Illustrated "Miner on Mule" Corner Card on Local Cover to San Francisco

In May 1876, Henry Wells encouraged Pilsbury "Chips" Hodgkins to host a reception to commemorate his 25 years as an expressman. In response, Chips had invitations specially printed featuring four illustrations, each depicting a different mode of transportation he used throughout his career.
This cover is one of the envelopes, carried outside of the mails, that once carried an invitation While the image of a miner on a mule was commonly associated with Gold Rush-era mining scenes, in this context, it symbolized Chips himself on his early routes, delivering mail through rugged terrain on his white mule. Enclosure not included.