Lot
4049 
(Savannah to New York 3413) Savannah "MAIL ROUTE", buff cover bearing 1¢ blue, type IIIa (8), large margins to touched, and 3¢ dull red (11), both tied by two strikes of "Savannah '3' Mar 25" cds, matching "MAIL ROUTE" straightline handstamp, endorsed "Pr. N. York Steamer" at top left; some slight edge wear, F.-V.F. Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
ONE OF ONLY EIGHT RECORDED SAVANNAH "MAIL ROUTE" COVERS THAT WAS STRUCK IN BLACK ON PREPAID COVERS.
Carried from Savannah on either the New York & Savannah Steam Navigation Company "Alabama" or "Florida" that operated Route 3413 from July 1851 to April 1855. Jordon P. Brooks was paid $7,500 a year for a three times a week service whilst the New York & Savannah Steam Navigation Company received $80 per round trip New York to Savannah.
It had been proposed that the stamp was applied at Savannah as a Way Letter mark. This cover confirms this with the additional 1¢ prepaying the way fee.
Realized: $8,000
Lot
4041
(Old Point Comfort to Baltimore Route 4973) Richland Jail, Columbia S.C., with "Old Point Comfort Va Oct 3" cds and matching "Due 6" circled rating handstamp on wallpaper cover with floral design in pale bluish gray, addressed to a Col. Otis in Manchester Ct., manuscript examiner's mark and endorsed "Prisoner of War's Letter" at top, original Sept. 7, 1863 datelined enclosure from Chaplain H.C. Trumbull; flap opened for display, Very Fine and choice, Harrison records 39 covers for Richland Jail. Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE SOUTHERN PRISON WALLPAPER USE CARRIED ALONG STEAMBOAT ROUTE 4973 TO BALTIMORE.
Letters from Union officers imprisoned at Richland County Jail in Columbus S.C. were taken through the lines under "Flag of Truce" agreements to be carried north from Old Point Comfort on Route 4973 operated by the Baltimore Steam Packet Co.
Letter concerns recount of Chaplain Trumbull's capture at Fort Wagner and reads, "Doubtless you were surprised to learn of our capture when you returned to, or heard from, your command. We can assure you it greatly surprised us. On Sunday, July 19th, just before noon at the suggestion of Maj. Greely and with the approbation of Lt. Col. Leggett, I went out into the field before Wagner to aid the wounded who were then being removed…." He goes on to state only ten minutes later they were held for 7 hours of consultation and then sent to South Carolina.
Realized: $4,250
Lot
4322
(Route 5032) Louisville & Cincinnati, Mail Line. Feb. "21", red rectangular steamboat route agent datestamp with manuscript date on folded Merchants Bank of Cincinnati lettersheet datelined "20th February 1851" and addressed to Indianapolis Ind., bearing 5¢ red brown (1) cancelled by matching manuscript "X", four margins, tiny tear at top and barely affected by vertical fold, endorsed "Paid" and "Via Madison"; stamp lifted and replaced, a Very Fine usage, ex-S.W. Richey; with 1968 P.F. certificate, signed and guaranteed by Stanley B. Ashbrook. Towle No. O-21-g Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS STEAMBOAT ROUTE AGENT POSTMARK USED WITH THE 5¢1847 ISSUE.
In July 1846, the U.S. Mail Line of Cincinnati was contracted at $3,850 a year for a daily service between Louisville and Cincinnati. The contract was renewed every four years until 1858. The U.S. Mail Line was using the General Pike and one other steamboat for this service. This rectangular route agent marking with manuscript day of month was used in 1851 only.
There are a total of three recorded 1847 issue covers with this rare boxed route agent marking:
1. Feb. 21, 1851, 5¢ 1847 on letter from Cincinnati to Indianapolis Ind., ex-Richey, the cover offered here.
2. Apr. 5, 1851, 10¢ 1847 cancelled by manuscript with red postmark on partial letter.
3. Apr. 22, 1851, 10¢ 1847 tied by blue postmark and grid on cover to Philadelphia Pa., PFC.
Realized: $2,500
Lot
4058
(Alabama River Route 7003) Mobile & Montgomery Tuesday Evening Packet St. Nicholas, choice strike of this fancy illustrated packet handstamp in blue showing a cotton bale, on cover bearing 3¢ dull red, type I (25), tied by "Selma Ala. '3 Paid' Apr 22" cds and "Steamboat" straightline handstamp; reduced slightly at right, some light perf toning, slight perf defect not mentioned on certificate, Very Fine, ex-Grunin; with 1993 P.S.E. and 2004 P.F. certificates. Scott No. 25. Milgram No. 1318 Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
A REMARKABLE EXAMPLE OF THIS ELABORATE ILLUSTRATED STEAMER NICHOLAS PACKET HANDSTAMP.
