Lot
4372 
Buffalo "Steam Boat 12", manuscript rating and indistinct red "Perrysburg Nov 1" cds on folded letter datelined "Buffalo Oct. 28th 1837" to Defiance Oh. located on the newly opened Wabash & Erie Canal, content states "I now forward you by the SB Com. Perry 1 bundle of pear trees", carried by water from Buffalo to Perrysburg where rated 12¢ due for 10¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee; light edge toning and wear, F.-V.F., an early Great Lakes steamboat use. Estimate $150 - 200.
Although the first steamboat, the "Walk-on-the-Water" was put onto Lake Erie in 1819, examples of letters carried on these waters are rare before the 1840s.
Realized: $110
Lot
4373
1839 (Jul. 16) Buffalo N.Y. to Detroit Mich., datelined folded letter with Detroit blue "Steam Boat" straightline (unrecorded in blue, black recorded 1834-51) and blue manuscript "18¾" due rating for post road rate over 150 miles; minor edge wear, Very Fine. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $80
Lot
4374
1846 (May 14) Fort Gratiot, Mich. to Shrewsbury, N.J. via Detroit, datelined folded letter entered mails with blue "Detroit Mich. 16 May" cds and matching "Steam" straightline and circled "10" rating handstamps, letter with interesting content about "our little army on the Rio Grande & prospect of our being sent there", written the day after declaration of war with Mexico, F.-V.F. Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $85
Lot
4375
1848 (May 17) Ottawa, Canada to Chicago Ill., datelined folded letter addressed to the Trustees of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, flap with sender's note "Capt. of Packet will confer an Especial Favor by forwarding this to the canal office immediately on his arrival in Chicago, The bearer will be paid him 2/- for his trouble…", entered U.S. mails with red "Paid" and "5" rating handstamps; light toning, F.-V.F., A scarce cross-border steamboat letter. Estimate $400 - 600.
Lot
4376
Cleveland "Steamboat", bold strike straightline with matching "Due 6" straightline and "Cleveland O Jul 16" duplex ties 3¢ rose (65) on yellow cover to Sewickleyville Pa., endorsed "Mail direct via Pittsburgh" at top left, Very Fine. Estimate $100 - 150.
Although prepaid, the 1863 Act required steamboat letters to be prepaid 6¢. The 3¢ prepayment was disallowed as a result and letter marked "Due 6".
Realized: $600
Lot
4377
Detroit "Steam Boat", fancy scroll handstamp on cover addressed to Norwich Vt. bearing 3¢ dull red (11A), four margins, tied by "Detroit Mich. Jul 5" cds; minor paper loss on flap, Very Fine and choice example, ex-Tito, George Kramer. Estimate $400 - 600.
The Great Lake port post offices used Steam Boat handstamps on arriving mails in various designs, that for Detroit in the form of a ribbon. The use of such handstamps ceased by the mid 1860s.
Realized: $350
Lot
4378
Detroit "Steamboat Due 2 Cts", oval rating handstamp on circa 1862 cover addressed to Detroit Mich., bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by "Detroit Mich Jul 16" duplex; treated as a ship letter with 2¢ added to the prepaid 3¢ letter rate, Extremely Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $550
Lot
4379
Detroit "Steamboat Due 6 Cts", oval rating handstamp on circa 1864 cover addressed to Governor Henry H. Crap at his home in Flint Mich., bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by "Detroit Mich May 23" duplex; treated as a steamboat letter with 6¢ and 3¢ prepayment ignored; no flap, tiny edge tear, Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
From July 1st 1863, steamboat letters were charged double the 3¢ letter rate and any prepayment on insufficiently prepaid letters was ignored. Henry H. Crap was Governor of Michigan from 1864 to 1868.
Realized: $250
Lot
4380
(Route 12717) Steamer Illinois, sharp strike of red oval handstamp on all-over illustrated advertising envelope of W.C. Duncan Mfg. Pale and Amber Ales etc. in Detroit Mich., addressed to Eagle Harbor Mich. that was located on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Lake Superior, bearing uncancelled 3¢ rose (65), small flaws, pencil "1862" docketing; some light toning at right corners, Very Fine and attractive. Milgram No. 636 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE STEAMBOAT MARKING, MILGRAM WAS ABLE TO ONLY SHOW A TRACING IN HIS BOOK.
In July 1858, Ebenezer War was contracted at $70 per round trip three times a week between Cleveland and Ontonagon, a distance of 640 miles. A steamboat regularly used on the route was the "Illinois" that ran under Ward's Lake Superior Line.
Lot
4381
(Route 12717) Steamer Illinois, Summer Sailing Schedule of 1962, printed summer sailing schedule for the Cleveland, Detroit & Lake Superior Line, on reverse of orange buff cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by blue "Ontonagon Mich. Jun 25" cds and addressed to Haddam Conn., carried on Route 12717 to Cleveland for transfer to the rails east; flap tears, front with hinge remnants and tape stain, Fine, Illustrated in Milgram on page 637. Milgram No. 637 Estimate $200 - 300.