History — Topping’s Express

1870

charles w. topping:
union army veteran, expressman, proprietor.

CHARLES W. TOPPING, BORN IN 1844, ESTABLISHES HIMSELF AS A DEDICATED EXPRESSMAN IN THE BUSIEST CITY IN AMERICA. 1870 marks the earliest known reference to topping’s express company, just five years after charles w. topping was honorably discharged from serving in the union army.

reward offered by topping’s express company for merchandise stolen from a competitor’s business.
new york daily herald, 7 april 1870

1881

making the papers

acknowledgement of a donation made by topping’s express company to those affected by the 1881 “great thumb fire”
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 9 October 1881

1882

the move to 12 fulton street

at some point between 1870 and 1882, charles w. topping moves the business to 12 fulton st., as seen from this lost and found notice. without cameras like today, theft from express companies were unfortunately quite common.
brooklyn daily eagle, 14 july 1882

1886

brooklyn expansion

at some point between 1882 and 1886, charles w. topping expanded the business to his new office at 147 kosciusko st., brooklyn, as seen from the return address on company stationery.
topping family archives

additionally, as seen in this dramatic article about soap swindling, topping’s express company operated wagons to and from brooklyn at this point, almost three years after the opening of the brooklyn bridge.
brooklyn daily eagle, 10 april 1886

1896

a snapshot of history

charles w. topping (center left) and the employees of topping’s express company stand for a photograph outside 10-12 fulton street, circa 1896.
topping family archives

1898

war tax exemption

towards the end of the spanish-american war, new york city express companies and their operators (including c.w. topping, misspelled in the paper, and topping’s express company) were told they were not obligated to collect war revenue taxes on shipments.
new york tribune, 22 july 1898

1913

the sun sets on private express

In 1912, Congress authorized the creation of the Parcel Post, allowing the U.S. Post Office to deliver packages directly and cheaply. enacted in 1913, this shift quickly drove most express companies out of business. While the exact fate of Topping’s Express company is unclear, like many small carriers of its time, it likely could not compete after this major change.
the sun, 2 january 1913

2026

a new beginning

today, topping’s Express is a STATIONERY company launched by Jack Topping, the third great-grandson of Charles W. Topping.

Inspired by the original business, yet entirely a new company, Topping’s Express features stationery that has a story behind every item.

THE original STORY BEGINS IN MANHATTAN.