Lot
4271 
(Mississippi River) Mississippi and its Tributaries, July 1851 merchant's circular with distance tables from St. Louis addressed to New York City, bearing 1¢ blue, type IV (9), margins to touched, tied by third-class "Saint Louis Mo." dateless circular postmark, Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
The Mississippi with its tributaries of the Arkansas, Ohio, Missouri Illinois and Red Rivers created the largest inland waterway network in the United States. The highest number of Star Route contracts by water are found on over 5,000 navigable miles with the first contracts dating from 1829.
Realized: $800
Lot
4272
(Route 8163) N.O. & St. Louis R.R. Line Champion, choice strike of illustrated oval handstamp showing steamboat, on yellow cover bearing 3¢ dull red (26) tied by "Cairo Ill Jun 27 1859" cds to Cincinnati Oh.; small part of flap missing, Very Fine, Illustrated in Milgram on page 194., ex-Floyd Risvold. Milgram No. 194 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A REMARKABLE EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE HANDSTAMP.
Cairo at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers acted as a transfer point for mails going to destinations via Ohio River contract steamboats. From July 1858 to May 1861 the route was contracted by the trip at $200 per round trip. After the Civil War, the Atlantic & Mississippi Steam Packet Co. was contracted for a 3½ times a week service at $27,000 a year.
This cover probably originated at New Orleans and carried on the course of Route 7809. Transferred at Cairo on June 27th 1859 for Route 9501 to Louisville and 9503 onward to Cincinnati.
Realized: $2,400
Lot
4273
(Route 8163) Steamer Henry Ames, oval handstamp on orange envelope addressed to Prisoner of War, 9th La. Cavalry, Fort Delaware, Del. bearing 1861, 3¢ rose, s.e. at right, tied by "Cairo Ill, Jan 9, 1865" duplex; edge wear and faults, Fine, A rare steamer marking used on the same day as the example illustrated in Milgram. Milgram No. 596 Estimate $300 - 400.
This was carried by private steamboat "Henry Ames" to Cairo where placed into the mails for Fort Delaware Del.
Lot
4274
(Route 8163) New Orleans and Louisville Passenger Packet Pacific, printed fancy corner card on light yellow circa 1859 cover to Calais Vt., bearing 3¢ dull red (26), cancelled by manuscript "X" and tied by "Cairo Ill Apr 2" cds, Very Fine, Illustrated in Milgram on page 543., ex-Floyd Risvold. Milgram No. 1045 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
The "Pacific" was a side-wheeler of 608 tons built at New Albany Ind. in 1857 and operated in the New Orleans-Louisville trade. She was lost in 1860.
Realized: $1,150
Lot
4275
(Route 8163) Louisville & New Orleans Regular Passenger Packet Pacific, complete strike on buff cover with embossed B.P. Ethell & Co. and docketed "Dec 17/58" to Louisville Ky., carried by the Pacific to Cairo where posted by forwarder with 3¢ dull red (26) tied by partial "Cairo Dec 26 1858" cds, indistinct forwarders circular handstamp on reverse, top edge mended and flap tears, F.-V.F., Illustrated in Milgram on page 544., ex-Barry K. Schwartz. Milgram No. 1049 Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Until June 1857, a through route from New Orleans to Louisville Route 5102 was in operation. The replacement contract as Route 8163 terminated at Cairo Ill. Contracted at $200 a round trip, the "Pacific" was contracted for mails to Cairo although the vessel continued to Louisville without mails.
Realized: $575
Lot
4276
(Route 8163) St. Louis, Cairo & New Orleans Passenger Steamer Ruth, purple all-over advertising design on cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by "Memphis Tenn Nov 18" duplex and addressed to Columbus Oh. to be carried on Route 8163 for transfer at Cairo to the Ohio River route to Cincinnati; flap tears, top edge slightly reduced with small tear, Very Fine. Milgram No. 1228 Estimate $750 - 1,000.
If actually carried by the "Ruth", this would have been on her record breaking run against the "Fashion" and the "Magenta" from New Orleans to St. Louis.