with the inscription " Messenkope's Union Square Post-office," which I presume was identical with the preceding office; but as I have been unable to trace up Mr. Messenkope's history, I cannot make a positive statement. Types I. and II. — (Apparently engraved on wood.) These stamps were in use in 1863, and /^ perhaps earlier. Originals of both are scarce, \ and are printed in black, the one cent on apple green and the two cents on pale pink paper. Re-impressions, on deeper colored paper, can easily be obtained. TvpB III. — This is a most wretched lithograph; the central j>^^^Qi^^ design being quite undistinguishable, although I am told that it /^ k ■^ was intended to represent a mermaid. Black impression on green glazed paper. It is said that this very simple type-set affair (of which a second variety is formed with "LP" substituted for L S, and a third without any letters on the sides of " 1 Cent,") was one of the early issues of the Union Square Post; but, as I have it on a letter from Philadelphia, dated 1 849, the statement is evidently erroneous. u. s. P..0. : PAID. I LI Cent S| Adams' Express Post. — City Express Post. I cannot give much information regarding these two companies ; indeed, it was only quite recently that the first mentioned was brought to my notice, and it is still more recently that I satisfied myself beyond doubt that they both had a bona fide existence, in or about the year 1850. The Adams' Express Post seems to have been the predecessor of the City Express Post, and, although I have not at this moment one of the Adams' stamps before me, they, if my memory serves me rightly, were identical in design with those of their successors, with the exception that on the left hand side, where the floral ornamentation exists, the word Adams was sub- stituted. The only value of the Adams that I have seen is the 2 cents, but probably the 1 cent also exists. As to the colors of the impression, I can only say that of those here given the black on white is the best authen- ticated, though the blue on white may have been used also by the City Ex- 34 press Post after Adams withdrew. I have seen a 2 cents Adams in black on blue, which I take to be a proof. Setting it aside, therefore, the set prob- ably ran as follows : Adams' City Express Post. 1 cent, black on white. 2 u a u (( City Exi'bess Post. 1 cent, black on white. 1 " blue " " 2 " black " " 2 " blue " Reprints (or else surplus stock) of the City Express Post are found in both black and blue on white. Cornwell's Madison Square Post Office. This label was used in New York in or about the year 1850, at the locality named. It is a very rough wood block impres- sion in red on bluish and on bluish-white paper. Bentley's Despatch, Madison Square. Bentley is reputed to have been the successor of Cornwell, and to have issued an oblong, type-set stamp, inscribed Bentley's Despatch, Madison Sq., printed in bronze on white glazed paper. I saw a specimen some years ago which was represented to me as undoubtedly genuine, but have more recently had cause to question the accuracy of the information previously obtained. I therefore dispense with the usual illustration, satisfying myself with this brief allusion to the post. Jefferson Market Post Office. Having no specimen of this very rare stamp in my possession, I can onlv describe it -from memory. The central design is an eagle on a rock, the in- scription reads, Jefferson Market Post Office, by C. Schmidt & Co. ; the form is a transverse oblong, and the impression lithographic, in black on red and on blue paper. I understand that the Jefferson Market Post Office was started in 1850, at No. 7 Greenwich avenue (Jefferson Market) by Godfrey Schmidt, whose name was incorrectly spelt upon the stamp that he issued, as can be seen from the description already given. East River]^Fost Office. Started in 1850-51, by Jacob D. Clark and Henry Wilson, although the latter does not appear to have taken any active part in the enterprise. In 1852 it was bought out by Mr. S. Adler, by whom it was conducted until about fifteen or sixteen'years ago. 35 At first the office was at 23 Avenue D, but in 1854 it was removed to No. 19, and in 1855 to No. 18 in the same avenue. T vpeI. — This was undoubtedly the first issued, and must have had a very short existence, as beyond two " proof " specimens no copies have come to light. It was a fine wood engraving by Mr. Tudor Horton of this city, and was probably printed in black on brown paper. Type II. is, in general appearance, similar to Type III. reproduced below. All the proportions, however, are larger, and the design is more carefully finished. The inscription reads 23 Av. d., the 3 having a flat head, similar to that on the circular type. Types III. and IV. have ample justice done them by the illustrations. Type III. is found in three varieties, showing errors of punctuation. Var. (a) 23 . . Av. D. " (J) 23 . Av. D. " (c) 23 . Av D Types II., III. and IV. were the work of Mr. Julius Bien, a well-known lithographer of this city, and were printed in black on green glazed paper. G. A. Mills— Hall &, Mills. G. A. MILLS' PKEE Despatch Post. Type-set. Black on green paper. I find Gr. A. Mills' Express in the Directory for 1851-2, and infer that these labels were in use .about that time. HALL & MILLS FREE SespatchPost. Brooklyn City Express. This was a Brooklyn City Delivery Company, the manager being one Rodgers, who has now removed to California. 1 Cent. — Light blue, dark blue, green. 2 Cents. — Pink, lake, deep scarlet, vermillion and dark blue. I have the 2 cents blue on a letter dated 1853, but the express certainly existed somewhat earlier, and also much later than that date. Reprints of the Brooklyn City Express stamps are found as follows: 1 Cent. — Pale green, darjc blue, light blue. 2 Cents. — Lake, deep scarlet, pale blue, red and pink. Metropolitan Post Office. I have traced this post in the New York Directories of 1854-58, finding Mr. W. H. Laws recorded as its proprietor, and No. 13 Bible House as its office. 36 The stamps used by Mr. Laws are illustrated below; but, before pro- ceeding to consider them, I must mention a label that has recently been discovered. It is rather larger than Mr. Laws' Type L, and also diflFers from it in the inscription, which reads Meteopoi.itan Post OrPiCB. — 162 Ninth St. op. Bible House. — New York — L. Williams, Peopkietoe. The stamp in question is in red on white paper (the lettering being em- bossed; and the ground, solid), and from its appearance one would be led to look upon it as genuine. Accepting it as such, I conclude that Williams was the predecessor of Laws, as his name, as well as the Ninth street ad- dress, is flattened out (evidently intentionally) from the embossed inscrip- tion, so that I had to use a magnifying glass in deciphering it. The envel- ope to which ■ he stamp is affixed also bears Mr. Laws' hand stamp. Types I. and IL — We now come to the locals that Mr. Laws issued, and which are too well known to require much comment. The colors of both types run as follows : ' Red on white ) The ground being solid, and the I Blue " j lettering embossed in white. Reprints are found in the original colors, and to Type II. a fancy one — brown or white — has been added. ^,^° 13 -^A^ 4/54MERICAN ^ ^BIBLE HOTJSEO N.Y. yw-^H.LAWS J \ PROPRIETOR, y. CHAPTER V. New York City, Continued. Hussey's Post. Mr. Geo. Hussey commenced business as the proprietor of a Post, in 1854, at No. 82 Broadway. In 1856 or 1857 he moved to No. 50 William street, and in 1872 to No. 54 Pine street, where he still continues. He has a regular daily delivery for letters and circulars, and also has special mes- sengers constantly in attendance to carry letters, packages, &c., to any por- tion of the city, or even into its suburbs. Mr. Hussey's stamps are numerous, and, at first sight, rather perplexing. Consequently, collectors will do well to closely study the following list thereof : Type I. — Issued 1854. View of Bank of America in centre, surrounded by inscriptions reading: Bank and Insurance Notice Delxveey Office, 82 Broadway. The whole enclosed in an upright rectangular frame with truncated corners. Lithographed in blue upon white paper. 