Summer 2025 | July 18-20, 2025

"$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.

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.