R.ESEAR.CH JOURNAL OF EARLY ViTESTERN MAILS VOLUME XX NO . I VV'"estern Cover Society JANUARY 1970 Express Territo rial Ocean JY.Iail Statehood Overland Postal Rates Post Offices Postal History Pages CONTENTS Preside nt's Message ...............................•...•. 1 Editor •s Corner . ........... .. ......... ...... .......... 2 Membership Changes ........•............•.•..•.•....•.. 2 Available Back Issues Of Western Express . ....••.•.•.••.•. 3 Coraville I Denver's First Post Office By f!'he Late) Parker Johnson ..................•..... 4-10 Survivipg Cora ville 1 K. T. Covers - By David L. Jarrett ..... ll "Steam" Marki ngs To San Francisco 1 1864 - 187 5 Br w. scott Polland I M . D . ..... ... ............ ... 12-14 The Truman Expresses - By Burton W. Cahoon ............•... 15-17 Nineteenth Century Oregon Post Offices 1 Part II - Clatsop County - By Richard W. Helbock •. ........••.. 18-31 My Observations - "Free J. C. Fremont" By W. Scott Polland I M .D •.............•............ 32 Newsdealers And Booksellers As Expressmen By A. Jay Hertz . • . • . • . • • . 33-36 Auction Action - By Robert Lewenthal . • . • • . • . 3 7-44 Advertisements ............................. ....... .. .... 45-47 Supplement - Roster· Of Members - January 1, 19~0 48-57 P~EASE ADDRESS all communications intended 'for WESTERN EXPRESS to the Editor, M. C. Nathan, 94 Biscayne Dnve, San Rafael, California 94901. Advertising copy and payment therefore should also be sent to the editor but inq~irie~ regarding membership should be sent to M. C. Nathan, Jr., Room 1010, 9 Sutter Street, San Franci,sco, Cahforn1a 94104. WESTERN EXPRESS - JANUARY 1970 Page 1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE We are about to enter a new decade and I would like to restate the objectives of the Western Cover Society. First: To maintain and develop our Society as a national organization. There is intense interest in our fascinating subject throughout the entire country even though the subject happens to be provincially western. Second: To carry on and extend our research activities. Third: To develop and enlarge Western Express whenever possible so that all original source material submitted by our members may be permanent­ ly recorde d by our able Editor 1 Mel Nathan. To be a member of this Society one must be greatly in trigued by the thrilling romance always associated with the courageous pioneer of the early west. "Western Express" i s our showpiece and indicates that our organization wants facts and information instead of guesses and opinions. Through this journa l our Society is contributing to the discovery of knowledge I the conserva tion of know­ le dge and the transmission of knowledge. Editor Nathan has done an outstanding job in bringing "Western Express" to its pre sent high state of development. His patience 1 intuition 1 imagination and instinct for teamwork all combine to produce a kind of theme - "putting knowledge to work". Obviously, research demands patience 1 and that is a virtue belonging to the strong. The person who truly wants something does not grasp hastily. He carries on systematic inquiry and is grateful if he is able to draw aside a corner of the veil that hides the truth . During the decade ahead let us rededicate ourselves to the principles of our Society. We are eager to disclose more and more original research findings through the pages of Western Express. We can if you will supply material directly to our Editor. There isn't a member who cannot contribute something worth while on his particular phase of our hobby. There isn't a member who doesn't enjoy reading such contributions. So let us join together and supply your fellow member with that which you know and he may not know. As I have said before, c. s our members gather at shows, exhibitions and other meetings, keep in mind our Society and its aims. I am appointing each one of you an emissary to promote "Westerns" and the romance of western lore. In order to have the general affairs of the Society run in a businesslike manner, I have appointed various standing committees. May all your experiences during the coming year be rich and fruitful. Basil C. Pearce WESTERN EXPRESS -JANUARY 1970 Page 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- EDITOR'S CORNER Included with this issue is the new roster of members. The collecting interests of the members are indicated by a coded marking whenever the information is available from them . This data has become of value to the collector, the dealer member and particularly to the editor, as it enables him to determine the type of articles that will interest as many members as possible. Speaking of "New", this is the first time in many years that there are no "New" members to report in the current issue . This is not a reflection on our alert membership committee. They are constantly trying to interest new candidates, but all of us should consider ourselves ex-officio members and work to get more collectors to join. In order to continue the progress that Western Express has made all during the years, and keep up the standard of the journal, we must have funds to pay for it. Only by signing up more members can we keep a pace with ever increasing costs. I joyfully start the 14th year as editor with the Seasons Greetings to you all. **************** MEMBERSHIP CHANGES CHANGES OF ADDRESS #37 William C. Aichele, 1621 Cienega, Hollister, Ca . 