Sale 122: The Dr. James Milgram Collection Steamboat Mail

Lot 278    

Packet Empress (Mississippi & Alabama Rivers), oval handstamp on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire to New Orleans, Very Fine.
Milgram No. 421    Estimate $200 - 300.

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Lot 279    

Regular St. Louis and New Orleans Mail Passenger Packet Empress (Mississippi River), illustrated corner card across top of cover to Portsmouth, Ohio, franked with 1861 3¢ rose tied by indistinct double circle Illinois postmark, included is original printed letterhead of the Empress, full of steamboat content, cover reduced at right, F.-V.F., a very rare matching pair, Illustrated in Milgram.
Milgram No. 422    Estimate $300 - 400.

Realized: $220

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Lot 280    

Steamer Eolus, double circle handstamp on small cover to North Carolina, franked with 1861 3¢ Rose tied by segmented cancel with Old Point Comfort, Va. Apr 8 double circle at right, stamp & cover with small fault, F.-V.F., the only recorded example, Unlisted in Milgram.
Milgram No. 422B    Estimate $200 - 300.

The "U.S.S. Eolus" was a 368-ton side-wheel steamship that served in the Union Navy from 1864 to 1865 before transitioning to commercial use. Built in Newburgh, New York, for civilian purposes, the vessel was acquired by the Union Navy upon its completion. Commissioned as a gunboat in August 1864, the "Eolus" initially searched off the Atlantic Coast for the Confederate raider "C.S.S. Tallahassee" before joining the blockade forces off North Carolina.

The "Eolus" played a crucial role in patrolling the coast, rivers, and sounds of North Carolina. Its duties included enforcing the blockade, serving as a picket, and transporting personnel, messages, mail, supplies, orders, and ammunition to larger ships in the squadron, as well as evacuating the wounded to hospital ships. In October 1864, the "Eolus" captured the blockade runner "Hope" and contributed to the capture of the "Lady Sterling". Later in the year and into January 1865, the ship participated in the assaults that led to the capture of Fort Fisher, effectively closing the port of Wilmington to blockade runners. The "Eolus" continued operations in North Carolina waters until after the end of the Civil War.

Realized: $230

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Lot 281    

Boat E.P. Smith, New York & Toledo Line (Erie Canal), illustrated Canal Boat label affixed on 1845 folded cover to New York City, postmarked partial red Schenectady, N.Y. cds and matching "5" handstamp, Very Fine and rare, Illustrated in Milgram.
Milgram No. 423    Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

THIS IS THE ONLY KNOWN CANAL BOAT NAME OF VESSEL COVER - A GORGEOUS EXAMPLE OF THE THIS UNUSUAL AND UNIQUE LABEL.

Realized: $4,250

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Lot 282    

Era No. 1 & Era No. 2 (Red River), blue oval handstamp on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire to New Orleans, from the Carroll Hoy correspondence, includes 1858 printed freight bill (some ink erosion), F.-V.F., a very rare packet marking, Illustrated in Milgram.
Milgram No. 424    Estimate $200 - 300.

Realized: $140

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Lot 283    

Era No. 1, Era No. 2 & Era No. 3, Upper Red River Low Water Packets (Red River), illustrated corner card on cover to Columbus, O., franked with 1857 3¢ dull red (26) tied New Orleans, La., Mar. 4, 1859 cds, included is printed 1858 freight bill, Very Fine and rare, unlisted in Milgram.
Milgram No. 425A    Estimate $400 - 600.

Realized: $500

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Lot 284    

Red River Packet Era No. 9 (Red River), two 1864-65 3¢ pink postal entires each with blue boxed handstamp on reverse, also included is 1869 multicolor freight bill, a few small cover flaws, F.-V.F., very attractive handstamps, one Illustrated in Milgram.
Milgram No. 426    Estimate $150 - 200.

Realized: $170

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Lot 285    

Red River Packet Era No. 9 (Red River), bold green printed corner card on 3¢ entire to New Albany, Ind., postmarked "New Orleans, La. Aug. 23" cds & light cork cancellation, reverse with a list of Kouns' Line Red River Steamers, entire with some wrinkles and minor soiling, mended edge tear at right, included is original matching illustrated letterhead in purple and yellow., F.-V.F. and the only recorded example.
Milgram No. 426A    Estimate $300 - 400.

Realized: $220

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Lot 286    

Erastus W. Smith (Atlantic Coast), illustrated corner card on cover franked with 3¢ Banknote, tied on cover to Detroit, Mich, by New York duplex, cover somewhat reduced at right, Very Fine, steamer shows the name of the boat as Rhode Island, Illustrated in Milgram.
Milgram No. 428    Estimate $100 - 150.

Realized: $80

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Lot 287    

Ethel (Savannah River), violet straight line on 1¢ postal card to Savannah, Ga., datelined "Mathews Bluff, Sept 9, 1885" (South Carolina), sender writes, "I send by Ethell", F.-V.F. and scarce.
Milgram No. 428E    Estimate $75 - 100.

Realized: $70

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