Sale 3039: The "ERIVAN" Collection of United and Confederate States Postal History Part IV

12L1, Bicycle Mail Route, Fresno, California, 1894 25c Green, spelling error "San Fransisco," stamp tied by purple bars forming "X," cover franked with 2c Carmine (220) tied by black cork, purple "Gilroy Cal. Jul 14 1894" cds, stunning two-color Victor Cyclery cc, addressed to San Francisco (July 14 2PM machine cancel and 4PM arrival backstamps), Victor Bicycle Messenger Service cachet on reverse dated July 11, vertical file fold away from stamp, Very Fine and rare apparent commercial use of this service (most covers are philatelic), there is believed to be only one other cover postmarked in Gilroy (offered by Shreves Philatelic Galleries in 2007), a lovely example of this enigmatic and short-lived post (Scott $2,750)rnrnIn July of 1894 a nationwide rail strike against the Pullman Co. involving 250,000 union members severed mail communication between San Francisco and its neighbors to the east. That was until an "enterprising citizen" of Fresno, Arthur C Banta, the local agent for the Victor Bicycle Co, organized a team of 8 bike messengers to ride in stages, to do what the rail cars wouldn»t, and deliver mail. The cost was a $0.25 stamp. Approximately 380 letters were delivered before the post disbanded on July 18, 1894, after Federal troops broke the strike.rn Carriers & Locals