It was not until July 1854 that a Star Route was contracted to carry mails between Mobile and Montgomery. Up to that date letters were only carried by non-contract steamboats on the Alabama River. The July 1854 contract was made with J.J. Cox (later Cox Brainard) to carry the Great Southern Mails whose volume exceeded the capacity of the stage coach on the route. $35,000 a year was paid for four years only for a daily service.
This Alabama river steamboat marking is one of the most beautiful designs produced.
Realized: $10,500
Lot
4414
(Wreck Mail) Steamer Winfield Scott, unusually bold strike of red two-line handstamp on 1853 buff cover addressed to Kalamazoo, Mich., bearing 3¢ dull red (11A) vertical pair, top stamp defective, tied by dotted grid cancel for prepaid rate over 3,000 miles, matching "Sonora Cal. Nov 28" origin cds adjacent; minor edge wear, tiny top edge stain, Very Fine, illustrated in color in "Letters of Gold" on page 74., ex-Frank Newton. Milgram No. 1461 Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE SEVEN KNOWN COVERS RECOVERED FROM THE WRECK OF THE "STEAMER WINFIELD SCOTT" AND THOUGHT TO BE THE UNIQUE EXAMPLE FRANKED WITH STAMPS.
The "Winfield Scott" was a 1,291-ton steamer built in New York City in 1851, which was put into service along the Pacific Coast route in 1852. The "Winfield Scott" was purchased by the Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company from the New York and San Francisco Line in July 1853. One round trip between San Francisco and Panama, but on December 2, 1853, she was stranded off Anacapa Island in the Santa Barbara Channel and lost on her second trip for the company. The five mail bags, passengers, crew and cargo including gold species were saved. Nine examples of this two-line handstamp are recorded, of which two were carried before the "Winfield Scott" was commissioned into the Pacific service.
Below is the PMSSC's advertisement of November 28th 1853 in the San Francisco Sun giving the sailing details of the "Winfield Scott".
Realized: $6,000
Lot
4319
(Route 5032) Louisville & Cincinnati Mail Line, July 1, route agent's cds on large part of folded letter to Miss A. C. Hulme in Philadelphia Pa. bearing 3¢ orange brown (10), position 11R1E, large margins to slightly in with rich color, tied by blue 13-bar grid, upper left corner of stamp torn off and reattached, a Very Fine appearing use, Referenced in Mekeel's Oct. 1956 and Chronicle numbers 15, 21, 29., ex-Gerald B. Smith.; Accompanied by two letters from Tracy W. Simpson discussing the cover. Scott $12,500. Towle No. O-21-d Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
THE ONLY RECORDED FIRST DAY COVER OF THE 1851 3¢ ORANGE BROWN WITH A ROUTE AGENT MARKING.
In his census in the 1851 Sesquicentennial book, Wilson Hulme records a total of 43 covers used on the July 1st 1851 first day of use. This is the only on-cover example recorded with a route agent marking, with all other examples originating in cities. This Cincinnati & Louisville Mail Line marking is scarce in itself, and its use was discontinued shortly after July 1851. The sender likely purchased the stamp at the Cincinnati post office and posted the letter on board the boat.
Lot
4387
1855 (Apr. 2) Saint John, N.B. to New York, N.Y., folded letter with New Brunswick cds and matching "10" rating for cross border rate, "Express Mail, Saint John, Apr 5" route agent cds, put onto the Admiral, red "Favor's Express" cachet, Extremely Fine. Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
A REMARKABLE STRIKE OF THIS RARE FAVOR'S EXPRESS CACHET.
The intaglio cachet of Favor's is rarely found with such a crisp strike. This example is an exception.
Realized: $4,750
Lot
4266
(Route 7702) By Steamer Rapides, perfect strike of this illustrated name-of-boat handstamp on 3¢ red Nesbitt entire (U10) from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La., faint red "New Orleans La. Dec. 20" cds and black "Steam" straightline handstamp; light vertical fold, usual filing hole, Very Fine, ex-Paul Rohloff, Dr. Robert LeBow. Milgram No. 1158 Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
ONE OF THE FINEST STRIKES OF THIS RARE AND HIGHLY DESIRABLE ILLUSTRATED STEAMBOAT MARKING. ONE OF ONLY NINE RECORDED EXAMPLES, SIX OF WHICH HAVE COMPLETE STRIKES.
