Lot
4049 
Steamboat, red straightline handstamp with matching "Charleston S.C. '10' Apr 22" integral rate cds tying 10¢ black (2 var.), double transfer of left and bottom framelines, position 41R, large margins to clear at left, couple small corner creases, on blue folded letter from the Durand correspondence datelined "New York Apr 22. 1849" to Savannah Geo., the dateline was most likely off a day, F.-V.F.; plated by Cal Hahn. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED CHARLESTON "STEAMBOAT" USES BEARING THE 1847 ISSUE.
This folded letter from New York City was placed aboard the non-contract steamer Southern leaving New York April 21st. The letter arrived in Charleston S.C. on April 24th, entering the mails the following day to Savannah. Unrecorded Charleston 1847 Issue Steamboat covers are:
1. Mar. 28, 1849, Charleston S.C. to New Orleans La. bearing 10¢ black (2), ex-Craveri, Hackmey.
2. Apr. 4, 1849, Charleston S.C. to New Orleans La. bearing 10¢ black (2), ex-Craveri.
2. Apr. 11, 1849, Charleston S.C. to New Orleans La. bearing 10¢ black (2), ex-Kapiloff, currently in Eubanks exhibit.
4. Apr. 25, 1849, Charleston S.C. to Savannah Ga. bearing 10¢ black (2), the cover offered here.
Lot
4050
1842 (Dec. 22) Edisto Island S.C. to North Santee S.C. via Charleston, datelined folded letter carried by steamboat entering the mails with red "Steamboat" straightline and manuscript "12" cent rating for 10¢ postage plus 2¢ steamboat fee, manuscript "Forwarded by Taylor Lawton & Co. per Joseph F. Dill, Decr 28th 1842" forwarders notation on flap, red "Charleston S.C. Dec 29" cds with matching "Paid" handstamp and red manuscript "11" cent rating for 10¢ postage plus 1¢ way fee, Very Fine, an unusual combination of steamboat and way fees. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $575
Lot
4051
1842 (Dec. 22) Edisto Island S.C. to North Santee S.C. via Charleston, datelined folded letter carried by steamboat to care of Taylor Lawton Co., Charleston entering the mails with red "Steamboat" straightline and manuscript "12" cent rating for 10¢ postage plus 2¢ steamboat fee, manuscript "Forwarded by T. L. & Co. per Dill, 28th Decr. 1842" forwarders notation on flap, red crayon "1d" rating, red "Charleston S.C. Dec 29" cds with matching "Paid" handstamp and red manuscript "11" cent rating for 10¢ postage plus 1¢ way fee, Very Fine, an unusual combination of steamboat and way fees. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $375
Lot
4052
1843 (Dec. 18) Edisto Island S.C. to North Santee S.C. via Charleston, datelined folded letter carried by steamboat entering the mails with red "Charleston S.C. Dec 23" cds with matching "Paid" and "ONE CENT" handstamps, manuscript "11" cent rating for 10¢ postage plus 1¢ way fee; slight wax stain, Very Fine, an unusual way fee use. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $145
Lot
4053
1845 (Jan. 4) Savannah Ga. to North Santee S.C. via Charleston, datelined folded letter probably carried by steamboat entering the mails with red "Charleston S.C. Jan 23" cds with matching "Paid" and "ONE CENT" handstamps, red crayon "1d" and red manuscript "11" cent rating for 10¢ postage plus 1¢ way fee; light overall toning, F.-V.F., an unusual way fee use. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $115
Lot
4054
1850 (Feb. 23) New York N.Y. to Pontiac Mich. missent to Charleston, light blue folded letter with red "Charleston S.C. Feb 26" cds, matching "Missent & Forwarded" and "Steamboat" straightlines with large "10" cent rating handstamp, Extremely Fine, a remarkable steamboat use with tremendous eye appeal. Estimate $400 - 600.
This letter was apparently mistakenly placed on a non-contract steamboat on the New York-Charleston post route. The letter was marked missent and forwarded according to regulations.
Realized: $2,200
Lot
4055
1855 (c., Jul. 12) Charleston S.C. to Marion Village S.c., cover bearing 3¢ dull red (11A), position 94R3, margins to touched, tied by "Charleston S.C. 'Paid' Jul 12" cds, matching "Steam-Boat" straightline and large "2" due rating for captain's fee; reduced slightly at right, Very Fine and interesting use. Estimate $300 - 400.
It is possible the 2¢ steamboat captain's fee was prepaid in cash as the Charleston cds has an integral "Paid". Had this been a contract mail steamboat, no 2¢ charge would have resulted as the letter would be considered fully prepaid. This gave a distinct advantage to contract steamboats.
Realized: $270
Lot
4056
1859 (Feb. 21) Charleston S.C. to Washington D.C., cover bearing 3¢ dull red (26), deep rich color, tied by sharp "Charleston S.C. Feb 21 1859" cds, straightline "Steam-Boat" handstamp, Very Fine. Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $145
Lot
4057
1860 (May 7) Capers Island S.C. to Charleston S.C., orange buff cover bearing 3¢ dull red (26), perf flaws at left, prepays postage tied by "Steam-Boat" straightline handstamp and matching large "2" cent due rating handstamp for 2¢ ship captain's fee, docketed at top left "1 Book / Capers 7th May 1860", Very Fine and rare use. Estimate $300 - 400.
Over time Capers Island has been home to Indians, Revolutionary War soldiers, and Civil War blockades. The Native Americans were the original inhabitants on Capers Island. The Seewee Indians had a village near Bulls Bay and a fort near the west side of Toomer Creek (across the waterway from Capers) in 1685. In 1659 three French Huguenot brothers from Wales, Richard, Gabriel, and William Capier, after refusing holy orders from their father, sailed to America. In 1679 they settled on what is now called Capers Island. Gabriel and Richard lived on Capers Island and the sea coast of South Carolina, and their families after them for 175 years or until the Civil War in 1865.
Capers, known as Sessions Island, from 1675-1705 and Capore Island until 1722, was one of many sea islands the King of England proclaimed for the Crown upon discovery. He later issued grants for the colonists who grew indigo, sea island cotton, corn, sugarcane, celery, asparagus, cauliflower, snap beans, melons, peaches, strawberries, blackberries, beets, and carrots.
Ownership changed hands a dozen times from 1868 until 1975. The Magwood family owned Capers in the early 1900's. In 1924 Coulter Hyler, a candy manufacturer, whose hearts desire to live on a sea island in South Carolina, purchased Capers for $35,000 and Dewees Island for $25,000. The Reynolds Corporation purchased Dewees and Capers in the late 1950's for hunting and fishing. In 1961 the Reynolds Corporation built the 100 acre impoundment on Capers Island for waterfowl hunting. In 1972 the Royals purchased Dewees and Capers Island. The State of South Carolina purchased Capers from the Royals in 1975 for 2.8 million dollars and designated Capers as a State Heritage Preserve in 1977.