The Dr. James Milgram Collection Steamboat Mail
47 Kearny St # 500, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA
| Lot | Steamboat Markings - Drew to Emilie (Milgram #365A-404A) | Estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 251 | Steamer Edinburgh, Jun 11 1867 (Mississippi River). Partial dated double circle handstamp on 1864-65 3¢ postal entire to Cincinnati, Ohio., manuscript "Order Per Edinburgh" and "Consign to Hamiltons wharf boat", flap missing, also included is 1869 printed freight bill in green, ex-Somdal, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 388; Estimate $150 - 200. |  2 | $150 |
| 252 | Steamer Edna (Mississippi and Ouachita Rivers). Bold and complete straightline handstamp on 1847 folded letter from New Orleans to Camden Arkansas, manuscript "10" rate, some re-enforced edge splits & mend at top, also included is 1847 printed freight bill, otherwise Very Fine and a rare straight line packet marking, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 389; Estimate $500 - 750. |  3 | $500 |
| 253 | Steamer Edna (Mississippi and Ouachita Rivers). Italicized straightline on 1847 folded letter from Frenchport to New Orleans, large partial "10" with manuscript "2" rated (2¢ ship fee), "Steam" handstamp, Very Fine and choice, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 390; Estimate $500 - 750.A LOVELY COVER WITH THIS RARE STRAIGHT LINE STEAMBOAT MARKING - THIS BEING THE FINER OF THE TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES. |  | $500 |
| 254 | Steamer E.D. White (Mississippi and Red Rivers). Red oval label affixed on large turned cover to New Orleans, postmarked red "New Orleans, La. Jun. 20" cds with matching straight line Steam handstamp and manuscript 20 rate, reverse addressed to Point Coupee and franked with 1851 3¢ Dull Red strip of 3 with manuscript cancels, bold red oval marking Steamer Duck-River (Milgram 370) at bottom right, endorsed To be left at the River Wharf boat, cover opened out for display with some aging & ink erosion, also included is 1851 printed freight bill, Fine and a unique usage, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 391; Estimate $500 - 750. |  4 | $500 |
| 255 | Steamer E.D. White (Mississippi & Red Rivers). Partial red oval on 1853 folded Bill of Lading from New Orleans to Rose Down, manuscript "With 1 Bdle of Chain" and "Per E.D. White", also included is 1853 printed freight bill, Fine, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 391A; Estimate $150 - 200. |  3 | $150 |
| 256 | Regular Louisville and New Orleans Packet, Lightening Line E.H. Fairchild (Mississippi & Ohio Rivers). Red illustrated corner card across top of cover to Natchez, Miss., franked with 1851 3¢ Dull Red (some trimmed perfs) tied by indistinct Natchez, Miss. cds w bold "Steam" straightline, also included is 1858 printed freight bill, Very Fine and attractive, ex-Somdal & Jarrett, Illustrated in Klein & Milgram.Milgram No. 392; Estimate $750 - 1,000.ONE OF THE PRETTIEST ILLUSTRATED STEAMBOAT COVERS AND THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE. |  3 | $750 |
| 257 | Ship By Str. E.J. Gay. Purple two line straightline on 1874-86 3¢ postal entire to Hermitage, La., small edge chip at right and couple small tears at top, F.-V.F., the only recorded example, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 392B; Estimate $150 - 200. |  | $150 |
| 258 | Red River Packet Eleanor (Mississippi & Red Rivers). Bold blue oval handstamp on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire to New Orleans, also included is 1861 printed freight bill in blue (Confederate States dated), Extremely Fine, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 393; Estimate $300 - 400. |  3 | $300 |
| 259 | Red River Packet Eleanor (Mississippi & Red Rivers). Olive green oval handstamp on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt to New Orleans, usual pinholes as found on the Carroll Hoy correspondence, Very Fine and attractive.Milgram No. 394; Estimate $200 - 300. |  | $200 |
| 260 | S.B. Elector, Good For This Day Only, Mar 25, 1869 (Monongahela River). Blue oval handstamp on 1864-65 3¢ postal entire to "Capt. Cox, Steamer Collossal, Care of Wharf Boat, Pittsburgh", Very Fine and attractive.Milgram No. 395; Estimate $150 - 200. |  | $150 |
| Lot | Steamboat Markings - Emily to Fashion (Milgram #405A-456) | Estimate | |
