(Lake Superior Line - Routes 12509 & 12717) Steamer Iron City, oval handstamp on orange buff cover addressed to Ellsworth Oh. bearing 3¢ dull red (26) tied by "Cleveland O. Sep 24 1860" duplex; reduced slightly at top, partial flap, top corners with small mend, still Very Fine; signed by Ashbrook on reverse. Milgram No. 645  Estimate $1,000 - 1,500. Although Ebenezer Ward held the contracts for the Cleveland and Chicago to Ontonagon routes from 1858 to 1865, the Star Route bid registers show a large number of single trip contracts undertaken by the Lake Superior Line. $0 (Image)

(Lake Superior Line - Routes 12509 & 12717) Steamer North Star, bold strike of oval handstamp on buff cover addressed to Geneva Wis. bearing 3¢ dull red (26), nat. s.e. at left, rounded corner, tied by "Detroit Mich. '3 Paid' Jun 7 1860" cds, carried to Mackinaw on the North Star for transfer to the Chicago boat and dropped at Milwaukee for the 44 mile post road to Geneva, forwarded to Denver City Kans. Terr. with partial "Geneva Wis. Jun 11" cds and manuscript "Ford 3" due rating; reduced at left and some edge wear, F.-V.F., ex-Henry C. Gibson. Milgram No. 1016  Estimate $400 - 600. $0 (Image)