Lot
578 
Steamer Mary Bess (Mississippi River), large fancy oval stencil marking on 1853 folded lettersheet to New Orleans, franked with 1851 3¢ Orange Brown cancelled by numeral "5" rate handstamp, postmarked red "New Orleans, La. Sep. 17" integral rate "5" cds with black "Way 5" handstamp, Extremely Fine; with 1980 P.F. certificate.Milgram No. 852 Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
AN OUTSTANDING COVER AND ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN STENCIL STEAMBOAT COVERS IN EXISTENCE.
The "Mary Bess", constructed in 1852 in Louisville, began her service in Mobile, Alabama. The following year, she was navigating the Mississippi River from New Orleans. By 1856, she was operating between New Orleans and the Red River. This stencil marking represents a distinctive and rare type of steamboat marking.
A similar strike on an 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire was sold in the final sale of the Erivan Collection, sold by H.R. Harmer for $8,000 (Sale 3070, April 30, 2024, Lot 187).
Current Opening Bid: $2,100