| 261 | Elias Howe Jr. Fabulous all illustrated design in gray showing the Steamer Elias Howe and "Howe's Sewing Machines Depot" on cover to New Milford, Conn., franked with 1869 3¢ Pictorial tied by grid with inditinct Bridgeport, Conn. cds alongside, included is original enclosure, slightly reduced at left, Very Fine and attractive, the only recorded example, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 396A; Estimate $200 - 300. |  | $200 |
| 262 | Steamer Elisha Bennett (Monongahela River). Blue shield handstamp ties 1869 3¢ Pictorial on yellow cover to Greensboro, cover with second light strike of packet marking and with lovely illustrated corner card "Excelsior Planing Mill, Steamboat & House Joiners" in West Brownsville, Pa., included with original matching freight bill, cover with some toning & irregular at right, Fine, a rare which may be the only recorded example, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 398; Estimate $300 - 400. An unusual cover because it illustrates as a corner card the type of building where steamboats were constructed. |  3 | $300 |
| 263 | Steamer Eliska (Mississippi River). Two complete strikes of red oval on folded letter to New Orleans, red "Steam 5" in circle, re-enforced horizontal file fold, still Very Fine and quite attractive, ex-Somdal.Milgram No. 399; Estimate $300 - 400. |  | $300 |
| 264 | Steamer Eliza Battle (Alabama River). Blue "Beehive" handstamp with negative lettering on 1854 folded letter from Warsaw (Ala.) to Mobile, Ala., franked with 1851 3¢ Dull Red and tied by "Steam 5" in oval, Extremely Fine, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 401; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.AN EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE STRIKE FOR THIS RARE HANDSTAMP OF WHICH THIS IS THE FINEST RECORDED EXAMPLE. The "Eliza Battle" was a steamboat operating on the Tombigbee River between Columbus, Mississippi, and Mobile, Alabama, during the 1850s. Launched in New Albany, Indiana, in 1852, this side-wheeled paddle steamer was constructed with a wooden hull and was 316 tons.On March 1, 1858, the "Eliza Battle" was destroyed by fire near Pennington, Alabama, in what became the deadliest maritime disaster in the history of the Tombigbee River. The fire claimed the lives of approximately thirty-three people out of about sixty passengers and a crew of forty-five.Around 2 a.m. on that fateful morning, about 32 miles downstream from Demopolis and near Beckley's Landing, flames were discovered engulfing cotton bales on the main deck. Fueled by strong winds, the fire quickly spiraled out of control. The passengers, trapped by the flames and unable to access the lifeboats, were forced to leap into the icy river in their nightclothes. Some managed to stay afloat by clinging to cotton bales. Rescued by the Magnolia and local residents, many survivors were retrieved from treetops along the flooded river. Tragically, all the casualties were due to drowning or exposure to the severe cold. |  2 | $1,500 |
| 265 | Steam Tug "Ella", Towing Solicited (Atlantic Coast). Printed illustrated corner card Tug Boat "Ella" on cover to Philadelphia, Pa. franked with pair 1¢ Bank Note (defective) tied by target & "Winthrop, N.C. Nov 5 1888" cds, otherwise Very Fine, the only recorded example, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 402; Estimate $150 - 200. This vessel "Ella", a tugboat, did not carry mail but these listings include all vessel-namedhandstamps or corner cards found on covers from 1810 to 1890. |  | $150 |
| 266 | Nashville, Celina & Burksville Weekly Packet, Ella Hughes (Cumberland River). Purple fancy illustrated corner card on cover to Alfred Me., franked with 3¢ Banknote, not tied by blue cork cancel with partial "Nashville, Ten. Jun 26" cds alongside, some minor corner wear, Very Fine, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 403; Estimate $150 - 200. |  | $150 |
| 267 | Steamer Emilie Dec 26 1870 (Coastal Route). Manuscript cancel across embossing of 1870-71 3¢ Reay entire to Charleston, S.C., Very Fine and rare, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 404A; Estimate $150 - 200. |  | $150 |
