Lot
4296 
(Route 13501) Steamer Burlington, red illustrated corner card showing steamboat on orange cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by "Burlington Ill. Jun 20" cds and cork cancel, addressed in pencil to Louisville Ky., carried from St. Paul to Rock Island on Route 13501 for transfer to Louisville, most likely routed by rail via La Salle and Sandovar to Louisville; reduced slightly at right, some edgewear, Very Fine and rare, Illustrated in Milgram on 136., ex-Floyd Risvold. Milgram No. 151 Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $425
Lot
4297
(Route 13501) Packet Pembinaw, printed shield corner card on light buff cover bearing 3¢ dull red (26) tied by blue "La Cross Wis. May 3 1859", addressed to Delhi Ioa., carried by the Pembina 165 miles on Route 13501 to Dubuque, transferred to the post roads for the 38 miles east to Delhi; vertical file fold at left, partial flap, otherwise Very Fine, ex-H. Bohren. Milgram No. 1079 Estimate $300 - 400.
The official name of this vessel was the "Pembina" and it was apparently named after the early settlement in Minnesota. Captain T. H. Griffin was Master 1857-1859.
Realized: $350
Lot
4298
(Route 13501) St. Louis & St. Paul Packet Phil Sheridan, red printed corner card on circa 1869 cover bearing 3¢ ultramarine (113), toned perf., tied by "Minneapolis Min Sep 29" duplex with target cancel, addressed to Leicester Mass. and carried on Route 13501 to Dubuque for transfer to the rails east; small corner flaw, Very Fine and rare, Illustrated in Milgram on page 570., ex-Floyd Risvold. Milgram No. 1107 Estimate $400 - 600.
The Northwestern Union Packet Co. was contracted from April 1867 to November 1869 for the St. Paul to Dubuque Route 13501 at $40 per round trip and six times a week service. The company used their steamboats running the St. Louis to St. Paul trade for this route.
Realized: $525
Lot
4299
(Route 13501) Northern Line Packet Sucker State, printed illustrated corner card with fancy frame and showing steamboat, on orange buff cover addressed to Tidioute Pa., entered mails bearing 3¢ dull red (26) tied by "Pittsburgh Pa. Mar 13 1859"; barely reduced at left and small ink stain, Very Fine, Illustrated in Milgram on page 669., ex-Floyd Risvold. Milgram No. 1328 Estimate $500 - 750.
Northern Line packets Burlington and Sucker State were both used on Route 13501, the St. Paul to Dubuque contract between 1858 and 1869. Until 1863, they were paid $250 a round trip, this was halved in 1864 and reduced again to $40 in April 1867.
Realized: $475
Lot
4300
(Route 14009) S.M. War Eagle. June, straightline handstamp with manuscript "10/57" ties 3¢ dull red (11A), pos. 33R3, margins except in at bottom right corner, on cover addressed to Henderson, Mont. Terr., Chase note saying originating from Central Point Minn. Terr. on Lake Pepin, carried 62 miles on the Mississippi River to St. Paul on Route 14009, transferred to post road for the 56 miles southwest to Henderson situated on the Wisconsin River; small cover tear at right, Very Fine, ex-Carroll Chase, Klein-Somdal, David Jarrett, H. Bohren. Milgram No. 1428 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
THE FINEST OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE WAR EAGLE STRAIGHTLINE PACKET MARKING.
We are unsure of the Milgram listing of 1427 and 1428, we believe these are the same markings.
We record only two examples of the War Eagle straightline marking:
1. June 10, 1856, Central Point MN to Henderson MN, ex-Chase, Klein-Somdal, Jarrett, Bohren, the examples offered here.
2. Aug. 6, addressed to Portsmouth N.H., covers tears and partial strike, ex-Risvold, Illust. in Milgram on page 716.
From July 1854 to November 1869, the Galena & Minnesota Packet Co. and its successors including the North Western Packet Co. held the contracts for a six-times a week service on the Upper Mississippi River. Over the period, payments ranged from $40 a trip to as high as $250. Two of the steamboats employed by the companies were the "War Eagle" and the "Pembinaw".
Realized: $3,500
Lot
4301
(Route Agent) Dub. & St. Paul R. Mail Sep 22, clear strike of cds on yellow cover to Minneapolis Minn. bearing 1861, 3¢ rose cancelled by manuscript strokes, reduced slightly at right, small edge tear, F.-V.F. Towle No. N-2 unlisted Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $210