Western America
c. 1850 California Gold Rush Cover By Reynolds & Co.
c. 1850, Stampless Cover mailed from Wilmington, DE to Stockton, CA, Forwarded by Reynolds & Co. Express, Very Good.
This historic Stampless Postal Express Cover is addressed to Theodore Tatem in Stockton, CA, measuring 3” x 5.25,” was mailed from Wilmington, DE on April 21 (probably 1850 or 1851), passed through New York on April 26, and was ultimately forwarded by Reynolds & Company, whose stamp appears in the upper left corner. In New York it was stamped with a 40 cent rate, and there is also a blue oval stamp reading “Advertised.” A true Gold Rush cover, this envelope has stains and burns appropriate for the primitive conditions under which it traveled, is chipped at the ends, separated at the top and bottom, and is otherwise intact and complete. A very similar cover in a recent auction was hand dated 1850. This rare historic cover has clear and attractive markings. Reynolds & Co., one of the earliest California express companies, was already in operation in 1850.