(Alabama - Tombigbee River) Regular Tuesday Packet Rescue, blue oval handstamp on cover bearing 3¢ dull red (26) tied by sharp "Mobile Ala Jul 16 1860" cds and addressed to Washington La., matching black "Steamboat" straightline handstamp, Very Fine, ex-Paul Rohloff; with 2004 P.F. certificate. Milgram No. 1182  Estimate $1,500 - 2,000. ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE TOMBIGBEE RIVER PACKET "RESCUE" HANDSTAMP. No star routes were contracted on the Tombigbee and Black Warrior Rivers in the period 1824 to 1875. However, the river was a major route for commerce with a number of letters recorded as being carried on it. This cover was carried to Mobile on the "Rescue" arriving July 16th.The "Rescue" of 207 tons was built at Mobile in 1859 for Capt. H.R. Johnston. She was snagged and lost at Tompkin's Bluff Ala. in December 1860. We record the following examples of this handstamp:1. Jul. 8, 1860, Mobile Ala. to Washington La. with #26 (nibbed perfs) tied by "Steamboat" straightline. ex Klein-Somdal.2. Jul. 10, 1860, Mobile Ala. to New Orleans La. with #26 tied by cds and "Steamboat" straightline. ex-Eggen.3. Jul. 10, 1860, Mobile Ala. to Washington La. with #26 tied by cds. ex-Rohloff, the cover offered here. $0 (Image)