Summer 2025 | July 18-20, 2025

Legal-size cover addressed to New York City, ca. 1848.

New York Feb 3 (1852) cds, to Palmyra, NY. Backflap missing.

Illustrated “Forwarded by the American Express Co. Canandaigua. Wells, Butterfield & Co.” label (Mosher AWBX-L15) in Black on Green, on cover addressed to Albion, with manuscript “Paid IV.” The cover with horizontal fold through the label and some staining and reduced at right.

“Forwarded by the American Express Co. Utica. Wells, Butterfield & Co.” label (Mosher AWBX-L15a) in Black on Red Orange, used on cover from Utica to New York City, manuscript “(17.50)” and “Paid.”

"FORWARDED BY THE AMERICAN EXPRESS CO. ALBION WELLS, BUTTERFIELD & CO." label on cover to Buffalo, NY with manuscript "DUE 1" and "37.15"

Black on Red Orange “Forwarded by American Express Company, Wilton, Minn.” label and Black on Blue “Forwarded by Harnden Express, 65 Broadway, New York” label, on printed American Express Co. envelope. addressed to the Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C. The front with tears at bottom and bottom right corner missing.

Illustrated Black on Red Orange label “American Express Co. Buffalo, Chicago, Cincinnati and St. Louis. Livingston, Fargo & Co. Proprietors. J.W. Wetherell, Agent Sandusky” (Mosher AWBX-L31) on 1851 folded letter to New York, with manuscript “205.00.” The letter with vertical fold through the label.

Folded letter datelined July 26, 1848, addressed to Bridgewater, Massachusetts. The letter accompanied cargo of “2 pieces of blistered steel.” The letter with two horizontal file folds, one through the label with the label oxidized.

Letter dated Octber 7, 1851 to New York City.

"WELLS & CO.'S BUFFALO, ALBANY & NEW YORK EXPRESS. OFFICE 159 MAIN ST. BUFFALO" label on folded letter to Albany, NY. The label oxidized.

Philadelphia Pa. blue datestamp and matching "24" rate (Clarke 582) on cover to London, dated December 20, 1852. Illustrated cornercard for Reliance Line, Atkins & Co., depicting steam locomotive and railcars. Carried by Cunard Line’s Niagara departing Boston, with January 4, 1853 London arrival backstamp. Light wear, still a fine and and attractive transatlantic use of early railroad advertising.

Blue illustrated letterhead from O'Connor, Atkins & Co., Commission & Forwarding Merchants and Proprietors of the Pittsburgh Transportation Line. Features ornate cart vignette and Canal Basin address, with content regarding canal and sale scheduling logistics. Signed by James O’Connor.

Addressed to to Prescott Bigelow, office on the avenue leading from Congress St. to the Post Office, Boston.

Folded letter with manuscript "pr Bigelow's Express" at upper left and "Rail Road Service" at upper right, datelined "Boston 31st October 1850" with docketing on reverse indicating receipt October 31, 1851. Routed via the Fitchburg Railroad to Fitchburg, then by Cheshire Railroad to Bellows Falls, Vermont, and finally by the Sullivan Railroad to Charlestown, New Hampshire.
Letters carried by Bigelow’s Express, operating from 1846 until early 1851 when acquired by Fiske & Rice, are quite scarce. The firm received letters and parcels at its office in the Railroad Exchange. The letter with vertical file folds.

"$51,00 enclosed" and "Collect" manuscript notations at top left.

Folded letter datelined “Augusta Sep 10 1852” addressed to Silas Peirce & Co. in Boston, affixed with black on magenta circular label reading Rail Road Exchange, Carpenter & Co. Kennebec Express, Court Square, Boston (Mosher CPNX-L2). The letter contains an order for various commodities.

Black on magenta circular label reading "Rail Road Exchange, Carpenter & Co. Kennebec Express, Court Square, Boston" affixed to folded letter addressed to Silas Peirce & Co., Boston. Manuscript "$100" at upper left and "25" at right. Letter contains an order for food supplies, likely placed by a store.

Black on magenta circular label reading "Rail Road Exchange, Carpenter & Co. Kennebec Express, Court Square, Boston" affixed to folded letter addressed to Silas Peirce & Co., Boston. Manuscript "$100" at upper left and "25" at right.
Endorsed on reverse by sender J.C. Noble with matching date. Letter enclosed $100, presumably for goods or settlement.

This letter is part of the same correspondence from the previous lot.

Addressed to Mrs. Mary Ann Harden in Athens, Georgia, with manuscript instructions "By Express" at top left, along with “Paid" at top right.

Letter datelined September 18, 1849.

Folded letter dated April 2, 1850 from Whitinsville, Massachusetts to Providence, Rhode Island, containing an order for tools or equipment. Manuscript "By Xpress" notation at lower left and pencil "12c" rate marking.
Clement’s Express was the only express company serving this route from Whitinsville, MA to Providence, RI.

Illustrated as Figure 6-9, New Jersey Private Express Companies : Part 6A: Expresses Operating from Newark Offices By Bruce H. Mosher

Cover addressed to New York City with bold black Day Express Co., Newark and New York, W. & J.M. Martin handstamp. A penciled notation at top, “Return ... by Martin tonight Sure Don’t fail” suggests that Amos Day was out of the express business, but the company name was still used. As noted by Mosher in his article, Amos Day began his express service in 1850 after working as an Agent for Adams & Co. and continued through 1862 under various business titles, with “Day Express Co.” appearing only during 1860–62.

Earle's Express ran routes between Providence, Warren, and Bristol, RI as well as Providence, Stonington and New London, Conn.

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.