The Dr. James Milgram Collection Steamboat Mail
47 Kearny St # 500, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA
| Lot | Transatlantic Ships - Manchester to Saale (Milgram #844C-1235B) | Estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1101 | Moana (Pacific Ocean). Red ship handstamp in red on 5¢ postal entire to Auckland, N.Z. postmarked "San Francisco Feb 17 6PM '99" machine cancel, additional printed corner card for "Cutting Fruit Packing Co.", light staining near embossing, Very Fine.Milgram No. 911A; Estimate $150 - 200. |  | $150 |
| 1102 | U.S.S. Mohican. Imprint on 1869 cover to Waterbury, Conn., franked with 1867 3¢ Rose Grill (some minor perf. flaws) tied by geometric cancel with "San Francisco Aug. 16" cds alongside, cover with original enclosure on matching printed letterhead and datelined "Illionlionk, Ounalaska, July 22, 1869", written by sailor on board to his mother with fascinating contents which includes, We have stopped at this place to take in coal, and finding a little schooner here which will sail for San Francisco in a few days, I shall send you this letter by her…This place is a little Indian village on Ounalaska, one of the Aleutian Islands. It is of no consequence whatever, except as a stopping place for whalers and traders who have business in the Northern seas., the letter goes on to give a detailed description of the islands beauty (the full contents can be found on our website), Very Fine, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 915; Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EARLY COVERS FROM ALASKA AND A UNIQUE ITEM. In 1869, the "U.S.S Mohican" carried an astronomical surveying party through Bering Strait into the arctic.This letter was written in Iliuliuk (Bay), Unalaska which is located off Unalaska Island in the Aleutian Islands off mainland Alaska. On October 18, 1867, the United States purchased Alaska, which made Unalaska part of the U.S. territory.The Aleut (Unangan) people have lived on Unalaska Island for thousands of years. The Unangan, who were the first to inhabit the island of Unalaska, named it "Ounalashka", meaning "near the peninsula". |  2 | $2,000 |
| 1103 | U.S. Ship Monongahela, Jul 16, 1884 (Pacific Ocean). Fancy blue double circle handstamp on cover to Burlington, Vt., franked with 2¢ Bank Note (small stain) with cork cancel and "Vallejo, Cal. Jul 16" cds alongside, Very Fine and attractive.Milgram No. 927; Estimate $300 - 400. "U.S.S. Monongahela" was a barkentine-rigged screw sloop-of-war that served in the Union Navy during the American Civil War. Her task was to participate in the Union blockade of the Confederate States of America. Post-war, she continued serving her country in various roles, such as that of a storeship and schoolship. |  | $300 |
| 1104 | U.S. Ship Monongahela, May 17, 1889 (Pacific Ocean). Purple oval handstamp on mixed franking cover to New York, franked with Samoa 1897 1c and 2c issues (small flaws), both tied by blue "Apia May 2" double circle + United States 5¢ Garfield (215) tied by large grid cancel, small cover repairs at left, still Very Fine, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 928; Estimate $500 - 750.A LOVELY MIXED FRANKING COVER AND A VERY RARE USAGE FROM THE MONONGAHELA. |  | $500 |
| 1105 | S.S. Monowai (Pacific Ocean). Purple straightline handstamp on 5¢ Columbian Exposition entire to Honolulu, H.I., cancelled by large target cancel, backstamped with Honolulu arrival postmark, slightly reduced at right, Very Fine and scarce, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 928A; Estimate $200 - 300. |  | $200 |
| 1106 | Montezuma (Atlantic Ocean). Brown straight-line handstamp on 1824 folded letter from Philadelphia to London, backstamped "Liverpool Ship Letter" marking with red London arrival cds, horiz. file fold, Very Fine and rare, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 932; Estimate $500 - 750. |  | $500 |
| 1107 | Montezuma (Atlantic Ocean). Brown straight-line handstamp on 1824 folded letter to London with manuscript "3/2" rate and backstamped "Liverpool Ship Letter" and red arrival cds, minor toning at right, Very Fine and scarce, one of only 2 recorded examples.Milgram No. 932; Estimate $400 - 600. |  | $400 |
