Did The Pony Express Have Stamps?

Wells Fargo managed the Pony Express from April 1, 1861, until its demise in October. During that time the company issued five “Horse and Rider” stamps of this type in different colors and denominations. These semi-official stamps were used only on eastbound mail originating in California.

How much is a Pony Express letter worth?

The cost to have the Pony Express carry one letter, which took 10 days, from Missouri to California was $5. Today, that $5 is worth about $90!

How did Pony Express deliver letters?

Pony Express, byname of Central Overland California & Pike’s Peak Express Company, system of U.S. mail delivery by continuous horse-and-rider relays between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California, and from Sacramento to San Francisco, California, by steamer (April 1860–October 1861).

Did Pony Express deliver mail?

From St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California the Pony Express could deliver a letter faster than ever before. In operation for only 18 months between April 1860 and October 1861, the Pony Express nevertheless has become synonymous with the Old West.

How many mail pouches did the Pony Express lose?

But in its time running, the Pony Express only lost one mail pouch. The Pony Express filled an important role for a time, but it did not last. The Civil War started in April of 1861.

Are stamps from old letters worth anything?

Do they have any value? A–Yes, but it depends on the stamp used and the postmark. Do not remove the stamps from the letters since collectors want the entire envelope as part of postal history. Take the letters to a stamp bourse or stamp store to get some idea of value.

What stamps to look for that are worth money?

The top 10 most expensive stamps are ​​the Mauritius 1847 Post Office Stamps, British Guiana 1856 1 Cent Magenta, Benjamin Franklin Z Grill, Swedish Treskilling Yellow, Sicilian Error of Color, Two Penny Blue, The Whole Country Is Red, Alexandria Blue Boy, Baden 9 Kreuzer Error, and Inverted Jenny.

When did we stop using horses for mail?

The service was in operation only from April 3, 1860, to Oct. 26, 1861. It operated as a U.S. Mail route during its final 4 months. On April 3, 1860, the first Pony Express mail, traveling by horse and rider relay teams, simultaneously leaves St.

Were there any female Pony Express riders?

There were no known female Pony Express riders. However, some of the ‘stations’ at which the Pony Express riders stopped to change horses or to hand-off the mail to a new rider were owned by or run by women.

How long did Pony Express mail delivery take?

By using a short route and mounted riders rather than traditional stagecoaches, they proposed to establish a fast mail service between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California, with letters delivered in 10 days, which many said was impossible.

How much did it cost to send mail on the Pony Express?

The speed of the Pony Express didn’t come cheap. In its early days the service cost $5 for every half-ounce of mail—the equivalent of some $130 today. Prices were later reduced to just $1, but they still remained too high for everyday mail.

Who delivered mail on horseback?

On April 3, 1860, a rider named Johnny Fry set out on horseback from St. Joseph, Missouri, carrying a bag of mail. He headed west on the first stretch of a 2,000-mile route across the continent.

What was it called when mail was delivered by horse?

Back in 1860, the Pony Express was a fast mail service that covered nearly 2,000 miles from Missouri to California. Its relay system of horses and riders cut the delivery time of mail and news from over 24 days to just 10 days!

How much were Pony Express riders paid?

The riders were paid $25 a week, which in those days was good money. Each carried a gun, a waterbag and the mail, in a pouch specially designed to survive even if the horse and rider did not. Riders changed to a fresh horse at each station along the way and handed over to a new rider every 75 to 100 miles.

Did the Pony Express riders carry guns?

Ten days later, at 1:00 a.m. on April 14, the package was finally delivered by another rider to its destination in San Francisco, California. In addition to the mailbag, the Pony Express riders carried two things: a Bible, and a gun.

How many Pony Express riders were killed?

7. How many Pony Express riders died on the job? There is historical documentation that four Pony riders were killed by Indians;one was hanged for murder after he got drunk and killed a man;one died in an unrelated accident;and two froze to death.

What makes Cancelled stamps valuable?

It contains a rare error: When a mistake has been made on a stamp design, such as a missing colour or feature because of a printing or production error, these stamps becomes highly collectible and are often worth significantly more than a ‘normal’ issue.

Are stamps worth collecting anymore?

The short answer to this is yes. Stamp collections can be valuable. Not all stamp collections will be worth a significant amount of money. But some collections may include certain stamps that mean the value exceeds what you may expect.

What should I do with old stamps?

Recycle your postage stamps
Postage stamps are recyclable and you don’t even need to remove them from the envelope they’re on — just throw the whole envelope in the recycling bin and you’re done!

What is the rarest stamp to collect?

British Guiana 1 cent Magenta
British Guiana 1 cent Magenta, 1856
Not many knew of the stamp until a 12-year-old boy discovered it in 1873 and sold it for 6 shillings (roughly $10 now). Today, the ‘world’s rarest stamp’ is valued at roughly Rs 71 crore.

Where is the best place to sell old stamps?

Sotheby’s is your best resource for selling rare stamps at auction. Since our first postage stamps auction was held in 1872, Sotheby’s has represented the most significant and famous philatelists, including Sir Maxwell Joseph, Ryohei Ishikawa, Robert Gibbs, Sir Gawaine Baillie and Lady Mairi Bury.