95023 #118 R. B. Keusch, P.O.Box 2485, Greenville, N . C. 27834 #252 Yale Univ. Library, Attn. Mr. A. Hanna, New Haven, Conn. 06520 #256 Robert A. Hanson, 107 Estates Dr. , Orinda, Ca. 94563 #283 Dr. S. H. Dike, 1009BradburyDr. S.E., Albuquerque, N.Mex. 87106 #457 Cliff Horst Jr., P . O. Box 3478, Fremont, Ca. 94538 #458 Richard C. Wilkerson, P. 0 . Box 2142, Carmel, Ca. 93921 #466 Robert C. Kinne, 1619 Pas eo Del Cajon, Pleasanton, Ca. 94566 #492 Mrs. Emily Moorefield, P. O.Box 2066, Seal Beach, Ca . 90740 #502 George E. Hargest, 1700 - 45th Ave., Vero Beach, Fla. 32960 RESIGNATIONS # 98 Fred Faulstich, 3 7 Inwood St., Yonkers, N.Y. 10704 NECROLOGY #71 Edward D. Cerruti. Our sincere sympathy to his family. WESTERN EXPRESS -JANUARY 1970 Page 3 AVAILABLE BACK ISSUES OF WESTERN EXPRESS Write to Mel C . Nathan, Jr. Sec'y 9 Sutter St. , San Francisco, CA 94104 Price $2.50 per is sue Year Volume # Issue# CoJ2ies on Hand June & September ... 1952 2 3 2 October & November II 2 4 1 July ............... 1953 3 3 2 January ... ...•... .. 1954 4 1 3 October " ...... .. .. 1955 5 4 1 April ............•. 1956 . 6 2 3 July .............. II 6 3 2 October .......... II 6 4 2 January ........... 1957 7 1 2 April • .......... •. II 7 2 3 October .......... " 7 4 3 July ........ ..... 1958 8 3 2 October ... ....... II 8 4 6 April •.. ..... ..... 1959 9 2 8 July .............. II 9 3 2 October ....... ... II 9 4 8 October .......... 1961 11 4 6 January . ......... 1962 12 1 8 or more April ............. II 12 2 " " II Oct ober . ..... .. " 12 4 II II " April ...... ..•... 1963 12 2 4 July .............. 1964 14 3 1 October . .......... II 14 4 2 January ........... 1965 15 1 7 Apri l . ........... II 15 2 1 July .... ......... II 15 3 8 or more October .... ...... II 15 4 II " " April ............. 1966 16 2 II " II II July ............. 16 3 II II " II October . ....... 16 4 II " " April ... .. .. ... 1967 17 2 II " " July ............. 17 3 " II October .......... " 17 4 II II II January ....•...... 1968 18 1 II II II II April ............. 18 2 " I " July .............. " 18 3 October ........... " 18 4 II II January ............. 1969 19 1 " " April ... •......... " 19 2 " • ;I " July .............. 19 3 II II " October ........... 19 4 " " WESTERN EXPRESS -JANUARY 1970 Page 4 CORA VILLE, DENVER'S FIRST POST OFFICE By (the late) H. Parker Johnson * Editor's Note: This article appeared in the Colorado Magazine 1 XXIV (January 1 1947) pp. 37 - 43. Through the courtesy of the State Historical Society of Colorado written permission has been extended to David L. Jarrett to have the article reprinted in Western Express. The discovery of the envelope herein illustrated and postmarked "Coraville, K.T. 1 June 22" (1859) leads to this recording of an obscure but interesting chapter in the postal history of our early Gold Rush period. A CoraviZZe, K.T. straight"line handstamp, originaUy on a strip of three 1¢ 1857s. Our early gold seekers have been described as a heterogeneous lot coming from all walks of life and from all professions from lawyers to gamblers; however 1 all those that came here were anxious to establish communication with the outside world. In those days communication meant the United States mails I or express service 1 for there were no telephones or telegraph. *Mr. Johnson is a member of this society and is a collector of such Colorado historical items as old envelopes 1 railroad time tables and passes 1 and books. His collection of Colorado Ghost Town and Express Company covers is pro­ bably the most extensive in existence. Mr. Johnson is Deputy State Bank Com­ missioner. - Ed. WESTERN EXPRESS -JANUARY 1970 Page 5 CORAVILLE I DENVER'S FIRST POST OFFICE (Cont'd) The nearest post office was some 200 miles to the north 1 at F.ort Laramie I and the 58ers at first were dependent on anyone going or coming from that remote post office to carry the mail. Finally an old trapper named Jim Saunders was persuaded to carry the mails from the Cherry Creek towns of Denver City 1 Auraria (the West Denver of today) and Montana City to Fort Laramie. On November 23 1 1858 1 the first trip was made 1 which was completed January 9 1 1859. The "Saunders Express" charged SO¢ per letter carried and history records his arrival back in Denver as a signal for celebration and rejoicing.