| 1108 | S.S. Moses Taylor, From San Francisco (Pacific Coast). Blue oval handstamp with changeable date on cover to Massachusetts, franked with 1861 3¢ Rose (couple slightly worn perf tips) tied by "N.York Steamship" postmark with bold "Due 7" handstamp alongside, some expert restoration with affects marking, lovely Very Fine appearance.Milgram No. 947; Estimate $500 - 750.THIS IS ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS RARE WEST COAST MARKING. |  2 | $500 |
| 1109 | New Deer (Atlantic Ocean). Straight line handstamp on small 1842 folded letter from Aberdeen, Scotland to Detroit, Mich., several markings including red boxed Paid Aberdeen and red Boston entry cds, some light aging, Very Fine and rare.Milgram No. 986; Estimate $500 - 750. |  | $500 |
| 1110 | U.S.M.S. New York (Atlantic Ocean). Two covers engraved corner card of the New York, one is franked with 1890 5¢ Small Bank Note tied on 1894 cover (small corner nick) to Paris with United States Sea Post duplex cancel and second cover franked with 2¢ Columbian tied by New York duplex cancel and used locally, F.-V.F., Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 1004A; Estimate $100 - 150. |  3 | $100 |
| 1111 | New York. Three postal entires all to Germany with different straight line New York directive handstamps, plus fourth cover with illustrated corner card showing U.S. Cruiser New York, Government Speed Trail, F.-V.F., Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 1004B; Estimate $150 - 200. |  4 | $150 |
| 1112 | Per Niagara (Atlantic Ocean). Blue embossed cameo type corner card on blue cover to Massachusetts, franked with 1861 3¢ Rose (straight edge & trivial corner defect) tied by bold geometric & "New-York, Jan. 21, 1863" double circle postmark, Very Fine and attractive, the only recorded example.Milgram No. 1006; Estimate $200 - 300. |  | $200 |
| 1113 | U.S. Ship Nipsic (Atlantic Ocean). Blue illustrated handstamp of Fully Rigged Ship on repaired and rebacked cover front to New York, franked with 3¢ Bank Note tied by Portsmouth, Va. cds with cork cancel, Fine appearance, the only recorded example, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 1011; Estimate $200 - 300. |  | $200 |
| 1114 | U.S.S. Nipsic (South America). Violet oval handstamp with manuscript "Callao, Peru, Officiers Letter" on cover to Philadelphia, franked with Peru 1c + 10c tied by indistinct double circle postmark, backstamped with 1888 arrival markings, stamps toned, some faults, Very Fine appearance.Milgram No. 1012; Estimate $200 - 300. |  | $200 |
| 1115 | Steamer Northwest Jul 8, 1882. Blue dater handstamp on cover with printed corner card of "Alex Smith, Clerk, Steamer Northwest" to Ireland, franked with 5¢ Garfield Bank Note tied by grid with Cleveland, O. cds alongside, 2nd strike of Steamer handstamp on reverse, includes original enclosure from Alex Smith, slightly reduced at right, Very Fine.Milgram No. 1016F; Estimate $500 - 750.A LOVELY OVERSEAS USAGE OF WHICH THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS PACKET MARKING. |  | $500 |
| 1116 | U.S. Cruiser Olympia. Two patriotic picture post cards showing the Olympia and image George Dewey, both addressed to Germany, one used in 1898 with 1¢ Bureau Issues and one used in 1899 with 2¢ Bureau Issues, 100, Very Fine.Milgram No. 1026D-E; Estimate $100 - 150. |  3 | $100 |
| 1117 | Steamer Oregon. Printed July 6th, 1886 Label, Signed by N. Y. Postmaster, affixed on reverse of cover from England to Iowa, label tied by Emmitsburgh, Iowa arrival postmark, the stamp has soaked off as always, Very Fine for this and with the label rarely tied, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 1037A; Estimate $200 - 300. These labels were affixed to covers to identify mail salvaged from the vessel sunk off Fire Island on March 14, 1886. |  | $200 |
| 1118 | Packet Brig Orion (Atlantic Coast). Bold straight line handstamp (minor manuscript enhancement of marking which seems to be contemporary) on reverse of 1828 folded letter from Gibraltar to New York, manuscript "6" rate on front, vert. file fold with minor splitting & toning on front, otherwise Very Fine.Milgram No. 1038; Estimate $500 - 750.A SUPERB STRIKE AND THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS STRAIGHT LINE HANDSTAMP. |  | $500 |
