Lot
794 
Steamer Rapides (Mississippi & Red Rivers), "Gem" oval handstamp on 1856 folded cover from Alexandria to New Orleans, franked with 1851 3¢ Dull Red (11) tied by "Steam" straightline handstamp with two different New Orleans, La. cds's alongside, manuscript "Rapides leaves this 4th March", horiz. file fold, Extremely Fine and choice.Milgram No. 1155 Estimate $400 - 600.
Current Opening Bid: $200
Lot
795
Steamer Rapides (Mississippi & Red Rivers), oval handstamp, one in blue on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire and one in red on 3¢ Star Die entire, plus printed freight bill in blue dated "Norman's Landing Feby 21, 1861", usual pinholes as found on the Carroll Hoy correspondence, Very Fine and attractive.Milgram No. 1156-57 Estimate $400 - 600.
Current Opening Bid: $200
Lot
796
By Steamer Rapides (Mississippi and Red Rivers), perfect sharp strike of this illustrated name-of-boat handstamp on folded cover datelined "Evergreen (La.) Dec. 6, 1855", franked with uncancelled 1851 3¢ dull red from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La., also includes printed freight bill dated "June 30, 1858", carried outside the mails with the 3¢ affixed as required by law but uncancelled as the cover never entered the postal system, an Extremely Fine gem, Illustrated in Milgram; with 2024 P.F. certificate.Milgram No. 1158 Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
THIS IS BY FAR THE FINEST STRIKE OF THIS RARE AND HIGHLY DESIRABLE ILLUSTRATED STEAMBOAT MARKING AND THE EARLIEST RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS MARKING.
ONE OF THE TRULY ICONIC ITEMS OF UNITED STATES POSTAL HISTORY.
The "Rapides" was a wooden-hull side-wheel packetboat that was built in New Albany Ind. in 1855. Originally built for C.J. Barston of Rapides Parish La., she plied the waters between New Orleans and Donaldsonville up to 1856, then later between New Orleans and Shreveport before being used by the Confederacy after 1861. The marking used on mail carried by the "Rapides" is a remarkable depiction of a Mississippi steamboat without equal among the other handstamps of the period.
The nine recorded covers bearing this marking:
1. Datelined "Evergreen (La.) Dec. 6, 1855", 3¢ dull red #11 uncancelled on folded letter from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La., ex-West, The example offered here.
2. Dec. 20 (1855), 3¢ red Nesbitt entire #U10 from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La., ex-Hugh Feldman.
3. Dec. 20 (1855), 3¢ red Nesbitt entire #U10 from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La., 2001 Siegel Rarity Sale (lot 5).
4. Dec. 20 (1855), 3¢ red Nesbitt entire #U10 from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La., docketing on face. PFC #385244.
5. Dec. 20 (1855), partial strike (paper loss painted in) on folded letter missing stamp to Messrs. G. Toledano & Taylor in New Orleans La.
6. undated, 3¢ red Nesbitt entire #U10 from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La., ex-Somdal, "Antoine", Milgram (J.W.M.).
7. undated, partial strike on 3¢ red Nesbitt entire #U10 from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La.,
8. undated, partial strike on 3¢ red Nesbitt entire #U10 from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La., pencil "Valuable", ex-Bohren, PFC #194326
9. unknown, front only bearing 3¢ dull red #11, ex-Latshaw Collection.
Current Opening Bid: $5,000
Lot
797
Red River Packet, Rapides (Mississippi and Red Rivers), blue oval handstamp on 1870-71 3¢ Reay entire to New Orleans, small edge tear at right, also included is 1871 printed & illustrated freight bill on yellow paper, Very Fine, the only recorded example, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 1160A Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $100
Lot
798
Sch. "Rebecca R. Douglas" of Philadelphia, Capt. S.H. Perry, Monument Beach, Mass., blue corner card on 1896 cover to Shawmut, Mass., franked with 2¢ Bureau Issues tied by New Bedford, Mass. duplex cancel, flap faults, Very Fine.Milgram No. 1161A Estimate $75 - 103.
Current Opening Bid: $40
Lot
799
Ouachita Packet Red Chief (Mississippi & Ouachita Rivers), complete red oval handstamp on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire to New Orleans, usual pinholes as found on the Carroll Hoy correspondence, flap torn, Very Fine and attractive.Milgram No. 1162 Estimate $300 - 400.
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
800
Packet Red River (Mississippi & Red Rivers), red oval handstamp on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire to New Orleans, usual pinholes as found on the Hoy correspondence, Very Fine, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 1166 Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $100
Lot
801
From Steamer Red River (Mississippi & Red Rivers), bold and complete red oval handstamp on 1853 stampless folded letter from New Orleans to Cypress Grove Plantation, Very Fine.Milgram No. 1167 Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $100
Lot
802
Str. Red River, large violet straight line on 2¢ entire to New Orleans, Very Fine and attractive, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 1168A Estimate $100 - 150.
Current Opening Bid: $50
Lot
803
S.B. Red Wing (Upper Mississippi River), near perfect and beautifully struck fancy handstamp showing Cherubs & Lyre at top on 1846 Bill of Lading with printed illustration of Steamboat, from Galena, Ill. to St. Peters (Fort Snelling) while part of Iowa Territory, ex-Risvold, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 1170 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A STUNNING ITEM WHICH IS THE ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE. ONE OF THE GREAT COVERS OF THE MILGRAM COLLECTION.
The "Red Wing" a stern-wheeler of 142 tons built at Cincinnati in 1846 for the Upper Mississippi trade, was the first of three steamboats to bear the name and operate on the Mississippi. On the night of 17 May 1849 the "Red Wing", along with a ferry boat and 21 other steamboats met a tragic end with the Great Steamboat Fire at St. Louis.
Current Opening Bid: $1,000