The SF cog wheel was in use PRIMARILY during the years 1861-67 (although other years have been observed) and can be found on the 1861 issue, Scott #63-78. There were three types (all shown above and below), two "long armed" versions and one "short arm" version (EASY to ID). Differences in the two similar long arm versions are noted in the diameter of the circles and also the width of the "arms" (note difference between #71 and #78b).

One of my favorite SF covers; March 26, 1864 (year via letter contents) to Massachusetts via "Overland" (sender manuscript upper left). Two Blackjacks pay 3 cent cross country rate with either a 1 cent overpay or payment of carrier fee. Overland mail at this time traveled along the Central Route which was initiated on July 1, 1861, the Southern Route having been terminated at the start of the Civil War. YES! I wanna see it!...39k

At the start of the Civil War the 1851-57 stamp issues were demonitized in order to prevent the Confederate States from raising money be selling their current inventory of stamps. After early January 1862 these stamps were no longer valid for use in California. This cover shows use of the 1857 ten cent stamp (#35) on December 15, 1862 - WAY too late! The "10" on the cover indicates amount due because a demonitized stamp had been used for payment. This is a rare cover. YES! I wanna see it!...24k

A gorgeous double rate cover to France with two #77's plus cogs. March 9, 1867 carried by the steamer "Sacramento" with 30 cent (double) rate. Red New York transit marking indicates "24" which is a 24 cent credit to France for handling the mail. Backstamped "15 April 1867" in Bordeaux, about 5 weeks delivery time. #77's with cogs are rare since they were only in existence about one year before the use of the cog wheel cancel died out. YES! I wanna see it!...30k

Here are some nice covers I own that I have yet to write up formally (oh the time, where does it go!). The first page Cog Covers 1 (56k) displays 3 covers showing a) 10 cent cross country rate (#65x3 + #63), b) 15 cent rate to France (#68 + #76), c) 42 cent rate to Italy (#65x4 + #71).

The second page Cog Covers 2 (45k) displays 3 covers showing a) 30 cent (double) rate to France (#71), b) 15 cent rate to France (#65 + #69), c) 10 cent cross country rate (#68) on a Union patriotic cover. Civil war patriotics are scarce from CA.

The third page Cog Covers 3 (72k) displays 4 covers showing a) An extrordinary 30 cent rate to Germany (#65x4 + 3 cent stationary + #68 + #76) - certainly a unique franking and very scarce, b) 30 cent rate to Germany (#68x3), c) 24 cent rate to Scotland (somewhat scarce destination) (#69x2), d) 3 cent (#65) cross country rate (later period) with rare hotel advertising, this cover is ex-Spelman.

Another one of my favorite SF covers (gee, aren't they all!); July 16 (most likely 1855) to South Carolina prepaid with 1851 strip of three 3¢ and one 1¢ to make up the 10¢ cross country rate. This cover is most likely from 1855 because sailing dates at this time were on the 1st and 16th of the month and letters were typically postmarked with the date of steamer departure. In September (1855) the sailing dates were changed to the 5th and 20th of the month in order to conform with the sailing dates of the Atlantic steamers. The only mail steamer departure on June 16 during the 10¢ rate period was in 1855.

An interesting note about this cover. The strip of three 3¢ is from plate 1I which produced orange brown stamps in July 1851 only. The earliest shipment to California for this stamp was from the October 1851 printing. The stamps here were privately carried to San Francisco and were not used for nearly four years after their printing. Extraordinarily late usage for Plate 1I. YES! I wanna see it!...38k

Rick's "Page O' Cogs" (most of the stamps I have with cog wheels on them) is just a click away: YES! I wanna see it!...190k