| 1119 | *Packet (Atlantic Ocean). Superb strike of straight line handstamp on 1822 folded cover from London to New York with manuscript endorsement pr Ship Packet, manuscript "6" ship rate alongside, Extremely Fine, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 1050A; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.A GEM COVER AND MARKING OF WHICH THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE. |  | $1,500 |
| 1120 | U.S.S. Palos, Asiatic Station, 13 Aug. 87 (Pacific Ocean). Violet handstamp on cover to "Lt. Comdr. U.S.S. Palos, General Post Office, Yokohama, Japan", franked with 5¢ Garfield (small defect) tied by smudge cancel, backstamped "San Francisco Jul 19" cds & "Yokohama 11 Aug. 1887" arrival, slightly reduced at left, Very Fine and rare, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 1050B; Estimate $300 - 400. |  2 | $300 |
| Lot | Transatlantic Ships - San Francisco to Yosemite (Milgram #1243B-1484H) | Estimate | |
| 1121 | Steamship Pampero (Gulf of Mexico). Bold strike of large oval handstamp on buff cover front addressed to Consul John S. Cripps at Mexico City, Mexico, partial blue "Stmr. Sierra Nevada, Via Nicaragua, Advance of the Mails" oval handstamp (Milgram 1275), carried on the Jun. 1st sailing arriving at San Juan del Sure on Jun. 14th, carried across Nicaragua and placed onto the Pampero leaving San Juan del Norte on Jun. 17th and arriving at New Orleans on Jun. 24th, entered mails with red "New Orleans La. Jun 24" cds and bearing 1851 3¢ Dull Red (11A) horizontal pair, margins to touched, tied by "Steamship" circular handstamp for the 6¢ rate over 3,000 miles, New Orleans Post Office placed letter on steamship bound for Mexico, entered with "Santa-Anna, Septiembre 2" framed datestamp and large "4" reales due rating handstamp for inland postage to Mexico City; corner mend at lower left, Very Fine and rare use, ex-Emerson, Knapp & H. Bohren, with 1980 P.F. certificate.Milgram No. 1051; Estimate $750 - 1,000.ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE STEAMSHIP PAMPERO MARKING, BOTH IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE STEAMER SIERRA NEVADA HANDSTAMP. Cornelius Vanderbilt's Accessory Transit Company used the steamship "Pampero" to run between San Juan el Norte and New Orleans between July 1852 and July 1854. On the Pacific leg of the trip from San Francisco to San Juan del Sur, the company's steamship "Sierra Nevada" was utilized. |  | $750 |
| 1122 | Paris. Two 5¢ postal entires with different straight line directive handstamps of the steamer Paris, one to Germany used in 1895 and one to London used in 1897, Very Fine, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 1054A-B; Estimate $100 - 150. |  2 | $100 |
| 1123 | U.S. Flag Ship "Pensacola," 2d Rate, North Pacific Station (Pacific Ocean). Printed corner card on cover to a Lieut. in the "U.S.M.C, Marine Barracks, Philadelphia", franked with 3¢ Bank Note tied by geometric with San Francisco cds alongside, small cover tear at top left, Very Fine, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 1082; Estimate $200 - 300. In 1866 the "Pensacola" sailed around Cape Horn to join the Pacific Squadron, serving from time to time as flagship. Her cruising ranged from Chile to Puget Sound and west to Hawaii. |  | $200 |
| 1124 | Pacific Station, U.S. Flag-Ship Pensacola, Official Business (Pacific Ocean). Imprint on legal size cover with printed address to the Commander P.C. Johnson., U.S.N., U.S. Flag-Ship "Pensacola" name of addressee crossed out, some docketing which includes "1872", Very Fine, Unlisted in Milgram. Milgram No. 1082A.Estimate; $200 - 300. |  | $200 |
| 1125 | Pacific Mail S.S. Co. Peru. Blue date double circle on 5¢ postal entire to Mexico, Very Fine, this may be the only recorded example, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 1090B; Estimate $100 - 150. |  | $100 |
| 1126 | Pommerania, Closed Mail Via England (Atlantic Ocean). Bold blue two line handstamp on 3¢ postal entire to Germany, uprated with two 1¢ Bank Note tied by "New York Aug. 7, '78" duplex cancels, Very Fine and attractive, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 1133A; Estimate $150 - 200. The maiden voyage of the "Pommerania" took place on Dec. 3, 1873 and she sunk on Oct. 23, 1878 in collision with sailing ship "Moel Eilian" near Folkstone with 50 lives lost. |  | $150 |
