Sale 122: The Dr. James Milgram Collection Steamboat Mail

Lot 572    

Steamer Majestic (Mississippi River), red octagonal boxed handstamp on 1846 folded letter from New Orleans to Plaquemine, La., small insect damage at bottom right, Very Fine, ex-Rohloff, Illustrated in Milgram.
Milgram No. 844    Estimate $200 - 300.

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Lot 573    

N.L. & L.I.S.B. Co., Str. Manhanset Oct 9 1888 (Atlantic Coast), purple handstamp on cover to West Tisbury, Mass, franked with 2¢ Banknote (213) tied by "New London, Conn. Oct 9 88" duplex, backstamped Vineyard Haven, Mass. town & county oval, Very Fine, a lovely cover from the New London & Long Island Sound Boat Company, unlisted in Milgram.
Milgram No. 844D    Estimate $150 - 200.

Realized: $190

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Lot 574    

Per St. Bt. Maria (Mississippi River), bold strike of fancy Eagle packet handstamp in red on 1846 stampless cover from St. Louis to New Orleans, light strike of large "10" handstamp and "Steam" straightline, silked on the inside reinforcing edge splits and couple tiny edge tears, still Extremely Fine, Illustrated in Milgram.
Milgram No. 847    Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

A STUNNING GEM AND ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN FANCY PACKET HANDSTAMPS.

Realized: $8,500

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Lot 575    

Steam Ship Maria Burt (Gulf of Mexico), red oval on stampless folded letter to Washington, Texas, bold blue "10" rate handstamp, docketed "New Orleans July 17, 1850", vertical file fold, Very Fine and the only recorded example, Illustrated in Milgram.
Milgram No. 848    Estimate $500 - 750.

The Maria Burt was built in 1846 in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was altered in January 1850 from a steamboat into a steamship with three masts. She floundered off Galveston on June 25, 1851. This cover is a rare example of an early Texas steamship usage.

Realized: $1,250

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Lot 576    

Marshal Ney (Mississippi River), red oval handstamps on forwarded stampless cover to Kentucky Bend, first struck with Steamer Peytona red oval (Milgram 1099), struck with fancy illustrated "Forwarded by T.J. Smith & Co. Cairo, Ill." boxed handstamp showing detailed illustrated Steamboat, finally struck with two strikes of red oval Marshal Ney packet ovals, some ink erosion in address, still Very Fine, Illustrated in Milgram.
Milgram No. 849    Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

A STUNNING AND UNIQUE USAGE WITH THIS ARRAY OF MARKINGS.

The Marshal Ney was built in 1847 and run St. Louis-New Orleans until she burned in October of 1849.

Realized: $2,100

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Lot 577    

Cin'ti, New Richmond & Chilo Packet Co., Steamer Mary Ament, large illustrated corner card on 1864-65 3¢ entire to Higginsport, O., cover expertly repaired at right, Extremely Fine appearance, unlisted in Milgram.
Milgram No. 851A    Estimate $300 - 400.

This is the only recorded example of what is perhaps the most attractive and detailed printed packet marking.

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Lot 578    

Steamer Mary Bess (Mississippi River), large fancy oval stencil marking on 1853 folded lettersheet to New Orleans, franked with 1851 3¢ Orange Brown cancelled by numeral "5" rate handstamp, postmarked red "New Orleans, La. Sep. 17" integral rate "5" cds with black "Way 5" handstamp, Extremely Fine; with 1980 P.F. certificate.
Milgram No. 852    Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.

AN OUTSTANDING COVER AND ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN STENCIL STEAMBOAT COVERS IN EXISTENCE.

The "Mary Bess", constructed in 1852 in Louisville, began her service in Mobile, Alabama. The following year, she was navigating the Mississippi River from New Orleans. By 1856, she was operating between New Orleans and the Red River. This stencil marking represents a distinctive and rare type of steamboat marking.

A similar strike on an 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire was sold in the final sale of the Erivan Collection, sold by H.R. Harmer for $8,000 (Sale 3070, April 30, 2024, Lot 187).

Realized: $9,500

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Lot 579    

Steamer Mary Bess (Red River), bold and complete blue fancy oval on cover to New Orleans, franked with 1851 3¢ Dull Red (11) tied by bold "Steam" straightline with red "New Orleans Jan 19" cds at left, light vert. cover fold & usual pinholes as found on the Buchannon Carroll correspondence, Very Fine and choice, an exceptional strike of this elusive steamer handstamp.
Milgram No. 853    Estimate $200 - 300.

The "Mary Bess" of 206 tons was built at Louisville in 1852 for Capt. Sam Montgomery and first enrolled at Mobile. Transferred to New Orleans register in 1853 under William Kimball and D.G. Hill's ownership.

Realized: $600

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Lot 580    

Packet Mary Clifton (Alabama River), bold and complete red double oval on 1852 folded letter from Selma to Mobile, additional light "Steam 5" oval, horizontal file fold, Very Fine and attractive.
Milgram No. 856    Estimate $200 - 300.

The "Mary Clinton" was 206 tons and built at New Albany Ind. in 1849 for the Alabama River trade out of Mobile. She was snagged and lost at Tait Shoals on February 26th 1855.

Realized: $270

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Lot 581    

St. Louis and Memphis Packet, Mary E. Forsyth (Mississippi River), ornate red boxed illustrated corner card on yellow cover to Virginia, franked with 1861 3¢ Rose (65) tied by target with matching "Clarksville, Te. Aug 19" cds at left, Very Fine and attractive, Illustrated in Milgram.
Milgram No. 857    Estimate $400 - 600.

Realized: $375

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