37 As may be judged from the foregoing descriptLon, this type is similar in general design to Type VI., illustrated further on; but many differences ex- ist in matters of detail. For instance : Type I. has a small dot outside of each truncated corner of the frame, and only has one flourish under the word Notice. Type VJ. has no dots outside the truncated corners, and has two flour- ishes under Notice. Type II. — Issued 1856. Representation of one of Hussey's letter boxes in centre, surrounded by inscriptions reading: Baniv and Insurance Letter City Post. 82 Broadway. Upright -rectangular frame with truncated corners. Lithographed in black upon white paper. Tfiis type resembles, in a general way, Type VII., of which an illustration ■will be found in the proper place. Minute differences exist, however, two of which I mention as tests: Type II. has a small dot outside of each truncated corner of the frame. The letter box, forming the central design, is surrounded by a lined back- ground. In Type YII. the dots in the corners of the frame, and the lined back- ground around the letter box do not exist. Type III. — Issued 1857. Letter box in centre surrounded by inscriptions worded: Bank & Insurance Letter City Post. $1.00 pr 100. 50 Wil- liam St. Basement. The whole enclosed in an upright rectangular frame, with a small dot outside of each truncated corner. Lithographed in brownish red (varying in shade), upon white paper. This type very closely approaches to Type VIII., but fortunately there are differences suflSciently prominent to be noticeable, and serve as tests, viz: In Type III. there are two flourishes (one large and one small) over 50 W — of the inscription 50, William St. There is also a comma between 50 and William. In Type YHI. there is only one large flourish over 50 W. The comma referred to in connection with Type III. is omitted. I may further mention that nearly all the lettering of Type III. is percep- tibly smaller than is that of Type VIII. Type IV. — Issued 1858. Lithographed in black and in pink on white paper. \50WILL1AW 5TS, -Issued 1860. Lithographed in blue upon white Type V.- paper. It was shortly after the issue of Type V. that the demand for locals commenced, and thereupon Mr. Hussey undertook to supply that demand, so far as in his power. Finding his stock of Type I. exhausted, and the plate destroyed, he easily created a fresh supply by means of a transfer from Type V., altering upon that transfer the address to 82 Broadway. 38 '182 BROAD WAY I In all Other essential points the designs of Types I. and V. are neai-ly identical; although, of course, the dots already referred to as existing out- side of the truncated frame of Type I., necessarily do not exist upon the 82 Broadway stamps, made from the altered transfer of Type V. I have therefore to chi-onicle Type VI. — Issued about 1862. Altered, as stated, from Type V., so as to resemble Type I. as closely as possible; the address being made to conform to Type I., viz: — 82 Beoadwat. Such minute points of variance as exist have already been mentioned in connection with Type Lithographed in blue on white paper. In order to supply philatelists with representations of Types II. and III., of which the stock was also exhausted, and the stones destroyed, Mr. Hus- sey caused new stones, of designs similar to those of these two types, to be prepared. To tabulate these remarks, I continue my list by chronicling Types VII. and VIII., viz: Type VII. — Issued about 1862, from a stone prepared to resemble Type II. as closely as possible. The minute points of variance that exist have already been mentioned in con- nection with Type II. Lithographed in red (varying in shade), and in black on white paper. IL.EX'TEK., CENTS Type XII. — Issued in 1863. "Wood block. Impressed in a solid ground of color upon colored paper. Five values, viz.: 5, 10, 16, 20 and 25 cents. 5 cents, black on red glazed paper. 10 cents, gold on green glazed paper. 15 cents, gold on black glazed paper. 20 cents, black on white unglazed paper. 25 cents, gold on blue unglazed paper. Impressions of Type XII., in black on white paper, are sometimes found without any value stated upon the oval disk, whereon the numeral of value appears in the genuine emissions. Attempts haVe been made by unprin- cipled or ignorant vendors to pass these impressions (valueless in every sense) as proofs. In reality, they are cut from circulars that Mr. Hussey issued some time ago, upon which they were printed solely with a view to ornamentation. Type XIII. — Issued in 1864. Lithographic impression identical with Type XL, except that the date is altered to 1 864. 2 cents, blue on white paper. Type XIV. — Issued in 1865. Same as last, but with the date altered to 1865. 2 cents, blue on white paper. Type XV. — Issued in 1866. Same as last, but with the date altered to 1866. 2 cents, blue on white paper. XVI. — Issued in 1867. Same as last, but with the date altered to Type 1867. Type to 1868. Type to 1869. 2 cents, blue on white paper. XVII. — Issued in 1868. Same as last, but with the date altered 2 cents, blue on white paper. XVIII. — Issued in 1869. Same as last, but with the date altered 2 cents, blue on white paper. . 40 Type XIX. — Issued in 1870. Same as last, but with the date altered to 1870. 2 cents, blue on white paper. Type XX. — Issued in 1871. Same as last, but with the date altered to 1871. 2 cents, blue on white paper. Type XXI. — Issued in 1872. Similar in general design to Type XI., but without date, and with inscription altered so as to read : :Hussey's Bank AND Insurance Special Message Post. 54 Pine St. Daily Deliveey. Closed at 11 A. M. Lithographed in blue, green and mauve, on white wove paper. Also, in black, yellow, lake and red on white laid paper. This type, printed in black, is the one that Mr. Hussey to-day sells as his current series. In the years 1856 and 1857, while the adhesives of Types II. and III. were in use, Mr. Hussey had two hand-stamps of designs quite similar to them. A false notion prevails that these hand-stamps were used for the purpose of making prepaid envelopes, but I am fully satisfied that they were never dignified b'y being employed in that way. They were used only as cancelling or forwarding marks, and are of no more philatelic value than the numerous other hand-stamp designs that Mr. Hussey subsequently adopted. At periods between 1863 and 1868 reprints were made from the stones of Types IV. and V., and in 1875 or 1876 those of Types IV., V., VI., VII. and VIII. were subjected to like process. The reprints of 1875-6 are on heav- ier afld whiter paper than the original supplies, and the impressions are oftentimes poor, showing that the stones, as then existing, were somewhat worn. It is but justice to Mr. Hussey to add, that while Types VI., VII. and VIII., also many of the colors of Types X., XI. and XXL, were made for sale to collectors, as were, likewise, the reprints alluded to in the preceding paragraph, they are all recognized by him to-day; and any stamp that he ever issued, if in an uncancelled state, is still available to prepay the charges on matter passing through his post. Reprints, made in 1875-76, of Type VIIL, are found in blue on white paper, as well as in the original color. These blue impressions are entirely due to a misapprehension on the part of the printer, as it was not intended, which the reprinting was done, that any fancy color should be prepared. CHAPTER VI. New Toek City, Continued. — Miscellaneous. A. JUL. Hinckley's Express Company. — A. M. Hinckley &, Co.'s Express. — The Metropolitan Errand and Carrier Express Company. The two enterprises under Hinckley's name seem to have been the prede- cessors of the incorporated company, of which he became the president. Notwithstanding diligent search, I have been unable to learn when Hinck- ley started his express, nor have I been able to ascertain positively that he used anything more than a hand stamp. There exist, however, adhesive labels, bearing his name, having for the central device a large figure 1 en- closed in an oval. Above is A. M. Hinckley's Express Co., in two lines; below, ONE CENT. Errand and Carrier on the left; For City Delivery on the right. The whole on a lined ground and enclosed in an upright, rec- tangular frame. No cancelled specimens of this stamp have ever been dis- covered, but unobliterated ones (presumedly reprints) exist in black, red and blue