Page 166a | Berford & Co., Notes On Express 2017-05-25T16:31:26+00:00

Berford & Co., Notes On Express

Berford & Co., Notes On Express

BERFORD & COMPANY.
1849 – June 1854

At the time of the great gold rush to California in 1849. Berford & Company, a co-partnership composed of Richard George Berford and Loring L. Lombard were in business at No. 2 Astor House, New York City, as newsdealers and book publishers; the partners saw an opportunity for the establishment of a good business in forwarding letters, news matter and express paclages to the thousands of men going to the pacific coast.
In the fall of 1849, Mr. Lombard left for the West by way of Panama, and established agencies in the West Indies, the Western Coast of South America, Panama, Ports on the Pacific Coast, Hawaii and the East; he returned to New York in the spring of 1851 and then had prepared the stamps hereafter listed.
The routes of the company were largely by water, they claiming that the United States had no exclusive jurisdiction, as such routes were not Post routes or routes within the meaning of the statute. The partners pushed their enterprise extensively but were badly hurt by the reduction of the Goverment Postal Rates in 1851; this regulation of the Post Office Department went into effect June 10, 1851, under an act of Congress approved March 3rd of that year.
The original circular letter of the Company, issued under date of March, 1851, states that special messengers would leave New York by steamer on the 13th and 28th of each month; that letters would be delivered to various points in California at rates therein mentioned. In April, a month later, another circular was issued by the Company reducing rates. On June 16, 1851, they advertised new postal rates to meet the reduction made by the Goverment in its postal charges, as outlined in its circular of June 10, 1851. This last advertisement of the Company follows:

The forwarding business of the Company continued until 1854.

H. C. Needham

The business was taken over by Butterfield & Company which in turn was absorbed by the American Express Company.

Phil. Gazette Oct. 1916

Sacramento San Francisco Jan’y 50

The following advertisement appeared in a ^ paper dated Dec.26,1849:

“BERFORD & CO. UNITED STATES AND CALIFORNIA EXPRESS;

AND INDEPENDENT MAIL CO. R.G.Berford of San Francisco;
T.J.Bayless & Co. of Scramento; Chas Plitt & Co., San Jose. Run to Atlantic States, Sacramento, Stockton, San Jose, and Interior.”
Owners: R.G.Berford and J.C.Hackett

According to another advertisement of Dec.21,1851, the name now drops “California” Express;
“BERFORD & CO’S EXPRESS
For the ATLANTIC STATES,November 1,1851, by the splendid fast running steamer
TENNESSE,
Geo.M. Totten,Commander.
A special messenger will be dispatched as usual,who will take charge of our express, Goods, Gold Dust, etc., and deliver to all parts of the States wiyhout delay, and on the most resonable terms. We will also send
A SPECIAL MESSENGER
by the new route, via Nicaragua, Nov.1st by the new and fast running Steamer
PACIFIC, Jarvis, Master,
who will take charge of our INDEPENDENT MAIL, and packages of every description.
Letters received till 3 o’clock, and parcels till 2 o’clock on day of sailing.
BERFORD & CO.
California Exchange
Corner of Clay and Kearny Streets”
Vol x
(THE STAMP COLLECTOR’S MAGAZINE^1872,p.127, E.L.Pemberton)
San Fr. Directory 1854 LeCounta Strongs : Berford & Co’s Exp. Office 9A Merchants St near Montgomery Resident Partner T.J.Baylis
This company was bought out by Wells,Fargo & Co. in June,1854.