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1860's Wells Fargo Virginia City Nevada Sheet of Checks
(Item: 518 - 1860 WELLS)
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.
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