Framed Pony Express Wanted Poster, St Joseph, Missouri to California
This framed Pony Express wanted poster is a printed recruitment notice advertising riders for the Pony Express, the mail service that ran between St Joseph, Missouri and California. The sheet is headed “PONY EXPRESS” with the route wording “St. Joseph, Missouri to California in 10 days or less”, and carries a central “WANTED” banner. The rider recruitment text reads “Young, skinny, wiry fellows not over eighteen. Must be expert riders, willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred. Wages $25 per week.” It is signed off “Apply, Pony Express Stables, St. Joseph, Missouri”. A black-ink illustration of a mounted rider at full gallop sits above the text. The poster is housed in a dark wood-finish frame with a simple moulded profile.
Condition and Collector Interest
The paper has an aged, toned appearance, with some marks and surface wear consistent with its age. The printed text and the rider illustration remain clear and legible. The date of printing and the originality of the sheet are not confirmed in this description, so prospective buyers should make their own enquiries before bidding. The subject will appeal to collectors of American frontier history, Wild West ephemera and vintage advertising, and it makes a strong display piece for a study or den.
