The Story Of The Pony Express.

SMITH, Waddell F.

Item Number: 80034

San Rafael, CA: Pony Express History & Art, 1964.

First edition of the story of the Pony Express. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated, cartographic endpapers. Signed by the editor Waddell F. Smith. In near fine condition.

The Pony Express was a mail service delivering messages, newspapers, and mail. During its 18 months of operation, it reduced the time for messages to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to about 10 days. From April 3, 1860 to October 1861, it became the West's most direct means of east–west communication before the transcontinental telegraph was established (October 24, 1861), and was vital for tying the new state of California with the rest of the United States.