Lot
4042 
(James River & Kanawha Canal) "By Canal Boat Wave ", endorsement on orange cover to Buchanan Va., blue "James River, Balcony Falls, Va., Cement Works", carried circa 1855 on the James River & Kanawha Canal, Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $625
Lot
4043
(Kanawha Canal Route 2434) 1851 (Sep. 17) Richmond Va. to Lynchburg Va., illustrated folded waybill for A.S. Lee agent bearing 3¢ orange brown (10A), margins to slightly in, tied by blue "Way 6" circular rating handstamp, letter was treated as unpaid and charged 5¢ for under 500 miles plus the 1¢ way fee; light staining, F.-V.F. Estimate $150 - 200.
The use of canals for mail contracts was very rare with the majority operating in the 1840s on Ohio canals. The Kanawha Canal contract in Virginia was contracted as soon as the canal had reached Lynchburg from Richmond in June 1840. Boyd Edmund held the contract for 21 years with an initial payment of $4,448 a year for a twice weekly service. The route was extended to Pattonsburg in 1851 at $4,650 per year for a three times a week service.
Realized: $135
Lot
4044
(Potomac River Route 1901) 1832 (Jul. 10) Norfolk Va. to Washington D.C., datelined folded letter carried via Old Point Comfort and Richmond to Potomac Creek to be put onto Route 1901 for Washington, double strike of red "Steam" straightline handstamp and manuscript "18¾" rating, Very Fine. Estimate $100 - 150.
The first contact for mails by steamboat to Washington was awarded to E. Porter & Co. in 1832. Route 1901 covered the Richmond to Washington route with a steamboat between Washington and Potomac Creek, the balance by post coach. Payment of $2,706 a year was made for a daily service.
Realized: $290
Lot
4045
(Potomac River Route 2401) Potomac Steamboat Jun 25, red cds on folded letter datelined "New York June 24, 1850" to New Orleans La. bearing two 5¢ red brown (1) singles, full margins to touched, cancelled by red grids and tied by light horizontal file fold crease, sender endorsed "Paid" at lower left; prepaid 10¢ rate for over 300 miles, Fine. Towle No. G-21-a Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
In 1843, a special Act of Congress required the Post Office Department to contract a route between Washington D.C. and Aquia Creek on the Potomac River. Route 2401 was used as the first portion of the Great Southern Mails connecting the newly completed rail road to Richmond that was contracted to the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Rail Road as Route 2422.
This lot and the following are the only two recorded 1847 Issue usages to New Orleans carried on the Potomac River.
Realized: $2,200
Lot
4046
(Potomac River Route 2401) Potomac Steamboat Sep 7, red cds on folded cover docketed "New York 6 Sept / 50" to New Orleans La. bearing 10¢ black (2), large margins to barely touched, tied by manuscript "X" for the rate over 300 miles, sender endorsed "Paid" at lower left, docketed as received Sep. 16th, Fine. Towle No. G-21-a Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED USE OF THE 10¢ 1847 ISSUE LEGITIMATELY USED ON THE POTOMAC RIVER ROUTE.
There is a 10¢ 1847 issue bisect use recorded but was marked by the post office as "illegal stamp".
Realized: $4,750