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