Chris and Valerie Combs
Fine Art

Vintage dated 1850's Adams & Co's Express receipt. Nice impression on logo depicting Several horse-drawn wagons and people in front of a neo-classic building. Six offices listed beneath the letterhead: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington & Wheeling. Line items left blank except for hand-written "Received of Fisher, Cushing & Henderson" in black ink at top. Printed by D. Felt & Co. 176 Pearl &50 Wall sts. Condition: Good plus. Some loss to left margin. Faint blue paper has some waves but no folds or creases or other damage what-so-ever. Founded in 1841 by Alvin Adams in Boston, Massachussettes. The Company operated as a private mail and regional/parcel express company mainly in the Eastern states, London and California. Also known as "Adams & Co." and "Adams Package Express." This company was terminated on February 23, 1855. Succeeded by Adams Express Company. This is a scarce pre 1855 item from one of the earliest Express companies on the Eastern Seaboard. Ex-collection Dick Bowman, Denver Westerner and serious Wells Fargo collector. Please see my other Wells Fargo, Pony Express, and other Express company envelopes, Stock certificates, Way Bills etc. that I will be listing in coming days from this same collection.

Original, vintage stock exchange receipt dated December 14th, 1868. Condition VG minus; with two pin holes evident on top quarter page and original old folds to paper. Verso blank. The original American Express Company was founded on March 18, 1850, through the consolidation of three companies active in the express transport of goods; Including Livingston, Fargo & Company formerly Western Express, was founded in 1845 by Henry Wells and William G. Fargo, later of Wells Fargo fame; Wells & Co. (formerly Livingston, Wells & Co.); And Butterfield & Wasson, founded by John Butterfield and James D. Wasson. American Express was at first a loose association association of investors and sub-contractors under the leadership of Henry Wells as president and Fargo as Secretary. In 1866 Merchants Union Express Company was founded to challenge their near monopoly. After two years of competition the two companies finally decided to merge on November 25, 1868 forming, the American Merchants Union Express Company, with Fargo succeeding as president. This historic document is a transfer of stock from one share of the American Express Company for five shares in the new merged company The American Merchants Union Express Company. The Document was executed in St. Louis Missouri in 1868 just after the close of the Civil War. Signed by Armed Hupmann (sp?)in black ink at bottom. Ex-collection Dick Bowman, Denver Westerner and serious Wells Fargo collector. Please see my other Wells Fargo, Pony Express, and other Express company envelopes, Stock certificates, Way Bills etc. that I will be listing in coming days from this same collection. Scarce. Ephemera. Wells Fargo. American Express Company. American Merchants union Express Company. 1868.

Rare, Wells Fargo & Co. Express envelope. Addressed to: "Monsieur Scalmanini & Frappoli, No 50 Commercial Street, Between (sp?) Front and Battery, San Francisco". The name Agosto F. Lugon (sp?) appears at bottom of verso. Imprinted in blue ink on top front is the legible "Wells Fargo & CO Express MOK HILL cancellation of the Three Cent Thomas Jefferson embossed stamp. Envelope Includes documentation of previous owner which describes the envelope as: Type 5, Year 1853, Bart No 21, Die 5A, Size 3 , Knife 2, WMK 1, Mokelumne Hill. Envelope is in good + condition. The envelope has been re-opened at gummed flap. One 1/4 inch chip missing at mid rear flap with an additional 1 inch closed tear to paper flap. The is another chip missing from envelope hidden directy beneath the rear flap (see photo). No splits to top or side folds. Envelope has light evidence of handling and some general age-toning to the paper. Otherwise, clean. Nice impression. This scarce Envelope measures 5 1/2 by 3 1/4 inches. A nice little piece of California Wells Fargo ephemera from the mid nineteenth century and an extremely early Wells Fargo, est 1852, item from the first years of the company. Ex-collection Dick Bowman, Denver Westerner and serious Wells Fargo collector. Please see my other Wells Fargo, Pony Express, and other Express company envelopes, Stock certificates, Way Bills etc. that I will be listing in coming days from this same collection. "Scarce" (as noted in pencil on documentation by previous owner). Ephemera. Wells Fargo. Gold mining. Mokelumne Hill. San Francisco, California.