on white. Prom an article in the American Journal of Philately, VoL IH., page 101, we learn that : " The Metropolitan Errand and Carrier Express Company was organized on the 1st of August, 1855, with a capital of $200,000, under a charter from the State of New York. The officers of the Company were Abraham L. Hinckley, President; Samuel P. Crane, Secretary; Hiram Dixon, Treasurer; and George G. Jones, General Agent. The principal office was at No. 11 Pine Street, New York City. The business of the Company consisted in collecting and delivering letters and parcels to or from any house in the city to any part of the world. Also, the purchase and delivery of goods on orders. " It had offices all over the city, and had a special messenger riding upon every omnibus or car in the city, whose duty it was to take any letter bearing the Company's stamp to the nearest branch office, to be sent immediately to the designated address." The stamps were of the following values: 1, 5, 10 and 20 cents, and were to be used according to the annexed rates: " For letters, newspapers or pamphlets, admissible through the aperture of the letter-boxes, and addressed to any part of the city below Fortieth' Street, 1 cent; if not pre-paid, double that amount on delivery. 42 "Packages not over 2 lbs. delivered to any part of the city below Fortieth Street, or registered city letters, or letters to any part of the United States except to California, 5 cents. " Parcels over 2 lbs. and not exceeding 5 lbs., to any part of the city be- low Fortieth Street, or letters weighing over ^ oz., to any part of the United States, or special message below Chambers Street, 10 cents. " Letters not exceeding ^ oz. to California, Oregon, or the Sandwich Is- lands, IT) cents. "Parcels weighing over 5 lbs. and not exceeding 20 lbs., to any part of the city below Fortieth Street, 25 cents. "Special message below Fortieth Street, 20 cents; -J- oz. letters to Great Britain, 30 cents; -J^oz. letters to Russia, Prussia, German States, or Austrian Empire, 40 cents." It will be observed from the foregoing that the higher values of the stamps had a much wider use than mp^t " city post " labels, as they not only represented the company's charge for transporting the letters to the General Post-office in New York city, but also the sum which* the Metropolitan Er- rand and Carrier Express Co. was in turn obliged to pay the Government for transporting the same to any designated part of the world. The stamps, of which the values have already been mentioned, were engraved by Baldwin, Ball & Cous- lard, and printed in sheets of one hundred. Until quite recently, it was gene- rally supposed that the only color in which the originals existed was orange-red, but Mr. Jesse K. Fur- long, of this city, in the year 1874, resuscitated from among a quantity of old letters belonging to one of his relatives, a solitary cancelled specimen of the one cent stamp printed in dark blue, and affixed to the original letter. I have also seen several copies of the one cent on original envelopes, and printed in dark red-brown on brown tinted paper; though formerly all the stamps in that color were supposed to be reprints. It may be that the plate fell into the hands of a New York dealer, and that he reprinted therefrom in dark rod-brown and in blue; but I am inclined to thiuk it more probable that the stamps offered by him are remainders of the original supply. Be this as it may, there can be no doubt that original copies of the one cent (and, probably, the other values also,) were printed and used for a brief period in both red-brown and blue, as well as in the orange-red shade al- ready mentioned. Concerning the blue stamps, the article in the American Journal of Phi- lately, referring to the circular previously alluded to, says : " The circular before us (from which the rates, etc., are quoted) consists of four pages of reading matter and is printed in blue ink; e;ich corner is ornamented with a representation of the Company's stamp, say four one cent tamps on the first page, four fives on the second, and so on. 'This accounts 43 for some blue specimens printed on both sides, that are said to adorn a cele- brated European collection, the owner of which was certain that they were geniiine, as ho had them before counterfeits or reprints were made." These stamps printed on both sides had always been looked upon as proofs, but the foregoing explanations show that they were merely cut from the circular of the Company. Third Avenue Post Office. I copy the following verbatim from the Stamp Collector's Magazine, Vol. X., page 164: "This post was established in 1855 or 1856, by one S. Rothenheim, a car- rier for Boyd's post. The stamps he made himself, with a hand stamp of either brass or metal. He afterwards gummed and trimmed them carefully, and put them up in pill boxes for sale, on the principle that they lost and destroyed better in that way, and more were sooner asked for. * * * * * * rpjjg stamp was similar in size and shape to the oval East River P. O. label, the inscription being Ave. 3. P. O. S. R. Paid. The impression was black on green." Boyce's City Express Post. This post must have lived about 1856, but I cannot give the exact date. Black inipressions on green glazed paper. Essex Letter Express. The history of the Essex Letter Express Company is rather amusing. It was established about 1856 by three or four ex-carriers of various New York Expresses, who, after they had sold a good supply of their stamps to the public, suddenly decamped with the proceeds. And so the matter rested imtil about the year 1862, when the rage of the "locals" beginning, a cer- tain New York dealer (whom we shall designate as Mr. H.) undertook to supply the demand, but as he was unable to obtain the original articles, he resorted to the wood-engraver, who helped him out of his difficulty by pre- paring numerous " reproductions," although this last fact was not, for obvious reasons, made known to the public. About this time Mr. W. P. Brown, obtained a number of the genuine stamps, which, as will be observed by reference to the engraving, have for a central design a ship, from the main-mast of which floats a streamer with the letter SX inscribed thereon. As Mr. William P. Brown could never miss " his little joke," he took one of the genuine stamps and, carefully erasing the SX from the streamer, sub- stituted these letters below the ship. A trusty messenger then carried the altered stamp to Mr. H., who in a few days astonished the Philatelic world by the announcement that he had obtained and could offer for sale a limited quantity of undoubtedly genuine Essex locals with the SX below the ship! Further comment is unnecessary. It therefore only remains for me to say that the genuine stamp is evidently a wood engraving, and is printed in black on red glazed paper. LETTER 1 X (& \^ LlJ \T in >i73 m Jm Ui 2CTS CO 44 American Express Company. Started about 1856 or 1857, by Messrs. Smith & Dobson. Their stamp was a very simple type-set arrange- ment, and the market has consequently been flood- ed with counterfeits that can hardly be detected from the originals. Black impression on green glazed paper. I understand, on what I believe to be pretty good authority, that Dobson after a short time retired, and that the name of the concern was thereupon changed to Smith's City Express Post. Smith is supposed to have issued two or more stamps (including an " Un- paid " label) very similar in design to the preceding, but I have never come across any specimens which were above suspicion. Clark & Co. The label herewith reproduced, existed in New York in about ISiV. Original copies of which are found only in dark red on yel- low paper; but reprints come not only in this color but in seve- al fancy hues on white paper. Clarke & Co. were succeeded by Brady & Co., who, about January 1st, 1858, used a label very similar to that of their predecessors, printed in red-brown on yellow paper. The genuine stamp, as will be observed from the illustration here given, has a comma after the word " Beady." In what is generally considered the counterfeit, the comma is absent. Many other minor differences are also noticeable. A peculiar circumstance in this connection is that these stamps are sold by a New York dealer in strips of five, consisting of four of the (supposed) counterfeits, and one reprint from the genuine die! Can it be that collectors have labored under a mistake, and that both varieties are genuine ? How else could they appear in the same sheet ? The vendor of these strips claims that they are all reprints from the genuine blocks. Clarke's Circular Express, As the name implies, oanied circulars, not letters. From an inspection of the accompanying illustration it will be observed that the oflice was at 436 Broadway. The post was founded by Marion M. Clarke in about 1 863, and was discontinued two or three years later. The design of the stamp was set up in type (with a foundry cut, representing some unknown individual, in the centre) and was electro- typed in rubber. Impressions were then made in black on white paper. AA*^^*^ I I I I !