Summer 2025 | July 18-20, 2025

Manuscript endorsement “Per Eastern Express & Co.” at upper left and “Paid” at upper right, addressed to George Henry Bass, Wilton, Maine. Sender noted as J.F. Gould, 141 Milk St., Boston, and includes manuscript notation indicating $111.00 enclosed.

Hodgman, Carr & Co., Carpenter & Co., and Winslow & Co. were consolidated on May 1, 1857, to form the Eastern Express Co. The company operated between Boston and Maine, utilizing the Steamer Daniel Webster for service along the Penobscot River and the Steamer T.F. Secor on the Kennebec River. The company would eventually be absorbed by the American Express Co. by 1879.

Folded letter datelined Bangor, Me., September 3, 1857, addressed to Silas Pierce & Co. in Boston, carried by Eastern Express Co. with clear black 34mm circular handstamp reading “FORWARDED BY THE / EASTERN / Express Company / Court Square / BOSTON.” The letter requests a box of brown sugar to be sent by the next boat and includes interesting content on pricing and selection.

This usage is dated just four months after the company’s formation.

Addressed to T.B. Pickering Esq., Deer Isle, Maine, endorsed at top right in manuscript "Pr. Eastern Express" and at top left "Paid." Reverse bears a blue oval handstamp of John B. Emery & Co. / Ship Brokers / No. 154 State Street / Boston.

Folded letter carried by Fiske & Rice Express from Fitchburg, Massachusetts to Boston, addressed to Messrs. Silas Peirce & Co., 51 Elm St., with manuscript "Paid 12½ / By Express"

Fiske & Rice’s Express was the direct continuation of Bigelow’s Express, founded in July 1848 to serve the Boston & Fitchburg Railroad. Bigelow sold the business to Fiske & Co. on March 1, 1851, and Fiske & Rice continued operations until November 30, 1854, when their contract with the Worcester & Nashua Railroad concluded.

Folded letter docketed "Leonard Fuller, Boston Sep 29/46", endorsed "By Express", carried outside the mails by Fuller's Express, a private express service operating in Massachusetts during the 1840s.
Leonard Fuller, originally a conductor on the Worcester and Norwich Railroad, began providing express service around 1840.

Folded letter docketed "L Fuller", datelined February 4, 1847

Addressed to Mrs. Robert K. Southwell in Newburyport, Mass., with manuscript routing instructions: "Gillet Express" and “No. 116 State Street” (Boston). Gillet's Express operated around 1861 between Boston and Newburyport.

Printed receipt for Hatch & Company's Express (200 Franklin St., Boston and 5 Ricketson Block, New Bedford), dated March 18th, 1852, Nantucket, for forwarding $218.60 per Wells Fargo & Co. on behalf of P.B. Smith.
The stampless cover addressed to J.H. Clifford, Esq., Counsellor at Law, New Bedford, Mass., with manuscript "Per Hatch Express" at lower left. Reverse with multicolored wax seals.

Pair of stampless covers carried by Hatch, Gray & Co.'s Express, both addressed to New Bedford, Mass. The first is addressed to A.H. Potter, Esq. with manuscript notation at lower left: “Hatch, Gray & Co., Express”. The second is addressed to the law firm Colby, Clifford & Brigham, Counsellors at Law, with lower left endorsement “Per Hatch, Gray & Co., Cleared for $1,50, Paid by Col. Hatch"

Folded letter datelined Milton Hill,Aug 8th, 1852.
Hebard's Express is listed at 10 Court Square in the 1852 Boston Directory.

Manuscript "LAWS EXPRESS/PAID GWC", dated Boston, April 20, 1860 11:15PM to Portsmouth, NH. The cover with adhesions on Back from having been affixed to a package.

"Forwarded by Leonard's Express, 3 Court St., Boston, 180 Main St., Worcester." With February 27, 1856 folded letter regarding the health of an individual.

Datelined Dover, Sep 4 1859, with manuscript "Per Lowners Exp". Fine to Very Dine.

Partly completed form.

Folded letter datelined Feby 26th, 1850 and postmarked Providence, addressed to Rev. Nathan W. Williams in Shrewsbury, Mass., carried in the U.S. mails with red “PAID” and “5” rate markings; the letter notes, “I took the bundle to Ross’ Express Office to be forwarded to you...” and includes the notation “Paid, chg. Box 57,” confirming prepaid service via Ross’ Express.

Undated folded letter addressed to “Messrs. B. Whitin & Sons, Whitinsville,” carried privately “by Ross’ Express” as noted in manuscript at lower left. Ross' Express was a one-man operation active around 1848, transporting letters between Worcester, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island, by rail.

Letter from P. Whitin & Sons.

Letter addressed to the Providence Tool Co. in Providence, RI.

Business letter from A. J. Halliday to P. Whitin & Sons.

Datelined Worcester, Nov 19, 1856.

The receipt documents a freight charge of 63c for goods forwarded to Clinton on a declared value of $34.75, signed by the local agent.

Folded letter datelined Greenfield, Mass., November 8, 1850, addressed to Messrs. Thompson & Co. Express.

The letter orders a variety of books and stationery from Messrs. Merriam, Chapin & Co. and requests the items be sent by express the following day. The letter specifically instructs, “Please send me by Express tomorrow,”

Folded cover addressed to an individual at Washington Coffee House in Boston, with manuscript "By Witherell's Express" and "Paid" endorsements.
The Washington Coffee House, referenced in the address, was a well-known Boston tavern and stagecoach departure point with historical ties to the earlier Indian Queen tavern dating back to the 17th century.

Folded letter dated March 20, 1848, from Taunton, Mass., addressed to Nahum Stetson (who was a prominent iron manufacturer) in Bridgewater and endorsed "Witherell's Express" with clear strike of "TAUNTON, MASS MAR 21 5ct" circular datestamp and matching "PAID" straightline."
The letter was carried in the U.S. mails from Taunton to Boston, then handled by Witherell's Express for delivery in Bridgewater.