| 1127 | U.S. Ship Richmond. Large blue double circle handstamp showing fully rigged ship on 1884 cover to Boston, stamp cut off, postmarked "Yokohama 28 Mar. 1884" cds, a second cover is inside (for display purposes) franked with Japan 5s tied by cork from the same correspondence, Fine appearance, thought to be the only recorded example, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 1195A; Estimate $150 - 200. |  2 | $150 |
| 1128 | Packet Ship Robert Fulton, Abraham Bell & Co. Owners, Pine St. New York. Red three line handstamp on reverse of 1828 folded cover from Broughshane, Ireland to New York, red Ship "6" in circle rate handstamp on front, Very Fine and choice, Illustrated in Milgram, ex-Hahn.Milgram No. 1203; Estimate $500 - 750.A WONDERFUL STRIKE OF THIS RARE HANDSTAMP WHICH IS ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN. |  3 | $500 |
| 1129 | S.S. Robin. Violet handstamp on 1885 cover to France, franked with 5¢ Garfield tied by "New York Aug. 18, '85" duplex cancel, light toned spot at center, still Very Fine, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 1204A; Estimate $100 - 150. |  | $100 |
| 1130 | Saale (Atlantic Ocean). Two covers to Europe each with different Saale directive handstamps, one to Germany & one to Sweden, Very Fine, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 1235A-B; Estimate $100 - 150. |  2 | $100 |
| 1131 | U.S.F.S. "San Francisco". Violet straight line handstamp on 2¢ Columbian postal entire to Ft. Hanford, U.S. Navy, Brooklyn, N.Y., postmarked bold 1893 New York duplex cancel, Very Fine.Milgram No. 1243B; Estimate $100 - 150. |  | $100 |
| 1132 | Str San Pablo. Red straight line on 1¢ Postal entire to Singapore, light cancel on indicia, Very Fine, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 1243C; Estimate $100 - 150. |  | $100 |
| 1133 | U.S. Ship Santiago de Cuba (Atlantic Ocean). Fancy circular handstamp with pointed hollow star in center on cover to Brooklyn, NY, franked with 1861 3¢ Rose (65) tied by faint "Key West Fla Feb 17" cds, reduced and with large cover repair at right, the adhesive is faulty and may not by original, Fine, a nice strike of this rare Civil War Usage.Milgram No. 1244; Estimate $200 - 300. |  2 | $200 |
| 1134 | Per Belfast & New York Packet, Ship Sarah Sheale, Malcomson & Bell Agents, No. 9 Donegall Quay Belfast. Clear red four-line handstamp on reverse of 1835 folded letter from New York to Belfast, front showing boxed "Belfast Ship Letter" and manuscript "6" rating, Very Fine, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 1249; Estimate $500 - 750.AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THIS VERY RARE MARKING. |  3 | $500 |
| 1135 | Forwarded by Malcomson & Bell Belfast, Per Packet Sarah Sheale, Abraham & Co. Owner, 33 Pine St. New York. Perfect red four-line handstamp on reverse of 1834 folded letter from Carrickfergus to Rutland County (Vt.), postmarked red New York Ship cds with manuscript rate, cover aged with some edge faults & silked on interior, lovely Very Fine appearance, a very rare marking, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 1249A; Estimate $500 - 750. |  2 | $500 |
| 1136 | Steamship Saratoga, New York and Cuba Mails Line (Atlantic Ocean). Violet oval handstamp on 1878 mourning cover with New York Due 10 postmark, some edge faults, F.-V.F., the only recorded example, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 1255; Estimate $200 - 300. |  | $200 |
| 1137 | U.S. Ship Shawmut. Fancy blue illustrated (fully rigged ship) handstamp on cover to R. Admiral S.P. Lee U.S.N., in Washington, D.C., franked with 3¢ Bank Note (couple perf. faults) tied by segmented cork with light "Key West, Fla." cds at left, some minor faults, F.-V.F. appearance, the only recorded example, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 1271B; Estimate $400 - 600. |  2 | $400 |
| 1138 | South Boston. Rimless handstamp on 1820 folded cover to New York and forwarded to Charleston, S.C., endorsed at bottom left Pr James Monroe which has been crossed out with South Boston added, heavy file fold at center & some re-enforced edge splits, F.-V.F., the only recorded example.Milgram No. 1283C; Estimate $400 - 600. |  | $400 |