■> < * 1 1 1 J V 1 1 1 1 1 1 rv 45 Mclntire's City Express Post. This post was in existence about 1860, its office being at No. 2 Maiden Lane. A carefully engraved metal-plate de- sign was prepared, and printed in rose on white paper. Crosby's City Post. I extract the following from the American Journal of Philately for June, 18V1. — "The list of locals for our country- has lately received an addition to their nnmber, of the annexed design. The stamp is issued by the old established house of O. H. Crosby, doing business at 19 William Street; it pays the postage on letters and circulars delivered anywhere in the City. The stamps were designed and engraved by J. W. Scott & Co. They are printed in sheets of twenty-five, and imperforated; the color is bright carmine." Although Mr. Crosby has been established for many years as a news agent, I do not think he opened a city despatch until about 18^0, or 1871. If I remember rightly, there used to be a young man in his store who, for a compensation ot eight cents, would carry letters over to the various Euro- pean steamers after the regular mail at the Post-office had closed ; but this certainly was not a city delivery company, which was the object of Mr. Crosby's subsequent enterprise. At present, Mr. Crosby confines himself almost entirely to his regular business, which is that of a stationer, and his City Post is a thing of the past. CHAPTER VII. New York City, Concluded. — Miscellaneous. This is a chapter of veritable " stragglers;" i. e., of posts which, though accredited to the Metropolis, cannot be assigned to any place in the pre- ceding chapters, owing to my inability to ascertain or approximate the years in which they severally existed. Brown St, McGill. Lithographed in blue on white paper. Mr. Scott is un- der the impression that he has also seen it in' black. It is generally supposed to have been used in New York City, and I therefore place it in this chapter. City Dispatch. This is known to have belonged to some !N"ew York Com- pany, and its proprietor is said to have been one Baldwin. Black impression on white paper. Reprints, or surplus stock, are oifered in large quantities. ' City Dispatch. This is a very rare local, and, from its extreme ugliness, it is almost to be regretted that it is not still rarer. Red on white paper. City Letter Express Mail. Mr. Moens, of Brussels, stands sponsor for this Company. In a recent let- ter to me he says: " Je puis vous affirmer que le City Letter Express Mail est authentique. "Un de mes correspondants le poss6de aniiule dans son album. De ee " timbre je puis repondre." The stamp in question is in the form of a heart. The background is of fine engine turned work. The central design is a largo numeral 1, donoling the value. To the left is City ; at top, Letter Express ; at right, Mail, and at the foot, Cent. 1 cent, red on white. 46 47 Hourly Express Post. Tradition tells us that this post was formed in 1859, and existed for about three weeks, which latter circumstance may account for the fact that no au- thentic specimens of its stamps are known. Reprints (or rather what are supposed to be reprints) are common, and are printed in black on green paper. The design is as follows: — diamond shaped, solid ground inscribed " HouELY ExPEESs PosT Lbttee Stamp Ose Cent," in five lines, the first being slightly and the fifth considerably curved. From the is, however, cocted by a the owners paper." " The car the letters ploded." Metropolitan City Express Post. Sta/mj} Collector's Magazine, Vol. X., page 165, (where the name incorrectly given) we learn that " this post was a swindle con- party who stationed some boxes at various stores, and supplied thereof with some stamps, type set, printed on green glazed rier and proprietor of this so-called express must have delivered himself at odd times, or after hours. His venture soon ex- New York City Express Post. The label bearing this inscription and having for its central design an eagle standing ujDon a globe, has always been considered by me as a very doubtful article. However, as a specimen, which has been pronounced gen- uine by good authorities, exists, in the collection of an English amateur, I give mention to the fact. The specimen in question is printed in black on green paper. The facial value is 2 cts. Price's City Express. Type I. — An indifferent lithograph. Black on green glazed paper. " " red " " Type H. — Also a lithograph, apparently, but of better execution. Black on green glazed paper. Reprints, or else portions of a large surplus stock of Type II., exist. Roadman's Penny Post. As the authentic character of this label has never been altogether satis- factorily shown, I dispense with the usual illustration, and content myself with a brief description. 48 Transverse oblong border of links. Roadman's Pexnt Post in three lines. Type set. Rose on white paper. Russell's 8th Avenue Post Office. A wood engraving. Black on pink paper. " on brown paper. " on green paper. Vermilion on white paper. Russell's P. O. was located on or near Abingdon Square, and probably ex- isted about the year 1851. Stateu Island Express Post. As the name would imply, this Company ran between Manhattan and Staten Islands. Red on white paper. CHAPTEE VIII. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Blood's Despatch. This was the largest city delivery company in Philadelphia, and from its litigation with the U. S. Government, it became one of the best known in the United States. I have always had the impression that it started about 1843 or '44; but the earliest date given by the directories is 1846. I condense the informa- tion thus obtained through this source. 1846-8, D. O. Blood & Co., 48 South 3d Street. • 48 « 6th " 26 " 6th " 26-8 " 6th " 26 " 6th " 1853-6, Blood's Despatch, Chas. Kochersperger, 30 and 32 Arcade Street. 1856-7, Blood's P. 0. Despatch and Penny Post, Chas. Kochersperger & Co., 28 South 5th Street. 1859, Same. 42 South 5th Street. 1849 do 1850 do 1851 do 1852 do 49 It will be seen that Blood's Despatch, under his and KocLersperger's con- trol, had — if the date 1843 be correct — an existence of about seventeen years; and it would have continued for even a longer period had not its business been summarily stopped by the United States in 1860, as the result of the litigation already alluded to. The suit brought by the Government against Blood's Post — or, rather, against Kochersperger & Co., its mana- gers — was for violation of the Act of Congi-ess which forbade the trans- portation of mail matter on post roads except by the U. S. P. O. Depart- ment; which Act further declared that all public highways were post roads within the meaning of the law. This construction was sustained by the Federal Courts, and the blow was thus struck at the despatch posts through- out the country, although a few manage to survive in the city of New York, being protected there by licenses derived from the municipal authori- ties, with whom, as to their right to grant such licenses, the Government apparently did not deem it advisable to litigate. Pages have already been filled with descriptions of Blood's Stamps, but they have one and all been so mixed with inaccuracies, that they might better have been left unwritten. Every stamp herein described (except the " dove " series) is now before me, so that my descriptions may be relied upon as perfectly correct. The " man-stepping-over-houses " types appear to be the least understood (doubtless owing to their rarity), consequently I have taken pains to collect nearly a dozen specimens. The illustrations, too, have been prepared with the greatest care, so as to prominently set forth all the minor points of difference between the respective types of the series. TYPE I. TYPE III. These were the first issued, but as to their order I can say nothing. The general design is supposed to represent Blood & Co.'s messenger stepping over the Philadelphia Merchants' Exchange (the large building in the centre with a cupola), in the basement of which building Blood's office was located at that time. The edifice to the right was occupied by the Sun newspaper, and the one just back of it by the Philadelphia Ledger. T. Sinclairs, a lithographer, had his oiEces in the building towards which the forward foot is stepping. These buildings will hereafter be designated as follows: Merchants' Exchange, (a.) Sun (b.) Ledger, - - (c.) Sinclairs, {d.) Type I.