Lot
914 
Steamer S.W. Downs (Mississippi and Ouachita Rivers), bold and complete handstamp on 1853 folded letter from "Connective Point Red River" to New Orleans, red Dentzel N.O.P.O agents circular handstamp, also included is 1851 freight bill, Very Fine and choice.Milgram No. 1340 Estimate $400 - 600.
Current Opening Bid: $200
Lot
915
Steamer S.W. Downs (Mississippi and Ouachita Rivers), bold and complete red oval on 1853 folded letter to New Orleans, La., postmarked red "New Orleans, La. Jan. 5" cds with black "Steam 5" in circle alongside, left side flap missing, also included is 1852 printed freight bill, Very Fine, ex-Somdal.Milgram No. 1340 Estimate $300 - 400.
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
916
From Steamer Sydonia (Mississippi and Red Rivers), red oval handstamp on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire to New Orleans, postmarked partial red New Orleans cds with black "Way" straightline across indicia, "Nesbitt" embossing on flap (minor tear), also included is 1854 printed freight bill, Extremely Fine and choice.Milgram No. 1342 Estimate $300 - 400.
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
917
From Steamer Sydonia (Mississippi and Red Rivers), red oval handstamp on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire to New Orleans, Extremely Fine and an excellent strike.Milgram No. 1342 Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $100
Lot
918
Steamer Teazer, Apr. 24, 1867 (Red River), blue double circle handstamp on 1864-65 3¢ entire to New Orleans, postmarked New Orleans, La. Apr 26 cds and grid, slightly rough opening across top, Very Fine, thought to be the only recorded example, ex-Somdal, Marking Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 1344 Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $100
Lot
919
Steamer Telegram, Clarington & Wheeling Daily Packet (Ohio River), boxed corner card with additional complete blue "Steamer Telegram Nov 6 1876" handstamp on cover to Cambridge, Ohio, franked with 3¢ Banknote with cork cancel, postmarked "Wheeling, W. Va. Nov 8" cds alongside, slightly reduced at right, Very Fine and the only recorded example of these steamboat markings, ex-Somdal.Milgram No. 1347 Estimate $300 - 400.
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
920
From Steam Boat Tennessee (Mississippi, Ohio and Cumberland Rivers), bold and complete red circle with negative "Steam Boat" in center on 1850 folded letter to Plaquemine, La., gently cleaned, Extremely Fine, ex-Somdal, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 1355 Estimate $750 - 1,000.
A LOVELY EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE AND ICONIC STEAMBOAT MARKING.
Current Opening Bid: $375
Lot
921
From Steam Boat Tennessee (Mississippi, Ohio and Cumberland Rivers), bold and complete blue circle with negative "Steam Boat" in center on 1848 folded letter from Grand Saline, C N (Cherokee Nation) to Jonesboro, E, Tenn., postmarked blue "Nashville, Te. Feb 9" cds with blue "10" in cog rate marking and "Steam" straightline, letter twice mentions John Ross, Chief of the Cherokee Nation (referred to as "Dr. Ross") and "Park Hill" (Park Hill was for many years the center of culture among the Cherokee, taking its name from Park Hill Mission established in 1839. It was the home of many important Cherokee leaders, including John Ross after their removal from the southeastern U.S.), some light staining of little consequence, Very Fine, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 1356 Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THIS STEAMBOAT MARKING AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT USAGES OF ALL OF THE INDIAN TERRITORIES.
This historic item mentions John Ross (referred to as "Dr. Ross"), who was the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1828 to 1866. Ross led the nation through such tumultuous events as forced removal to Indian Territory and the American Civil War. Under orders from President Martin Van Buren, General Winfield Scott and 7,000 Federal troops forced removal of Cherokee who did not emigrate to the Indian Territory by 1838. This forced removal came to be known as the "Trail of Tears".
The "Trail of Tears" was the forcible removal of members of the Cherokee, Muscogee, Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw nations from their ancestral homelands in the Southeastern United States to newly designated Indian Territory, west of the Mississippi River after the passage of the Indian Removal Act in 1830. The Cherokee removal in 1838 was the last forced removal east of the Mississippi and was brought on by the discovery of gold near Dahlonega, Georgia in 1828. The relocated peoples suffered from exposure, disease, and starvation while en route to their newly designated Indian reserve. Thousands died from disease before reaching their destinations or shortly after.
In 1811 George C. Sibley's expedition was guided from Fort Osage, Missouri to the Great Salt Plains by a local Osage Indian. Sibley and his followers are said to be the first white men to visit the plains, which they would later name the Grand Saline. From that day, settlers from Texas, Kansas, and the Indian nations made trips to the plains to extract the salt.
The saline was a very important geographical landmark, animals flocked to the area for the salt, making for excellent hunting. It became apparent that any tribe that controlled the Salt Plains would have to contend with intrusions by other tribes. Fierce battles raged over the use of this valuable resource.
We would like to thank Mr. Joe Crosby for historical research and background regarding John Ross and the Cherokee Nation.
Current Opening Bid: $750
Lot
922
Steamer Tennessee (Tennessee River), brown-red illustrated boxed corner card superimposed on green overall illustrated design of large steamboat on cover to Paris, Tenn., flap missing, mended tear affecting design at top left, Very Fine appearance, still extremely attractive, the only recorded example, Illustrated in Klein & Milgram.Milgram No. 1357 Estimate $500 - 750.
Built in 1862 and named "Exchange" and later became the "Tinclad #38" during the War, renamed the "Tennessee" in 1865.
Current Opening Bid: $250
Lot
923
Steamer Texas (Red River), near complete worn strike of this straightline with fancy oval handstamp on 1850 folded letter from Shreveport to New Orleans, horizontal file fold, also included is 1850 printed freight bill, Fine, the only recorded example of this steamboat marking, ex-Somdal, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 1359 Estimate $400 - 600.
Current Opening Bid: $200