| 268 | Steamer Emily (California Coast). Purple straightline on 1874-94 2¢ entire to San Francisco with Well's Fargo printed frank and purple "Wells, Fargo & Co's, San Francisco" ovals, Very Fine and a very rare California cover, ex-Kramer, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 405A; Estimate $400 - 600. The "Steamer Emily" was a wooden steam Schooner (285 tons) built in San Francisco in 1887 and carried lumber between Mendocino coast and San Francisco. |  | $400 |
| 269 | St. Louis and Missouri River, Passenger Packet Emma (Missouri River). Neat shield handstamp on cover to Oregon, Mo., franked with 1851 3¢ Dull Red (right vert. half a replacement) tied by indistinct cds, Fine appearance, the only recorded example.Milgram No. 405B; Estimate $200 - 300. |  | $200 |
| 270 | Regular Packet Emma Dean (Ohio, Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers). Bold circular handstamp on neat folded 1852 Bill of Lading from Cincinnati to Van Buren, Ark., manuscript endorsement "Emma Dean" at bottom left in manuscript., Bill of Lading printed with steamer Vignette, some edge splits & hinge re-enforcement, minor water staining, Very Fine appearance, very rare if not unique, ex-Somdal, Illustrated in Milgram, with 1992 P.F. certificate.Milgram No. 406; Estimate $400 - 600. |  | $400 |
| 271 | Str. Emma Graham (Ohio River). Well struck purple straightline handstamp on 1887-94 1¢ entire to Beaver Pa., bold segmented fancy cancel with "Portsmouth O. May 18" cds, also included is 1872 printed & illustrated freight bill, Very Fine, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 410; Estimate $150 - 200. |  2 | $150 |
| 272 | Emma No. 2, Yazoo Packet, Aug 15 1866 (Yazoo River). Steamer double circle handstamp on 1866 cover to Louisville Ky., franked with 1861 3¢ Rose (toning) tied by cork cancel with indistinct "Yazoo City, Miss," cds alongside, included is original enclosure, F.-V.F., the only recorded example, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 411; Estimate $200 - 300. |  | $200 |
| 273 | Steamer Emperor (Mississippi River). Complete but somewhat light red handstamp on cover to New Orleans, franked with 1851 3¢ Orange Brown (small corner fault) cancelled by by grid with red "New Orleans, La. Sept 6" cds and black "Way 1" handstamp, manuscript endorsement at bottom left for the Steamer Dr. Batey, also included is two different printed freight bills, F.-V.F.Milgram No. 413; Estimate $200 - 300. |  3 | $200 |
| 274 | S.B. Empire (Ohio and Mississippi Rivers). Well struck and virtually complete straightline in ornate frame with Eagle at top on 1847 folded Bill of Lading from New Orleans to Louisville, Ky., Extremely Fine, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 414; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THIS EYE CATCHING STEAMBOAT MARKING AND THE ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE IN BLACK. |  2 | $1,500 |
| 275 | Steamer (?) Empire. Blurred red oval showing Large Eagle handstamp on folded Bill of Lading to Cloverport, Ky., Very Fine, the only recorded example.Milgram No. 415A; Estimate $500 - 750. |  | $500 |
| 276 | Steamer Empire Parish (Mississippi River). Oval handstamp on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire to New Orleans, small tear at top left, also included is 1862 Confederate dated printed freight bill, F.-V.F.Milgram No. 418; Estimate $200 - 300. |  2 | $200 |
| 277 | Packet Empress (Mississippi & Alabama Rivers). Red oval handstamp on 1852 folded letter to Mobile, Ala. with black "Steam 5" in oval handstamp, Very Fine.Milgram No. 420; Estimate $200 - 300. |  | $200 |
| 278 | Packet Empress (Mississippi & Alabama Rivers). Oval handstamp on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire to New Orleans, Very Fine.Milgram No. 421; Estimate $200 - 300. |  2 | $200 |
| 279 | Regular St. Louis and New Orleans Mail Passenger Packet Empress (Mississippi River). Illustrated corner card across top of cover to Portsmouth, Ohio, franked with 1861 3¢ rose tied by indistinct double circle Illinois postmark, included is original printed letterhead of the Empress, full of steamboat content, cover reduced at right, F.-V.F., a very rare matching pair, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 422; Estimate $300 - 400. |  2 | $300 |