— This, it will be observed, is very different from either of the others, especially as regards a. None of the buildings have any inscrip- 50 tions. A most peculiai" feature is that while on the bag the word reads Dispatch, on another part of the stamp it is spelt Despatch. In the lower margin of the stamp, outside of the double lined frame, is the following inscription, in such small letters that our engraver has been unable to reproduce them on wood, viz.: " T. Sinclairs, lAth?'' Type II. — This, in point of execution, is a decided improvement on the foregoing. The buildings are more carefully finished, and bear the follow- ing inscriptions: h. Three indistinct letters (apparently Hau), under the upper windows. c. Shows the letters " Ledg " very plainly. d. Shows " S " and a couple of indistinct letters (doubtless belonging to the name " Sinclaihs ") ; while belov them is " Lithogbaphek " with the first letter entirely, and the last two nearly covered by the shading. The inscriptions outside the frame read "Lith. of Wagner & McGuigan, 100 Chestnut St.," and further on the name " Schmit " or " Schmitt " (prob- ably the man who executed the design for Wagner & McGuigan), is dis- cernable in very small letters in imitation of writing. Type III.^ — Still better, so far as the inscriptions are concerned. h. " Hau " is plainly printed. h. " Suif " appears unmistakeably, near the bottom. c. as in II. d. reads much more clearly in what looks like Stclaies Lithogeapher, in two lines as before, the last two letters of each word being somewhat blurred. The outside inscription is unaltered from II. This completes the list of man-stepping-over-houses stamps, so that I need only add that the trio are lithographs and printed in black on white paper Type IV. — In use, I think, about 1847, though it could not have had a long currency. Black on white paper. The illustration of Type IV. is rather inaccurate, having been made from the electrotype of Type V., figuring be- low. On the original stamps, all the lettering of Type IV. is coarser and to some extent different in style from that of its successor. Types V. and VI. — These must have been used almost simultaneously with the foregoing, as I have a specimen of Type V. on a letter dated November 1, 1847. Black on white paper. Type VII. — I have seen on an envelope filed August 15, 1848. The stamp is printed in black on white paper with a ground work of small blue diamonds, and the word Blood's traced thereon in largo open script. 51 BLOOD'S The very Type VIIL— Current from about 1848 to 1853. Blue impression on lavender paper with small pink dashes in Gold " « " « [ground. Gold " " black glazed paper. Type IX. — Dull bronze letters on dark bi-onze glazed paper. This I have on a letter dated January 30, 1849, which also bears a considerably larger blue label, reading, "Lawyers, medical men, and others, throughout the country, desiring their business cards or circulars of any kind or in any quantity distributed in Philadelphia, can have them attended to, with care and promptness, by ad- dressing Blood's Despatch, 28 South Sixth Street." Type X.— (On letter dated February 1, 1849.) Bronze on black glazed -paper, the lettering and border being in the color of the paj>er. Type XL — On letters variously dated from 1850 to 1854. later specimens show much wear in the die. Bronze on black glazed paper. Types XII. and XIII. — Genuine copies of both are rare, and I therefore cannot say exactly when they were current; but, as will be observed in the next paragraph, 1858 is the earliest date that I can assign to Type XIV., and I there- fore insert these here to fill the hiatus. The large one is from a wood block and printed in black on green ; and the smaller, a copper-plate impression, also in black on green. Type XIV. — This was prepared on metal by one of the firms afterwards incorporated with the American Bank Note Company. The portrait is that of Henry Clay. Black impression on white paper. — Current in 1858 and perhaps earlier. Reprints are found in black, blue, green, violet and other colors. There is also another type with a head of Clay for the central device, sur- rounded by a, rectangular band, inscribed as in Type XIV. Unfortunately, however, its authenticity has never been satisfactorily proven. Setting aside a number of acknowledged counterfeits, there are two varieties of this type, each of which is claimed to be the genuine article. One has for its cham- pion a New York dealer in locals — mostly bogus and reprints — who asserts that he obtained the stamps from KocherSperger after the discontinuance of the post, together with a quantity of Type XIV., copies of which (reprints ?) he has for sale. The other's claim is based on the assertion of a party in Philadelphia (not a Philatelist) that he bought the stamps from K. & Co. when that despatch 52 was in full operation, and has had them lying aside ever since, and only un- earthed them recently. When called upon to make affidavit to this effect he indignantly declined. The main point of difference between the two varieties, which we shall designate as a and b respectively, is that in the former the central ground work is solid, and in the latter is composed of diagonally crossed lines. a is printed in black on white. b " " " and on blue. CHAPTER IX. Philadelphia, Continued. — Miscellaneous Companies. W. Stait.— Eagle City Post. To better explain the history of Mr. Stait's entei-prise, I condense such information as I have obtained from the Philadelphia directories. 1847-8, "W. Stait, Eagle City Post, Adams' Express Office, 80 Chestnut st. 1849-51, do. do. do. do. 1852-53, do. Adams' Express Office, 116 Chestnut & 48 South 3d St. 1854-58, do. Stait's Despatch, 48 South 3d St. 1859, General Agent and Express Post, cor 4tli & Walnut st. 1860-61, (Directoiies missing.) The first stamp used was of the accompanying orna- mented circular design, and printed in black on white paper. It was current from 1847-51. Then, when the South 3d street office was op^ened, the unpre- tentious oblong rectangular label herewith re- produced was issued in red and in blue on white paper. In 1854, it will be observed, the name of the concern was changed to Stait's Despatch, but the Eagle City Post Stamps were used for some time afterwards. Later on, they were discontinued, and a simple handstamp reading Stait's Despatch, S. Third Street, Paid." substituted. It is generally found struck in red. u. s. p. o. Referring to the remarks made upon these stamps in connection with the Union Square Post Office, New York, I reproduce them here (where they belong) without any further comment, beyond the mere mention of the fact that the L S (Type I.) was current in 1849, and the others, presumedly, about the same time. 53 U.S.P.O. PAID. L 1 Cent. 8 I U.S.P.O. PAID. 1 Cent. Types I. and II. Black on red paper. U.S.P.O. paid. L 1 Cent. F Type III. Blue on white paper. Black on red paper. In order to prevent confusion, I take occasion to say that the illustrations of Types I., II. and III. are not very accurate, they differing from the origi- nal stamps in many details of lettering. Type IV. Black on blue paper. Blue on white paper. Gold on black glazed paper. G. Carter. This I have on a letter dated October 9, 1 850. Black im- pression on white paper. The office was at 90 North 5th street. Priest's Despatch. Its PAID Existed in 