WELLS FARGO & CO. ORIGINAL WOODEN TREASURE BOX WITH ORIGINAL LOCK & KEY (L@@K)

Description

Gold dust, gold bars, gold coins, legal papers, checks, and drafts traveled in the famous green treasure boxes, stored under the stagecoach driver's seat. Loaded with bullion, they could weigh from 100 to 150 lbs. "About as much as one likes to shoulder to and from the stages," wrote John Q. Jackson, Wells Fargo agent, in an 1854 letter to his father. Because they carried the most valuable assets of the West, these sturdy boxes of Ponderosa pine, oak, and iron were more prized by highway bandits than anything else.
But the real security of the treasure boxes came from who was guarding them — the Wells Fargo shotgun messengers. They were "the kind of men you can depend on if you get into a fix," according to Wells Fargo detective Jim Hume. If thieves were foolhardy enough to try and steal a treasure box in transit, they would find themselves staring down the barrel of a sawed-off shotgun, loaded with 00 buckshot, possibly held by Wyatt Earp himself. Despite these efforts, there was a masked highwayman who managed to rob 27 stagecoaches — the infamous Black Bart. Wells Fargo detectives eventually caught up with him. He served his four years in San Quentin and then disappeared forever.
For auction is one of these original and authentic Wells Fargo treasure Boxes which was made to strict specifications by J. Y. Ayer Co. in San Francisco. It's size is 9-3/4" x 20" x 12". Made of pine wood, with steel rims which was used to prolong the life of the box, and to protect the box from wear and tear, and to deter robbery and pilferage. There are no leather straps on the handles on corners which were common from use during the 1850s-1880s. All the steel brackets are attached and the hinges are in working order. The original green paint is still very vibrant, and the words "WELLS FARGO & CO" painted in white on the front panel still retains it's original legibility. There any no restorations of any kind to the treasure box. Included is a genuine "WF & CO" hardened-steel padlock with the original key with "W.F. & CO." stamped on and chain. An original shipping waybill listing various locations is still attached to the inside lid of the box. Any so-called "Wells Fargo treasure box" that departs from this appearance is undoubtedly a fake. The company issued many other boxes, such as Letter Boxes, "Old Horse" Boxes, Messenger's Kit Boxes, and Packing Trunks, to name a few. This treasure box is one of the most exquisite looking ones I've seen in a long time. This treasure box was comes from the collection of Greg Martin with a letter of authenticity.
Don't miss out on this very rare and hard to find Wells Fargo Treasure Box. Winning bidder will pay 4.35 shipping and handling and insurance west of Mississippi, 9.73 to the Eastern states. Free pickup in San Francisco available from seller.