Zack's Express Paid wonderful strike of the blue illustrated frank at upper left depicts a messenger on skis with a mailbag, on a front mounted on an unused 3c Pink on buff entire (Scott U59), addressed to "Mr. Kleckner, Port Wine" (California.), front was opened irregularly at right into the indicia

Granville Zachariah chose to take the shortest route between two points when he opened his one-man messenger service on January 1, 1865 between Downieville CA and La Porte CA, a distance of 20 miles. This route required Zachariah to travel by Snow-Shoe across the Gibsonville Ridge of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Northern California, an area that receives an average yearly snowfall between 25 and 35 feet. The government route along the existing stage roads went around the mountains through Marysville, a total distance of over 200 miles. 

The Thomas census records three examples of this frank all on fronts of covers to the same address. 

This example is pictured in Jesse L. Coburn's Letters of Gold (page 228) -- see attached scans -- book not included

This was part of the famed Edwards Collection, auctioned by Christie's in 1991 -- see attached scans -- catalog not included

This is accompanied by an outstanding article by the late Floyd Risvold and James Blaine in the February 2007 Chronicle (Vol. 59, No.1). The article notes that the proprietor, Granville Zachariah, placed his first advertisement for a "Snow-Shoe Express" in the Downieville Mountain Messenger on December 31, 1864. The advertisement reads, 

"Snow-Shoe Express. 

Granville Zachariah

Will commence running twice a week between Downieville and La Porte and intermediate points, carrying

Letters, Papers, Langton’s Express and the Mountain Messenger

Leaving Downieville on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and LaPorte on Sundays and Wednesdays

It is to be hoped that citizens along the route will utilize this enterprise liberally, that it may become a permanent winter communication between the North and South sides of the County, saving the long delays attendant upon letter communication via Marysville.”

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