1854, and probably earlier, at No. 141 Chestnut Street, proprietor was Solomon Priest. Black on red and on' yellow paper. Some specimens of this stamp show a solid ground with all the lettering sharply defined. In others, however, dete- rioration is very evident, and two long dashes appear above and below the word "Paid." There are also some small strokes on the sides of this word, due perhaps to defective printing. These imperfections I have noticed only in the red stamps. The following posts were also located in Philadelphia or its suburbs ; but neither the directories nor any other records at my command give the dates when they were severally in operation. Cressman &, Co. CHESSMAN & GO'S PENNY POST PHILAD'A. Gold on black glazed paper. Originals are met with, but first-class counterfeits are common. De Ming's Fenny Post. — Frankford. Black on white paper. Large surplus supplies or else re- prints, exist. Frankford, as most of my readers probably know, is a suburb of Philadelphia, seldom 54 Jenkins' Camden Despatch. Camden being virtually a part of Philadelphia, Penna., though actually """"""" in another State, I include Mr. Jenkins' post in my list. In all original copies of this stamp, the countenance of the in- dividual portrayed (presumedly Washington, though possibly Jenkins) bears a noticeably serene expression. Many years ago the stone from which the stamps were litho- graphed, fell into the hands of a New York dealer; but, prior to its acquisition by him, it must have undergone retouching, as the re- prints that he made show traces of some such manipulation, the mouth being smaller and shrunken — suggestive of absent teeth. Originals are found only in black on white; but the reprintssj in addition to the orthodox color, come in green, blue, red, :uk1 orange. Steinmeyer's City Post. Black on slate blue. Black on pink. Black on yellow. T£ESE&Co Teese &. Co. Blue on blue tinted. CliAPTER X. Baltimore, Mai;yland. There existed in this city four or five local posts that issued adhesive labels. As to dates, &c., 1 am, in most cases, ignorant, and therefore do not follow any particular order in mentioning the following: Grafflin's Despatch. Date unknowTi. Lithographed in black on wliito paper. A second type (of extremely doubtful authenticity) is known, and differs from the foregoing in many respects, tlie lineO0C!<>0<>C>0<><>oo<-^~-'--><>c><>oo< ^ TYPE III. Games' City Letter Express. In the San Francisco City Directories I find 1864-5, City Letter Express, G. A. Carnes, 29 Government House. 1866, " " " S. E. corner Washington and Sansome. The undermentioned stamps are attributed to Mr. Carnes. Type I. — Rose on white paper. (Value, 5c.) On St. Val- /'^^^^ entine's Day, Mr. Carnes charged double his usual price, and fss/i on that anniversary used a very simple provisional stamp, ""*" made by surcharging his regular label with a large blue X. Type II. — A cheap wood block. Larger than last, with star above the bear's head. Black, red, blue, bronze, silver, gold. Type III. — Large label for packages. Transverse oval, inscribed " Caknes City Leitbe Express." Value in centre. 15 cents, rose on white. 25 " " " " Type IV. — Same as last, but reading "Carnes & Co. City Package EXPEBSS, 621 MONTG. St." 15 cents, rose on white. 25 " " " " The authenticity of Type I. is beyond doubt. As to the others I cannot say as much, and I would not be very much surprised if it should ultimately turn out that they were merely made to sell to philatelists, with the per- mission of Mr. Carnes, who passed a few of them through his post, so that his sanction of their issue might be claimed by their concoctor. Wm. E. Loomis. Mr. Loomis bought out Gahagan & Howe in or about 1865, and Carnes in 1869. At first he used the G. & H. labels of Type III., which, on St. 66 Valentine's Day, he uBed to surcharge with an X in blue ink, as Mr. Games was also wont to do, or sometimes by writing the numerals 10 across with a blue pencil. After he got possession of Mr. Games' Type I., he al- tered it, as shown by the cut, by erasing the latter's name therefrom. The job was done very badly, so much so that traces of the first and last letters in Games' name are almost always perceptible. Below the stamp he add- ed "S. E. COB. Sans'e and Wash'n. (Sansome and Washington Streets.) Mr. Loomis continued his letter express until a few years ago, when he died; and with his life ended the city delivery posts of San Francisco. At some now unknown dates the following delivery companies existed in San Francisco: Public Letter Oifice, Private Post OflBce, both of which issued prepaid envelopes, but not any adhesive stamps. CHAPTER XXII. Miscellaneous Gompanibs. It will be noticed that I have been able to describe nearly every local under the chapter reserved for the city wherein it emanated. A few re- main, however, whose birth-places inquiry has failed to reveal, and these form the subject of the present chapter. Barr's Dispatch. Type-set. Black on green glazed, and red on white paper. I personally know nothing about this stamp, but as it is ^ - generally accepted as genuine, I include it in my list. yfei Fisk & Rice. I extract a description from Vol. V., page BY, of the American Journal of Philately, which must serve instead of the usual illustration: " Fisk & Rice's, above, Express below, in curved lines, locomotive steam engine in centre, enclosed in rule border. Set up with type and foundry cut of engine. Black impression on vermillion glazed paper. Small rec- tangle." 67 T. A. Hampton. — Despatch Post. A large circular label of PATCH Post at top. T. A. rounded by an inner circle, white paper. about three centimetres in diameter. Des- Hampton, at bottom. Paid in centre, sur- Rough wood block impression in black, on Jones' City Express Post. Black on rose-colored paper. liangton &, Co. Used by the firm of Langton & Co., in some western city of the United States; but exactly where I cannot say. Black on white paper. Post Ofi&ce Paid. P. O, PAID 1 Cent. This is described in the S. C. M. for 1872, page 164. Black on white and on blue paper. Robisou &. Co. Said to have been used in the City of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, in 1856. Black on blue paper.- I have never seen an undoubtedly genuine copy. Snovr's Despatch. One of Mr. W. P. Brown's resucitations, or, rather it came out of the McCoy collection which he purchased. Blue on blue. Black on blue. SNOW'S Despatch. Snovr's Express. I extract the following from the S. C. M. for 1872, page 164: "The de- sign (if such it may be called) is of the simplest, being an old-fashioned looking figure 1, with Snow's reading upwards on one side, and Express reading downwards on the other. Above is one between two strokes, and below is Cents similarly placed. Blue upon thin paper." 68 Stringer & Morton. Here, too, I am without the original stamp to illustrate. I therefore tran- scribe the A. J. of P.''s not over lucid description, viz: Stbingee and Mob- ton's City Despatoh. Small oblong, black on gold. Whittelsey's Express. Red on white. Blue on white. PART III. Franks impressed on Envelopes issued, by Compa- nies carrying Mail Matter bet^veen diflFer- ent Cities and Towns. CHAPTER I.— EXPLANATOKY. CHAPTER n. — Printed Franks of various CoMrANiES. CHAPTER IH.— Printed Franks of Wells, Fargo & Co. CHAPTER IV. — Hand Stamps of various Companies. CHAPTER V. — History of some of the leading Companies vsriiosE Franks are described in Chapters II. AND IV. CHAPTER VI.— History op Wells, Fargo & Co. CHAPTER VII.