Dated 1860's Early Wells, Fargo & CO. Sheet of three genuine uncut, unperforated checks from Virginia City, Nevada bank owned and operated by the legendary Dave Ward. Checks printed by "Bacon & Company, Printers". Exact size 11 1/2 by 9 inches. Condition: VG. Light age-toning to paper. corners rubbed. Else VG. Verso clean. Within several years, after being established in 1852, Wells Fargo's six-horse Concord coaches established the only reliable mode of transcontinental transportation and eventually became the largest stagecoach empire in the world. In 1861 the Civil War led to the creation of an overland staging route across the Great Plains; Through the Rocky Mountains, and across the Great Basin to the Sierra Mountains and beyond. By 1861, they had established a near monopoly in providing shipping and banking services to the booming gold mining camps across the West. Wells Fargo took over the Pony Express in 1861. Later, W.F. & Co bought a stage line running straight from Washoe to Sacramento via Placerville, California. Continuing East along this route Wells Fargo’s Express rode the stages of the Pioneer Stage Line from California to Virginia City, Nevada. About this same time, Dave Ward set up a Wells Fargo office in Virginia City, Nevada in 1860 and soon had a bank for deposits which serviced the town's booming Gold Mines and Miners. Wells Fargo's notorious agent Dave Ward holds the double distinction of being responsible for the growth and development of the town and the eventual transporting of many of the women of ill fame and other dance hall girls to Virginia City, via Wells Fargo's coaches. Wells Fargo and Dave Ward were ultimately responsible for the word "city" being attached to the original name of the little Gold mining town, Virginia, Nevada (As printed on top of checks). These blank checks embody much of that history. Ex-collection Dick Bowman, Denver Westerner and Wells Fargo collector. Rare. Virginia City, Nevada. Gold miners & mining. Western Scripophilly. Guaranteed authentic and not a reproduction.

Authentic. Dated Jan 28th, 1905. Wells Fargo & Company Express Claim letter from J. I. Muncby, Wells Fargo agent, of Pueblo Colorado, to Superintendent Mr C. H. Young in Denver Colorado. Claim refers to the transport of perishibles and their subsequent quarantine. Original letter signed by Denver Supt C. H. Young.. Exact size: 11 by 8 1/2 inches. 1 pg single-sided. Claim letter is clean but slightly age-toned with one staple chip to top left corner of letterhead. Ex-collection Dick Bowman, Denver Westerner and Wells Fargo and Pony Express collector. Wells Fargo. Colorado. Ephemera.

Authentic. Collection of five receipts. Dated Nov 19,20,22,25, and Dec. 18; All dated 1907. Collection includes five Wells Fargo & Company Express Way-Bill reciepts from J O Turner & C0 to various merchants in such towns as: Frederick, Manitou, Davidson, and Taloga Via Custer City. Various Receipts for transport of Cabbage, apples,lemons and other goods. All original, hand-written with carbon copy, black on verso of sheets. Exact size: 10 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches. 5 sheets total. All clean but slightly age-toned with no chips or tears. Top Margin has been trimmed on all five. Otherwise, condition is VG. Ex-collection Dick Bowman, Denver Westerner and Wells Fargo and Pony Express collector. Wells Fargo. Ephemera.

Authentic. Dated Dec 23, 1916 Wells Fargo & Co Express Money R.R. Way-Bill carbon reciept from Lodi, California to A. P. Billow of Ocampo, California for the transport of two wagons at 30 weight. Train: blank. "Office Copy". Exact size: 5 3/4 by 3 1/2 inches. 1 pg. Railroad Way Bill is clean but slightly age-toned with one small chip to top left corner less than 1/8 inch (repaired). Otherwise condition is VG. Ex-collection Dick Bowman, Denver Westerner and Wells Fargo and Pony Express collector. Please see my other related items for sale from this same collection. Wells Fargo. Ephemera. California.

Dated April 1, 1910 Wells Fargo & Company Money R.R. Way-Bill #65. "(S.P.) Tracy and Visalia, San Francisco, California. Route of M. R. Fothergill, Train #35. Article: corn. Amount: 40. Where recieved: Votla. Verso left blank, possibly unrecieved. Exact size: 7 by 4 1/2 inches. 2 pgs. Railroad Way Bill has a 3 1/2 inch closed split at fold. Paper is clean but slightly age-toned with two very small 1/4 inch closed tears to trim edge of verso sheet. Otherwise condition is VG. Ex-collection Dick Bowman, Denver Westerner and Wells Fargo and Pony Express collector. Please see my other auctions for similar items from this same collection. Wells Fargo. Ephemera. California.

Word, A Poetry Broadsheet. Vol 1 No 4. Published by Richard L. Van Der Voort U.N.M. Albuquerque. September, 1967. Featuring 4 Poems by R. C. Munn University of Buffalo, N.Y. First Edition. 3 pgs. Association copy. Harry Smith's personal copy with his N.Y. mailing address to outside of page 3. Harry Smith was an ethnologist, musicologist, and "resident Shaman" at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado until his recent death in the 90's. Condition Good. Small tear to top center edge of all 3 pages. Mailing fold down center of all 3 pages. light fingersoiling. A scarce poetry publication with exceptional provenance. First Ed. Scarce. Modern Poetry.

signed original 8 1/2 by 11 inch letter dated February 4, 1942 from Arthur Woodward of the Los Angeles County Museum of History to Lou Cherbeneau in regards to the former's request for photographs of saddles in the museum's collectin. Including an 1880's saddle made by S. Loomis of Santa Barbara. Woodward also mentions that..."the present day charro of Mexico does not think charro beyond the period of Maximilliano...patron saint of the charros... The period of Maximillian was to them the last of the old royal days." Typeset letter on original Los Angeles Museum of History letterhead signed by Arthur Woodward in black pen at bottom. Ex-collection Lou Cherbeneau amateaur Western historian and saddlemaker,

