1862-64 25c Wells Fargo & Co. Local Stamp,Pony Express, red
# MA1963 - 1862-64 25c Wells Fargo & Co. Local Stamp - Pony Express, red
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MA1963 - 1862-64 25c Wells Fargo & Co. Local Stamp - Pony Express, red
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Extremely Scarce Virginia City Pony Express Cover Can Be Yours Today – Only ONE Available!
This Wells Fargo & Co. Virginia City Pony Express cover features a 25¢ Red stamp (US #143L9), Position A4, with full to large margins all around. The stamp has a rich color and is tied by a blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Virginia City N.T. Jul. 12" (1864) oval datestamp on 3¢ Pink on White entire (US #U34). Includes Wells Fargo & Co. printed frank to Clara C. Crittenden in San Francisco. Cover includes an enclosed 1864 letter.
This cover is in extremely fine condition and is from the famous Crittenden correspondence. The 25¢ Red Virginia Cty Pony Express stamp is much scarcer on cover than the 25¢ Blue stamp.
A Letter Between Two Lives
The letter inside was written by Alexander Parker Crittenden, a well-known attorney whose Southern sympathies shaped his life and career. After building a successful law practice and becoming a key figure in California politics, his refusal to swear loyalty to the Union during the Civil War forced him to relocate to Virginia City, Nevada Territory.
There, he worked amidst the bustling mining scene while his wife, Clara, remained in San Francisco to raise their children. The Pony Express became their lifeline, bridging the distance and allowing Alexander to stay connected to his family through heartfelt letters like the one enclosed…
The Laura Fair Affair
It was in Virginia City that Alexander met Laura Fair, the owner of the Tahoe House Hotel. What began as a romance turned into a years-long affair, with Laura believing he was single. When she discovered he was married, Alexander promised to leave Clara – a promise he never kept.
By 1870, things had reached a breaking point. Laura learned Alexander was reuniting with Clara, and on a ferry ride from Oakland to San Francisco, she confronted him.
With Clara beside him, and their son nearby, Laura pulled a gun and shot Alexander in the chest! He died the next day, leaving behind a family shattered by the tragedy. Their son later went on to recall the scene:
“Pa went over on the next boat and Mrs. Fair went over on the same boat, in disguise and without Pa’s knowledge. Pa came off the boat and met us on the wharf and escorted Ma on board. Mrs. Fair watched where Pa sat down and waited until I went down to attend to the baggage, when she walked up to Pa and saying something drew a pistol and shot him in the right side, he sat still a minute as if stunned and then slid down upon the deck insensible.”
The Trial of the Century
Laura’s trial became front-page news, with every detail of the affair laid bare. Her defense argued she acted in a fit of temporary insanity caused by severe menstrual pain, while the prosecution painted her as a manipulative woman who seduced Crittenden and sought revenge when he didn’t leave his wife. The jury ultimately found her guilty of murder, and she was sentenced to hang on July 28, 1871.
However, Laura’s case caught the attention of prominent suffragettes, including Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who visited her in jail and publicly supported her.
They, along with Emily Pitts Stevens, founder of the California Woman Suffrage Association, helped champion her appeal. The conviction was overturned on the grounds of prejudice, and Laura was granted a retrial.
Though the press decried the decision as a “shameful miscarriage of justice,” Laura was acquitted in her second trial. Despite her freedom, the sensational case left a lasting mark on all involved and became a touchstone in debates about justice, gender, and morality in 19th-century America.
Digging Deeper into this Cover
This Wells Fargo & Co. Virginia City Pony Express cover is a remarkable piece of postal history. It features a 25¢ Red stamp (US #143L9), Position A4, with full to large margins and rich color, tied by a blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Virginia City N.T. Jul. 12 (1864)" oval datestamp on a 3¢ Pink on White entire (US #U34). A 1981 Philatelic Foundation Certificate accompanies this cover. It’s been protected by archival-quality encapsulation – using the same material used by the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.
This cover includes the original, 161-year-old letter Alexander wrote to Clara, a delicate piece of history preserved in great condition. To ensure it can be enjoyed without risk of damage, we’ve created a faithful reproduction of their correspondence on the same archival-quality paper used in our Heirloom Albums. This allows the new owner to read and display the letter safely, while safeguarding the original for generations to come.
In exceptionally fine condition for its age, this cover is a treasure in its own right. The 25¢ Red Virginia City Pony Express stamp is a scarce gem, especially on cover, and its pristine preservation only enhances its value. The fact that this piece has survived all this time – and carries such a dramatic story – makes it truly special. It’s rare to find something that brings the past so vividly to life, giving us a glimpse into the tales of those who came before us.