— Conclusion to Part III. CHAPTER I. EXPLANATOKT, The envelopes described in the present portion of this work are so gener- ally and so well known as Western Envelope Franks, that any detailed ex- planations on the subject become superfluous. The adhesive labels of some of these companies were described in Chap- ter II. of Part I. ; but, as then said, the adhesives are few in number, the general practice with the Western companies having been to issue prepaid envelopes impressed with various printed designs. For the most part, the U. S. stamped envelopes were thus manipulated, as the business came in such direct competition with the U. S. Post Office Department that the .com- panies, in order to avoid legal proceedings, based upon the fact that they were reducing the Government revenues, used the tJ. S. stamped envelopes as already explained. Thereby the Government was defrauded of nothing, the companies did the work and collected their own charge accordingly. The following abbreviations will be used in describing the franks: L. U. C. Impressed in left upper corner of envelope. L. R. R. A. T. Env. Envelope. Ord. Env. Ordinary envelope; i. e. without any Government stamp im- pressed. Obi. Oblong. Rect. Rectangular. When franks are printed on envelopes with U. S. Government stamps impressed, the denomination, color of paper and year of issue alone are stated, thus: " black on 3c. white, 1864," means "black impression on a white 3 cents envelope of the 1864 issue of the U. S." As, in this connection, it is not customary to consider the various minutire connected with the envelopes themselves, their shape, sub-varieties of the Government stamp, &c., no reference to any of these points will be made; nor will any distinction be made between the Reay and the Plimpton series, both being treated as belonging to the issue of 1870. It will be observed that I have included in the lists that follow, a few British Columbian Companies. While these are of course not entitled to 70 L. C. lower " L. C. " right " " U. C. " " upper " E. across left end of envelope, at top of envelope. 71 a place among United States Locals, they are only few in number and are so generally classed with the latter, by collectors, that I felt their omission might be more noticeable than their presence CHAPTER II. Peinted Fbanks of VAEiors Companies. Alta Express Co. — I. Obi. rect. frame. "AUa Express Go. Paid.'''' River scene, steamboat, mountains, &c. L. U. C. Black on ordinary white and buff env. with U. S. adhesives affixed. . " Black on 3c. white and buff, 1853. II. — Same as last but without frame. "Paid!" larger and mountains higher. L. IT. C. Black on 3c. white and buff, 1853. American Express. — Hame above, " Paid " below. View in centre. Dog watching safe in foreground, steamlDoat, cars, &c., in distance. Black on white, (cut from env). Arizona & New Mexico Express Co. — "Paid.'''' Oblong lined frame. T. Black on 3c. white, 18Y0. Bacon's Express. — This Company is mentioned in the Philatelical Journal, Vol. I., page 30, but no particulars are given. Ballou & Co.'s Cariboo Express. — Inscription as above in ornamen- tal border. " Paid'''' below. L. TJ. C. Black on ord. white env. J. Bamber & Co. — I. Obi. rect. with truncated corners. Solid disk with " Pajc?," in background. '■'■ J. Bamher & .Go." s Express, Bacon tk Hardy, Oakland Office.^'' All in white letters. L. U. C. Black on 3c. white and buff, 1861. II.— Scroll with leaves at ends. " Paid. — Bamher S Go.^s Express." L. U. C. Blue on 3c. white, buff, 6c. white, buff, 10c. white, buff, 1853 ; 3c. white, buff, 1857. " 'Black on 3c. buff, 1651 ; 3c. buff, 6c. white, 12c., 24c., 1861. ' " 3c. white, buff, 1 864. III. — Scroll with plain ends. Same inscription. Y2 L. U. C. Black on 3c.; white, buff, 6c.; white, buff, 40c., 1864. " " " 3c. white, lemon, 6c. white, 1870. IV. — Scroll with fancy ends. " Paid Bamber & Oo.^s Mcpress. W. B. Hardy's Office, Oakland.'''' L. U. C. Black on 3c. white, buff, 6c. buff, 1864. V. — Scroll with plain ends. Same inscription. L. TJ. C. Black on 12c., 24c., 1861 ; 3c. white, buff, 6c. (rose) white, buff, 6c. (violet) buff, 1864. 3c. white, buff, 1870. Barnard's Express. — (See Dietz & Nelson.) Beekman's Express. — Streamer inscribed '■'^ Paid BeekmarCs Express. Jacksonville, Oregon.'''' T. Black on 3c. white, buff, 1853 ; 10c. white, buff, 1861 ; 3c. white, buff, 1864. " Blue on 3c. buff, 1864. Bennett, J. P. & Co.'s — S. 0. M. d; Mc. Line. Between Santa Fe, N. M., El Paso, Ikx., and Tucson, Ar. Principal Office, Las Cruces, JV. M. Transv. oval inscribed as above. L. U. C. Black on large ord. yellow env. Black &, Co.'s Express. — " Paid 5." Streamer. L. U. C. Red, blue, black on ord. env. British Columbia and Victoria Express Company. — I.— Inscrip- tion as above ; " Paid from, Victoria to Lytton or LAlooet " below. Black on ord. white envelope. II. — Name as before. " Paid from Victoria to Yale or Douglass.''^ Black on ord. white env. Buchanan &, Co. — I. — "Pa^■(?," in backgrousd. "Buchanan <& Co.'s Canon City Express. L. U. C. Rose on 3c. white, 1864. Black on 3c. buff, 1864. II. — Obi. disk of green lines. Truncated corners. " Paid Buchanan <& Co.'s Express. Over our Dalles and Canyon City Route," in black. T. Black and gi-een on 3c. white, buff, 1864. Colby's Nevada and Dutch Flat Express.— Obi. lined ground in- scribed as above. T. Black on 3c. (rose) white, buff, 3c. (bronze) white, buff, 6c. (violet) white, buff, 1864. Cramer's Express.— I.— Purple scroll. Old English letters. Black on purple on 3c. white, 1864. II. — Cramer'' s Express, connecting teith "Wells, Fargo t6 Co. Purple scroll, blue letters. T, Purple and blue on 3c. buff, 1864. Crawford's Middle Fork Express.— "P(nd" TianSv. obi. fancy border. 73 T. Black on 3o. buff, 1853. Diamond City Express. Beveridge &, Canrich. — "Paid." Obi. Blue and red on 3o. buff, 1864. Dietz & Nelson and Barnard. Dietz S Nelson's British Columbia aud Victoria Express.— ^(sroW in- scribed as above. BamarWs British Columbia Express. — I. — Scroll inscribed as above. Various inscriptions below, viz. : (a) Bakkeevillb and Victokia ; (5) Victokia and Yale ; (c) Babkbb- viLLE ; (d) Yale, large type ; (e) Yale, small type ; (/) QtrESNELLBr? {g) Way ; (A) Victokia and New Westminstbe. II. — Type set, in two straight lines. "Paid Barnard''s Express, Colum- bia River via Yale, B. C." list or ENVELOPES. D. & N. in L. U. C on ordinary buff env. J with Canadian and Br. " A. E. on 3c. white, buff, 1864, with V Col. & Van Couver's W., F. & Co.'s frank at top and ) adhesives. Barnard's Type II. below. Barnard's Type I. a on ordinary buff^ env. J^jj .^ j^ ^ ^ ^^^^^^ » „ ., ,. ^j^g® ,, \ adhesives attached. " " " c 10c. white, buff, 1861, with W.,F. & Co. at top. " " " Co.'s — Over our Calif ornia and Coast Boxites — Mnpress" in scroll inclining towards left. T. Red on 3c. white, buff, 1853. IV. — Same as last, but scroll inclining towards right. T. Black on 3c. white, buff, 1853. Green on 10c. white, buff, 1853, over W., F. & Co.'s Cal. and Coast Routes in pink. W., F. & Co.'s Cal. and Atlantic Express in pink across end. Galen's, H. F., Paid Stage and Express Line. — In three curved lines, the word " Paid " being in large shaded capitals. L. U. C. Black on 3c. salmon, 18*70. G-arland's Express. "Paid." — Plain lined frame. Black on 3c. white, 1864. Gerow & Johnson. — I. Arms of Great Britain in centre. "Paid" above. " Gerow <& Johnson! s " on sides, with " Victoria. Yale," above. " British Columbia Express" below. T. Black on ordinary manila env. " " " orange " with Canadian adhesive. II. — " Victoria. Paid. New Westminster" at top. " Gerow <& John- sorCs" below. " British Columbia Express" at bottom. Arms of Great Britain on left side. T. Black on dark manila env., with Canadian adhesive. Gibb's, W. T., Express. — In shaded capitals. Black on 3c. buff, 1853. Gilpatrick & Go's Express. —" PaiW. — General office, 422 Sacror mento street, 3. F." Type set. T. Black on 3c. amber, 18Y0. Gray's Express. — "Paid." Obi. lined disk. A. E. in black on 3c. buff, white, 1861. ) • ^-u -ixr n^ s i^ ■> t i t rp " " blue " 3c. " « " \ '^ith W., P. & Co.'s frank at T. Gregory & English Moore's Flat and Eureka Express. — I. Obi. frame of large scallops and other type ornaments. "Paid. Gregory <& English'','! Moore^s Flat and Eureka Express, connecting at Nevada and Emigrant Gap." T. Brown on 3c., 1864. Black on 3c., 1864. II. — Obi. rect. fram^e of small scallops. Inscribed as before, but " connect- ing with Wells, Fargo dt Co., at Nevada City, Cal." T. Black on 3c. white, 1864. Greenhood & Newbauer Northern Express. — "Paid." Obi. lined disk with truncated corners. T. (sometimes L. U. C.) Black on 3c., 1853 ; 3c. buff, 1861 ; 3c. white, buff, 1864. 76 Gridley's Express. — "Paid.'"'' Obi. fancy type border, inscribed as above. Across end in on 3c. buff. 1863, with W., F. & Co.'s frank at T. Hall 8l Allen's Dutch Plat Express, on 3c. buff, 1853, over W., F. & Co.'s frank. Hammond & Wilson's Express. — "Suscmville and Reno, connecting leith Wells, Fargo & Co.'" Scroll. Blaqk on lemon (cut). Harrier's, D. W., Express.