| 1139 | St. Louis. Four covers with 3 different corner cards of the St. Louis, one used in 1895, one in 1900 and two in 1901, some defects, Fine, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 1315A; Estimate $100 - 150. |  4 | $100 |
| 1140 | S.S. Stoner. Violet straight line handstamp on 1885 cover to London and forwarded within England, franked with 5¢ Garfield and tied by New York target cancel, also included is second cover to fresh and with two violet handstamps, first is Not "S.S. India" and second is Not "S.S. Mongolia", F.-V.F., Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 1321A; Estimate $100 - 150. |  3 | $100 |
| Lot | Transatlantic Sailing Ships and Steamships Collections | Estimate | |
| 1141 | St. Paul. Three covers with different corner cards of the St. Paul, one with engraved corner card & lengthy letter on matching letterhead, Very Fine.Milgram No. 1325A; Estimate $100 - 150. |  3 | $100 |
| 1142 | Ship Telegraph, H. Coffin (Atlantic Ocean). Beautifully struck red handstamps on 1818 folded cover from London to Philadelphia, manuscript endorsement "pr Telegraph" at bottom left, Extremely Fine.Milgram No. 1350; Estimate $750 - 1,000.THIS IS UNDOUBTEDLY THIS FINEST KNOWN EXAMPLE OF THIS SCARCE MARKING. |  | $750 |
| 1143 | Ship Telegraph, H. Coffin (Atlantic Ocean). Red handstamps on 1819 folded lettersheet from London to New York with manuscript "6" rate, manuscript endorsement "Telegraph" at bottom left, some wear & cover folds, F.-V.F.Milgram No. 1350; Estimate $400 - 600. |  | $400 |
| 1144 | U.S. Flagship Tennessee. Printed corner card with Eagle above on Ship Letter to New York City, postmark "New York Due 10 1884" cancel with precancelled 10¢ Postage Due applied, also included is lovely matching original letterhead datelined Aspinwall, cover with all-over specks on front & back, some cover defects, Fine and scarce, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 1357A; Estimate $300 - 400. |  2 | $300 |
| 1145 | Teutonic. Black straight line handstamp on 5¢ postal entire (repaired) to Germany, also included is 2nd 5¢ entire to Germany with "Per Trave" straight line, both of the Müller, Schall & Co., F.-V.F., Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 1357B, 1379A; Estimate $75 - 100. |  3 | $75 |
| 1146 | Brig Thacher (Atlantic Ocean). Straight line handstamp on 1828 folded letter from Gibraltar to New York, light vert. file fold, Extremely Fine, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 1366; Estimate $750 - 1,000.AN OUTSTANDING STRIKE OF THIS STRAIGHT LINE MARKING AND THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE. |  | $750 |
| 1147 | T. Robinson (Atlantic Ocean). Straight line handstamp on 1810 folded letter from Stralsund, Germany to Providence, R.I., postmarked red "PHI" cds a matching "Ship" in in arc and manuscript "36" rate (double weight ship's letter in Philadelphia, 17 x 2 plus 2 cents), some minor paper splits including tiny split affecting marking, Very Fine and rare.Milgram No. 1388; Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THIS MARKING AND ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES. The straight line "T Robinson" is the earliest Nineteenth Century handstamp containing avessel's name. |  | $1,000 |
| 1148 | Umbria. Two covers with markings of the Steamer Umbria, first is 1¢ entire to Germany from New York and second is registered cover to Germany franked with 8¢ + 15¢ Columbians tied by New York ovals, Very Fine.Milgram No. 1394C-D; Estimate $150 - 200. |  3 | $150 |
| 1149 | Venezuela. Three 1¢ postal entires all to Venezuela with markings of the Steamer Venezuela (two different), all with New York oval cancels, Very Fine.Milgram No. 1406B-C; Estimate $100 - 150. |  3 | $100 |
| 1150 | U.S. Stmr. Wachusett (Atlantic and Pacific Oceans). Printed corner card on cover with printed address to Philadelphia, franked with 3¢ Bank Note (small flaws) tied by target cancel with Fort Wrangel, Alaska cds alongside, minor cover stain & reduction at right, still Very Fine, a rare usage from Alaska, ex-Persson.Milgram No. 1423; Estimate $300 - 400. |  | $300 |