If you’d like to own this incredible piece of history, buy online today – or call
1-800-433-7811, and one of our friendly representatives will help you make it happen. You can even split the cost between 2 to 5 interest-free payments.
Extremely Scarce Virginia City Pony Express Cover Can Be Yours Today – Only ONE Available!
This Wells Fargo & Co. Virginia City Pony Express cover features a 25¢ Red stamp (US #143L9), Position A4, with full to large margins all around. The stamp has a rich color and is tied by a blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Virginia City N.T. Jul. 12" (1864) oval datestamp on 3¢ Pink on White entire (US #U34). Includes Wells Fargo & Co. printed frank to Clara C. Crittenden in San Francisco. Cover includes an enclosed 1864 letter.
This cover is in extremely fine condition and is from the famous Crittenden correspondence. The 25¢ Red Virginia Cty Pony Express stamp is much scarcer on cover than the 25¢ Blue stamp.
A Letter Between Two Lives
The letter inside was written by Alexander Parker Crittenden, a well-known attorney whose Southern sympathies shaped his life and career. After building a successful law practice and becoming a key figure in California politics, his refusal to swear loyalty to the Union during the Civil War forced him to relocate to Virginia City, Nevada Territory.
There, he worked amidst the bustling mining scene while his wife, Clara, remained in San Francisco to raise their children. The Pony Express became their lifeline, bridging the distance and allowing Alexander to stay connected to his family through heartfelt letters like the one enclosed…
The Laura Fair Affair
It was in Virginia City that Alexander met Laura Fair, the owner of the Tahoe House Hotel. What began as a romance turned into a years-long affair, with Laura believing he was single. When she discovered he was married, Alexander promised to leave Clara – a promise he never kept.
By 1870, things had reached a breaking point. Laura learned Alexander was reuniting with Clara, and on a ferry ride from Oakland to San Francisco, she confronted him.
With Clara beside him, and their son nearby, Laura pulled a gun and shot Alexander in the chest! He died the next day, leaving behind a family shattered by the tragedy. Their son later went on to recall the scene:
“Pa went over on the next boat and Mrs. Fair went over on the same boat, in disguise and without Pa’s knowledge. Pa came off the boat and met us on the wharf and escorted Ma on board. Mrs. Fair watched where Pa sat down and waited until I went down to attend to the baggage, when she walked up to Pa and saying something drew a pistol and shot him in the right side, he sat still a minute as if stunned and then slid down upon the deck insensible.”
The Trial of the Century
Laura’s trial became front-page news, with every detail of the affair laid bare. Her defense argued she acted in a fit of temporary insanity caused by severe menstrual pain, while the prosecution painted her as a manipulative woman who seduced Crittenden and sought revenge when he didn’t leave his wife. The jury ultimately found her guilty of murder, and she was sentenced to hang on July 28, 1871.
However, Laura’s case caught the attention of prominent suffragettes, including Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who visited her in jail and publicly supported her.
They, along with Emily Pitts Stevens, founder of the California Woman Suffrage Association, helped champion her appeal. The conviction was overturned on the grounds of prejudice, and Laura was granted a retrial.
Though the press decried the decision as a “shameful miscarriage of justice,” Laura was acquitted in her second trial. Despite her freedom, the sensational case left a lasting mark on all involved and became a touchstone in debates about justice, gender, and morality in 19th-century America.
Digging Deeper into this Cover
This Wells Fargo & Co. Virginia City Pony Express cover is a remarkable piece of postal history. It features a 25¢ Red stamp (US #143L9), Position A4, with full to large margins and rich color, tied by a blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Virginia City N.T. Jul. 12 (1864)" oval datestamp on a 3¢ Pink on White entire (US #U34). A 1981 Philatelic Foundation Certificate accompanies this cover. It’s been protected by archival-quality encapsulation – using the same material used by the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.
This cover includes the original, 161-year-old letter Alexander wrote to Clara, a delicate piece of history preserved in great condition. To ensure it can be enjoyed without risk of damage, we’ve created a faithful reproduction of their correspondence on the same archival-quality paper used in our Heirloom Albums. This allows the new owner to read and display the letter safely, while safeguarding the original for generations to come.
In exceptionally fine condition for its age, this cover is a treasure in its own right. The 25¢ Red Virginia City Pony Express stamp is a scarce gem, especially on cover, and its pristine preservation only enhances its value. The fact that this piece has survived all this time – and carries such a dramatic story – makes it truly special. It’s rare to find something that brings the past so vividly to life, giving us a glimpse into the tales of those who came before us.
If you’d like to own this incredible piece of history, buy online today – or call
1-800-433-7811, and one of our friendly representatives will help you make it happen. You can even split the cost between 2 to 5 interest-free payments.