— I. Fancy Scroll. " 2>. W. Harrier'' s Ex- press.'''' " Paid'''' below. Black on 3c. white, 1861. II.— Same inscription in fancy transverse oblong frame. Black on 3c. white, 1861. III. — Smaller. Same inscription in double lined transverse oblong, with truncated corners. Slate blue on 3c. white, 1864. Deep rose on same. IV. — Similar to Type II., but nearly square. Fancy lettering. Black on 3c. buff, 1864. PuT*ple on same. Harrison's Susanville and G-oose Lake Express Company. — Streamer inscribed as above. "Paid'''' at top. T. Red on 3c. white, 1870. Hastings' Express. — " Paid.'''' Man on hoi-seback flying over ground, and bearing streamer inscribed " iVews." L. U. C. Black on ord. yellow laid envelope. Haywood's Express. — (See Pac. Union Express Co.) Hinckley &. Co.'s Express Mail.— Unrolled scroll. Name as above. " Fast Run via Denver. Paid Through.'''' L. U. C. Black on 3c. buff, 1853. Hogan & Co. — I. " Paid. Hogan Co. Express.'" T. Black on ord. laid yellow env. " " " 3c. white, buff, 10c. buff, 1853. II. — Double lined rect. frame. Same inscription. T. Black on 3c. buff, 1858. Taggart's, Grant I., Weaverville and Shasta Express. — " Paid " above. Obi. fancy frame. T. Black on 3c. white, buff, 1864. Thompson & Co. — Double lined obi. frame. " Paid over Thompson <& Co.'s and Wells, Fargo <& Co.'s Calif ornian Pontes ". L. TJ. C. and T. Black on 3c. buff, 1853. Thomes and Skaden's Express. — I. Type set. " Paid Thames & Skaden's Express, &iisanville c." T. Black on 3c. white, lemon, 1870. II. — Inscription as in I., but in obi. rect. frame. L. U. C. Black on 3c. lemon, 1870. Wharton's, 'J. P., Express. — " Fccid" in obi. fancy rect. frame. L. U. 0. Black on 3c. buff, 1861. Wheeler's Express. — "Paid" in scroll. L. IT. C. on 3c. buff, 1861. " " 3c. white, 1864. Wheeler, Rutherford &, Co.'s Express.— "PcwV?" I.— Scroll in- scribed as above. L. IT. C. Black on 3c. white, .buff, 1864. Whiting &, Co.'s Feather River Express. — I. Trans, obi. single lined frame. Name as above. " Paid" at top. L. U. 0. Black on ord. yell. env. with U. S. adhesives. II. — Scroll, same inscription. L. U. C. Purple on 3c. buff, 1864. Black " 3c. white, buff, 1864. I also hear of a similar frank with " Whiting Go.) Holladay Overland Mail and Express Co. ran through Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Montana, and Washington Territory ; was ulti- mately absorbed by Wells, Fargo & Co. Its proprietor was Ben. Holladay. loSand'fwil^ler''" } ('^^ ^-^^^' ^«^^- ^ ^-) Kennedy & Co. Kennedy, Long & Co. From San Francisco directories : 1866. — San Francisco and San Jose Baggage Express. M. G. Kennedy. 186V.— Kennedy & Co. S. F. & S. J. R. R.— General Freight Delivery and Baggage Express. 156Y. — Kennedy & Co.'s Express. Daily to Half Moon Bay and Pesca- dero. M. G. Kennedy, F. W. Utter. It is my opinion that all the Kennedy & Co. and Kennedy, Long & Co. "franks" (so-called) are merely business advertisements; and this certainly is the case with those inscribed " Baggage Delivery," &c. Langton & Co. — Again the San Francisco directory is called into requi- sition, this time the one for 1865. I condense the following from the adver- tisement therein contained : langton's pioneek express. " Established in 1850 by Samuel W. Langton. " Connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express at Marysville and Ne- vada City, to all parts of California, Oregon, Atlantic States, and Eui-ope. " We will dispatch Daily Express for " Sierra County, ") " Nevada°County, f (^.^"°»^ P^^°«^ enumerated.) " State of Nevada, I " Principal office, Downieville. — A. T. Langton, Superintendent." In 1865 Langton & Co. appear to have sold out to Liamping & Co., and this latter was in due time (about 1866-7, 1 believe) swallowed up by Wells, Fargo & Co. Mead & Clark. Mead & Davis. Mr. Pemberton says that these were absorbed by Wells, Fargo & Co. 95 Morley, Calkins & Co., (1853.) Holland, Morley &, Co., (1861-2.) Holland & Wheeler. Wheeler's Express, or Wheeler & Co. Wheeler, Rutherford & Co. • Rutherford & Co. These companies followed each other in the order given. The accom- panying advertisement explains their route : "Holland & Co.'s Fast Freight and Express Co. to Washoe (daily). " Placerville, Silver City, Virginia, Genoa, Carson, Gold Hill, Dayton, and Washoe City. Exactly where Holland <& Co. fit in, I cannot say. Holland tfc Wheeler is the closest approach found on any frank. Nichols 8l Co. — The San Francisco Directory of 1858 supplies the fol- lowing ; " California and Oregon Express. Daily to San Mateo, Belmont, Redmond City, Santa Clara, and San Jos6 ; and semi-monthly express to Oregon and Washington Territories, in charge of regular messengers. " Connect with Alta Express to Northern and Southern mines ; and Free- man & Co. to Atlantic States and Europe." Nichols in due course gave way, I am informed, to the American Express Co. I also hear of a frank of this latter company cut out and pasted over a "Pacific Express Co." (horseman), from which it seems probable that the American also absorbed the Pacific Company. Pacific Union Express Co. — Was started in 1865 as an opposition line to Wells, Fargo & Co. The older company proved too sti-ong for it, however, and- finally a consolidation was effected. Rockfellow St. Co. — This was an Oregon company, I believe. Date, &c., unknown, except so far as it can be gathered from the envelopes. It finally sold out to Waldron & Co. Rutherford &. Co. — {See Morley, Calkins & Co.) J. C. Truman. Truman & Chapman. Truman & Co. Truman ran this express alone from September, 1863, to March, 1864, and possibly earlier. Truman & Chapman followed, and about March, 1865, the firm became Truman & Co. At least so says my informant, although the dates do not altogether agree with those furnished by the directories. This express had boxes distributed throughout the city of San Francisco for the reception of letters, which it carried to San Jose, Watsonville, Santa Cruz, and intermediate points. It also connected with stages for Warm Springs, Alameda, Lexington and Los Angeles. Whitney &, X3o. — {See JBamber & Co.) I append a list of some of the earliest Western Express Companies, show- ing dates of formation, e paid In advance, otberiFlse your lietter fvlll not he torwarAeH, Oopy-Siglit Seoniedi IjETTERS enclosed In tbese Envelopes, Papers, and other mail matter, Small Parcels, Daguerreotypes, &c., directed to the Agent of the Penny-Post Co., and deposited In ANT Post Office, vrlU l>e delivered Immediately on the distrihution of the Mails, in Sak Fbahcisco, Sacba- hEnto, Mabtstille and Stocton, and In tbese cities only for tbe present. CALIFOEBIA Fenny Postage. PAID 7 The writer requests the Post Master to deliver this to Agent of the Penny-Post Co., SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. Box 5,005. The P. P. Co. will please deliver to S. W. COIiIilNS, Front Street. TO THE PENNY POST CO. u^ ...efiied. CAL. The party whose name is on this Envelope, is hereby authorized to open the same and appropriate its contents. B lOY TO THE PENNY POST CO. [ PENNY-POSTAGE PAID, 7. ^ate Of...... CALIFORNIA. LETTERS and other mail matter deposited in any Post OfHce, will be DELIVERED in San Erancibco, Saceamento, Stockton, or Ma- RTSViLLE, immediately on the arri- val of the Mails, if addressed to the care of the "PENNY POST CO." &<> _ = i IIA^JAr^ f^^sf^j^^ qM. • ofiteei. ^^. 108 Tte Penny-Post Co. deliver letters enclosed in tiiese Envelopes immediately on the distribution of the Mails, in San Francisco, Sacramento, Stockton, Benlcia, Maryffrille, Ooloma, Sevada, QrasB Valley, Hokelnmne Eill, TO THE PENNY POST CO e^.. ..&tiee^^ Cal. Tbe party to whose care this is directed is hereby authorized to open the same and appropriate its contents. E Letters enclosed in this Envelope aloTie cannot be forwarded, as the Postage is not paid. Seal your letter, then enclose in Envelope addressed to the Penny-Post Co. "Write plain. Give occupation, number and name of Street, when known. So Care of tl o/he^ %i. lie Penny-Post Co. CHAPTER III. San Fbancisco, Calipobnia. — MiscELLANaotrs. This history of the San Francisco Companies was given in Chapter XXI. of Part II. I now describe the envelope franks in the same order as the companies are there enumerated. San Francisco Letter Express. ( Van Dyck