| 280 | Steamer Eolus. Double circle handstamp on small cover to North Carolina, franked with 1861 3¢ Rose tied by segmented cancel with Old Point Comfort, Va. Apr 8 double circle at right, stamp & cover with small fault, F.-V.F., the only recorded example, Unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 422B; Estimate $200 - 300. The "U.S.S. Eolus" was a 368-ton side-wheel steamship that served in the Union Navy from 1864 to 1865 before transitioning to commercial use. Built in Newburgh, New York, for civilian purposes, the vessel was acquired by the Union Navy upon its completion. Commissioned as a gunboat in August 1864, the "Eolus" initially searched off the Atlantic Coast for the Confederate raider "C.S.S. Tallahassee" before joining the blockade forces off North Carolina.The "Eolus" played a crucial role in patrolling the coast, rivers, and sounds of North Carolina. Its duties included enforcing the blockade, serving as a picket, and transporting personnel, messages, mail, supplies, orders, and ammunition to larger ships in the squadron, as well as evacuating the wounded to hospital ships. In October 1864, the "Eolus" captured the blockade runner "Hope" and contributed to the capture of the "Lady Sterling". Later in the year and into January 1865, the ship participated in the assaults that led to the capture of Fort Fisher, effectively closing the port of Wilmington to blockade runners. The "Eolus" continued operations in North Carolina waters until after the end of the Civil War. |  | $200 |
| 281 | Boat E.P. Smith, New York & Toledo Line (Erie Canal). Illustrated Canal Boat label affixed on 1845 folded cover to New York City, postmarked partial red Schenectady, N.Y. cds and matching "5" handstamp, Very Fine and rare, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 423; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.THIS IS THE ONLY KNOWN CANAL BOAT NAME OF VESSEL COVER - A GORGEOUS EXAMPLE OF THE THIS UNUSUAL AND UNIQUE LABEL. |  | $1,500 |
| 282 | Era No. 1 & Era No. 2 (Red River). Blue oval handstamp on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire to New Orleans, from the Carroll Hoy correspondence, includes 1858 printed freight bill (some ink erosion), F.-V.F., a very rare packet marking, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 424; Estimate $200 - 300. |  | $200 |
| 283 | Era No. 1, Era No. 2 & Era No. 3, Upper Red River Low Water Packets (Red River). Illustrated corner card on cover to Columbus, O., franked with 1857 3¢ dull red (26) tied New Orleans, La., Mar. 4, 1859 cds, included is printed 1858 freight bill, Very Fine and rare, unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 425A; Estimate $400 - 600. |  | $400 |
| 284 | Red River Packet Era No. 9 (Red River). Two 1864-65 3¢ pink postal entires each with blue boxed handstamp on reverse, also included is 1869 multicolor freight bill, a few small cover flaws, F.-V.F., very attractive handstamps, one Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 426; Estimate $150 - 200. |  3 | $150 |
| 285 | Red River Packet Era No. 9 (Red River). Bold green printed corner card on 3¢ entire to New Albany, Ind., postmarked "New Orleans, La. Aug. 23" cds & light cork cancellation, reverse with a list of Kouns' Line Red River Steamers, entire with some wrinkles and minor soiling, mended edge tear at right, included is original matching illustrated letterhead in purple and yellow., F.-V.F. and the only recorded example.Milgram No. 426A; Estimate $300 - 400. |  3 | $300 |
| 286 | Erastus W. Smith (Atlantic Coast). Illustrated corner card on cover franked with 3¢ Banknote, tied on cover to Detroit, Mich, by New York duplex, cover somewhat reduced at right, Very Fine, steamer shows the name of the boat as Rhode Island, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 428; Estimate $100 - 150. |  | $100 |
| 287 | Ethel (Savannah River). Violet straight line on 1¢ postal card to Savannah, Ga., datelined "Mathews Bluff, Sept 9, 1885" (South Carolina), sender writes, "I send by Ethell", F.-V.F. and scarce.Milgram No. 428E; Estimate $75 - 100. |  | $75 |
| 288 | Eudora (Mississippi & Ouachita Rivers). Bold and well struck scalloped red boxed handstamp with additional "Steam 10" handstamps on folded cover to New Orleans, very light file fold through marking, Very Fine and attractive, thought to be the finest known strike of this marking, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 429; Estimate $300 - 400. |  | $300 |