The "Rapides" was a wooden-hull side-wheel packetboat that was built in New Albany Ind. in 1855. Originally built for C.J. Barston of Rapides Parish La., she plied the waters between New Orleans and Donaldsonville up to 1856, then later between New Orleans and Shreveport before being used by the Confederacy after 1861. The marking used on mail carried by the "Rapides" is a remarkable depiction of a Mississippi steamboat without equal among the other handstamps of the period. It is interesting to note that all four dated examples originate from the same Dec. 20th circa 1856 sailing to New Orleans.
The nine recorded covers bearing this marking:
1. Dec. 20 (1856), 3¢ red Nesbitt entire #U10 from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La. (the example offered here.)
2. Dec. 20 (1856), 3¢ red Nesbitt entire #U10 from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La., 2001 Siegel Rarity Sale (lot 5).
3. Dec. 20 (1856), 3¢ red Nesbitt entire #U10 from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La., docketing on face. PFC #385244.
4. Dec. 20 (1856), partial strike (paper loss painted in) on folded letter missing stamp to Messrs. G. Toledano & Taylor in New Orleans La.
5. undated, 3¢ dull red #11 uncancelled on folded letter from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La., ex-West, illust. in Milgram.
6. undated, 3¢ red Nesbitt entire #U10 from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La., ex-Klein-Somdal, "Antoine".
7. undated, partial strike on 3¢ red Nesbitt entire #U10 from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La.,
8. undated, partial strike on 3¢ red Nesbitt entire #U10 from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La., pencil "Valuable", ex-Bohren, PFC #194326
9. unknown, front only bearing 3¢ dull red #11, ex-Latshaw Collection.
Realized: $4,500
Lot
4324
(Route 5032) U.S. Mail Steamer Telegraph No. 2, vivid red circular handstamp with matching "Lou. & Cin. S.B. Mail Line March 19" route agent cds (Towle O-21-e) on folded letter datelined "Cincinnati March 19th 1852" and addressed to Nashville Tenn., bearing 3¢ dull red (11A), margins to touched, tied by matching vivid red circular grid cancel, docketed "April 1852", Very Fine and attractive, ex-Dr. James W. Milgram, Louis Grunin, Barry K. Schwartz. Milgram No. 1352 Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A BEAUTIFUL AND IMPORTANT EXAMPLE OF THIS PACKET AND ROUTE AGENT COMBINATION USAGE, ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES.
Private purser markings only occur when applied before receipt by the route agent, or when the agent was also a member of the crew as apparently the case in this example.
In July 1842, C.M. Strader, President of the U.S. Mail Line of Cincinnati contracted for the Cincinnati to Louisville route. Renewed every four years until 1870, in the period 1846 to 1858 the route was designated as 5032 with a daily trip each way paying $3,850 a year. Amongst the many steamboats owned by the company were the Telegraph No. 2 and 3. Both were used on Route 5032 as shown by combinations with the route agent cds.
We have recorded the following three examples:
1. March 19, 1852, Cincinnati Oh. to Nashville Tenn., ex-Milgram, the cover offered here.
2. March 27, 1852, Cincinnati Oh. to Rome Ga., ex-John A. Eggen.
3. April 9, 1852, addressed to Philadelphia Pa., pictured in Milgram on p. 679.
Realized: $28,000
Lot
4402
1843 (Mar. 21) Boston, Mass. to Mazatlan, Mexico via Panama and Monterey, datelined folded letter addressed to "Mazatlan, Coast of California" in care of the U.S. Consul John Parrott, sent to Panama where "Forwarded by Ernest Zachrisson, Panama" framed handstamp struck, then carried by the Monitor to Monterey where endorsed on flap "Rec'd from passenger of the Juanita the day after you sailed T.O.L.", reverse with "Forwarded by Thomas O. Larkin, Monterey, California" double-line oval forwarding handstamp with fleuron, bold "Puerto de Mazatlan" boxed handstamp with "1" reale due handstamp for single letter rate of 1 to 15 leagues (tariff of November 3rd 1842); some light toning, vertical file fold, Very Fine and rare, ex-Allan Goldberg. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
AN EXCEPTIONAL EARLY LETTER FROM BOSTON TO MAZATLAN WITH THE RARE THOMAS O. LARKIN OF MONTEREY, ALTA CALIFORNIA FORWARDING HANDSTAMP.
Letters to the West Coast of North America prior to January 1849 were carried privately and forwarded by a network of agents and U.S. consuls making use of whatever vessels were available.
Thomas O. Larkin arrived in California in 1832 and was appointed the first and only U.S. Consul to Alta California (then part of Mexico) at Monterey on May 1, 1843 by President James K. Polk. This was to become a turbulent time leading up to Mexican War and Larkin played an important part in diplomatic relations. He also served as a mail forwarder in addition to other diplomatic duties until 1846, when war broke out with Mexico and he was captured by the Mexican Army.
Realized: $8,000