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Express Cover

National Postal Museum

Object Details

Description
This is a cover exhibiting early usage of Wells Fargo Stamp, U. S. Scott 143LU3, created by pasting the top of a 3-cent stamped envelope, U. S. Scott U34, to the bottom of a separate envelope. Cancelled with a blue oval Wells Fargo & Co. cancel from Virginia City, Nevada Territory. Addressed to E. E. Rofs at Murphy's Camp, California.
This letter is from the 1862-1864 Wells Fargo service that is sometimes referred to as the "Virginia City Pony" service that was established by Wells, Fargo & Co. on August 11, 1862. Letters were required to be enclosed within a franked government stamped envelope, plus a 10-cent Pony Express adhesive for each 1/2 ounce.
This service provided for communications between gold and silver mining towns and Sacramento and San Francisco, California. Ponies were used to carry the mail between Virginia City and Placerville. Between Placerville and Sacramento and San Francisco mail was carried by rail.
1862
Object number
2002.2004.1
Type
Covers & Associated Letters
Medium
paper; ink; adhesive
Dimensions
8.5 x 13.5 cm (3 3/8 x 5 5/16 in.)
Place
United States of America
See more items in
National Postal Museum Collection
Title
Scott Catalogue USA U34
Scott Catalogue USA 143LU3
National Postal Museum
Topic
Civil War and Reconstruction (1860-1877)
Covers & Letters
Record ID
npm_2002.2004.1
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/hm834246d34-6ab7-41cc-b7af-8cd9e15ac0b9
This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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