| 289 | Falcon. Red oval handstamp on 1849 folded cover from New Orleans to Newport, Ohio, postmarked blue "Louisville, Ky" cds with matching "Steam" straight line handstamp, Very Fine and rare, the only recorded example, unlisted in Milgram.Milgram No. 434A; Estimate $300 - 400. |  | $300 |
| 290 | Portsmouth & Huntington Daily Packet Fannie Dugan (Ohio River). Magenta 3-line handstamp on 1874-86 3¢ Plimpton entire addressed to Kentucky, includes original enclosure datelined "Portsmouth, Ohio, Apr. 24, 1878", small cover fault at lower left, otherwise Very Fine, very rare, if not unique, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 437; Estimate $150 - 200. |  | $150 |
| 291 | Independent Line Steamer Fannie Dugan (St. John's River, Florida). Printed corner card on cover to Philadelphia franked with 3¢ Banknote, tied with indistinct cds, small corner fault at lower right, F.-V.F., attractive early Florida Steamboat, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 439; Estimate $100 - 150. |  | $100 |
| 292 | Regular Passenger Packet Fannie Scott (Mississippi River). Fancy illustrated corner card on cover to New Brunswick, franked with 1861 10¢ green tied by segmented cork cancel with large St. Louis, Mo. double circle alongside, backstamped with New Brunswick arrival postmark, the cover has been restored and the 10¢ adhesive lifted and replaced in the incorrect position, but appears to be original, F.-V.F. appearance, this is the only recorded example of this packet and a rare usage paying 10¢ rate to Canadian Province, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 440; Estimate $200 - 300. |  | $200 |
| 293 | Steam Ship Fanny (Gulf of Mexico). Red oval handstamp on 1849 folded letter datelined Corpus Christi Feb. 15, 1849 to Natchez, postmarked "New Orleans, Mar 1" cds with matching "Steam 10" rate handstamp, Very Fine.Milgram No. 441; Estimate $500 - 750.A VERY RARE TEXAS COVER AND ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS MARKING. |  | $500 |
| 294 | Steam Ship Fanny (Gulf of Mexico). Red oval handstamp on 1849 folded letter postmarked "Galveston, Tex. Apr.17" red cds with matching "10" rate handstamp to Houston, light file folds & discoloration spot, Fine, Illustrated in Milgram & Konwiser Texas book.Milgram No. 441; Estimate $500 - 750.A VERY RARE TEXAS COVER AND SECOND OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS MARKING. |  2 | $500 |
| 295 | Regular Marietta and Cincinnati Packet Fanny McBurnie (Ohio River). Illustrated black & green corner card on cover to Memphis, Tenn., franked with 1861 3¢ rose, not tied by partial grid with manuscript Berlin, O. Dec. 8 postmark at left, cover with light aging, plus 1863 illustrated freight bill printed in blue, F.-V.F., only known example, scarce and unusual Ohio river boat, ex-Somdal, Illustrated in Klein & Milgram.Milgram No. 445; Estimate $200 - 300. |  2 | $200 |
| 296 | Steamer Fanny Sparhawk (Mississippi River & Bayou La Fourche). Gem strike of red oval handstamp on small 1854 folded letter (written in French) from Thibodaux to New Orleans, light paper toning at extreme right, Very Fine, extremely attractive and the only known example.Milgram No. 447; Estimate $400 - 600. |  | $400 |
| 297 | Packet Farmer (Alabama River). Fancy oval handstamp on cover, mended tear at right, F.-V.F., attractive strike of this oval handstamp.Milgram No. 448; Estimate $400 - 600. |  | $400 |
| 298 | Steamer Fashion (Mississippi & Red Rivers). Well struck and complete red oval handstamp on 1851 folded letter from Pine Bluff, Ark. to New Orleans (Carroll correspondence), postmarked red "New Orleans Mar. 22" cds and matching "Steam 10" in circle handstamps, horizontal file fold, Very Fine and attractive.Milgram No. 451; Estimate $200 - 300. |  | $200 |
| 299 | Steamer Fashion (Mississippi & Red Rivers). Red oval handstamp on 1851 folded letter to New Orleans, postmarked red "New Orleans, La. Apr. 26" cds with matching "Way 11 Cents" oval, Very Fine and choice.Milgram No. 451; Estimate $200 - 300. |  | $200 |
| 300 | Ohio and Mississippi River Passenger Packet Fashion (Ohio & Mississippi Rivers). Overall illustration in blue on cover to Raleigh, NC, franked with 1861 3¢ rose (65) with cork cancel and postmarked Vicksburgh, Miss. cds, large part of flap torn away & minor edge wear, also includes 1865 printed freight bill in green, Very Fine and attractive, a lovely illustrated cover, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 453; Estimate $400 - 600. |  2 | $400 |