Original 2 page 8 1/2 by 11 inch hand-written letter from reknowned Indian Wars U.S. Cavalry and Custer historian and author James S. Hutchins to Lou Cherbeneau in regards to the former's knowledge of early Western saddles. In Particular, Hutchins mentions "patent # 261.374 taken out by Theodore E. Menea, North Denver Colo., July 18, 1882, for a new and useful improvement in saddle trees." Hutchins goes on to describe this T.E. Menea improvement and discusses the "short frieska tree" of a Denver Dry Goods saddle that Cherbeneau has in his collection circa 1880. Signed in Pen Jim Hutchins at Bottom of page 2. Hutchins worked closely with the National Park Service as an advisor on the early history of U.S. military outposts and forts. He was also Historian Emeritus at the National Museum of American History Smithsonian Institution. Hutchins also has written many books and contributed many articles on the U.S. Cavalry, Indian Wars and Custer. Letter includes original envelope and is dated December 28, 1960 and is postmarked from Columbus Ohio. Ex-collection Lou Cherbeneau, Estes Park saddlemaker and amateur Western historian.

Original 1945 1 page letter from Dick Halliday, Executive Secretary of The National American Charro Association, Roscoe, California to Lou Cherbeneau in regards to the former's extensive knowledge of the emergence of the early Mexican Charro Saddles in the Southwest. Halliday points out that the origin of the side saddle traces back to the camel saddle used by the Arabs. In this letter Halliday also notes that the "Association's first President was General Wainwright, now a prisoner in Japan." An interesting hand-typed 8 1/2 by 11 inch letter on National American Charro Association letterhead, dated May 24, 1945. Includes original stamped envelope and original unused return envelope. Ex-collection Lou Cherbeneau Estes Park Saddlemaker and Western writer.

Rare original 3 page 8 1/2 by 11 inch letter from Luis B. Ortega to Louis Cherbeneau regarding a dispute between Cherbeneau and Ortega over some of his colloquial usages published in an article in The Western Horseman Magazine. Cherbeneau thought that Ortega had plagiarized sayings from Will James Book All In a Days Ride. Ortega responds by saying "..If I was to do any copying I certainly wouldn't take it down word for word." And continues by describing his early buckaroo days and friendship with Will James and J.J. Mitchell while they all resided in Santa Barbara California. "I remember how James used to sit there talking to us as he sketched out a Western scene so unconcerned." Ortega continues that "when a mutual group like has been together for some time and some of them turn out to be western artists or writers there is bound to be a similarity in their work." This article is full of sarcasm about the newer generations of cowboys and how they are not a credit to the profession; Sarcasm obviously directed at Cherbeneau. Never-the-less the article is full of Ortega's defences for his colloquial usages and is full of his recollections of the early cowboy days on the range. Luis B. Ortega besides being a relatively prolific writer was most famous for his braided rawhide ropes, reatas and lariats made in the old California Vaquero tradition. Luis B. Ortega is perhaps the most famous of these rawhide braiders and a large figure amongst other 20th century cowboys, western writers and craftsmen. Hand signed Luis B. Ortega in blue pen. VG condition with light yellowing to pages. Ex-collection Lou Cherbeneau amateur historian and saddlemaker.

Original 3 page signed letter from Dick Halliday, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of The Palomino Horse Association and Stud Book Registry, Santa Barbara, California to Lou Cherbeneau in regards to the former's extensive knowledge of the emergence of the early Mexican Charro Saddles in the Southwest. Halliday traces the origin of these saddles back to an Asiatic origin to the Moorish "Enjalme" or pad saddle to the Spanish conquistadores and missionaries like Padre Jaime who introduced the Spanish stirrup to the Southwest, and finally to the early Texas cattlemen. Halliday asserts that the modern Texas saddle is nothing more than a reduction and a refinement of the Mexican Charro saddle and that the U.S. McClellan saddle illustrates this origin. That the American "Cowboy invented practically nothing". He also points out that the saddle horn was found on early English Jockey saddles even though they were not used for roping; and that the Mongolians had used chaps before anyone. A Fascinating 8 1/2 by 11 inch letter full of history with hand written notes by Halliday; signed in pen D.H. Ex-collection Lou Cherbeneau Estes Park Saddlemaker and Western writer.

Original Signed letter from Jno. J Boniface Colonel, U.S. Cavalry rtd. to Louis Cherbeneau in regards to the former's knowledge of old Texas saddles. Boniface replies that "that old tree was always known as "the Texas". Boniface continues by granting Cherbeneau's request to quote from his book, The Cavalry Horse and His Pack. The Book was adopted by the War Department as an official text book and is considered a classic in the field. Boniface went on to write several other books on horsemanship in addition to being a reknowned Colonel in the U.S. Cavalry. Two page letter dated January 9, 1942 El Paso Texas; measures 8 1/2 by 5 1/2 inches and is signed in blue ink to verso. Letter is in vg condition. Ex-collection Lou Cherbeneau.