(Route 12717) Steamer Illinois, sharp strike of red oval handstamp on all-over illustrated advertising envelope of W.C. Duncan Mfg. Pale and Amber Ales etc. in Detroit Mich., addressed to Eagle Harbor Mich. that was located on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Lake Superior, bearing uncancelled 3¢ rose (65), small flaws, pencil "1862" docketing; some light toning at right corners, Very Fine and attractive. Milgram No. 636  Estimate $1,000 - 1,500. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE STEAMBOAT MARKING, MILGRAM WAS ABLE TO ONLY SHOW A TRACING IN HIS BOOK. In July 1858, Ebenezer War was contracted at $70 per round trip three times a week between Cleveland and Ontonagon, a distance of 640 miles. A steamboat regularly used on the route was the "Illinois" that ran under Ward's Lake Superior Line. $0 (Image)

(Route 12717) Steamer Illinois, Sault, perfect strike of "Aug 12 1864" cds on light buff cover addressed in pencil to Pottsville Pa., bearing 3¢ rose (65), short perfs at right, tied by open circular grid and indistinct Mich. cds adjacent, carried from Sault by the Illinois to Cleveland where placed on the rails via Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, Very Fine, Illustrated in Milgram on page 634., ex-Floyd Risvold. Milgram No. 634  Estimate $750 - 1,000. The "Illinois" was a side-wheeler of 926 tons built at Detroit in 1853 and abandoned in 1869.In July 1863, Ebenezer Ward was contracted to operate routes Cleveland and Chicago to Otonagon on the shore of Lake Superior. He arranged for name-of-boat datestamps to be used bearing the names of the port that a letter was put onto the boat at. Unusually, the payment was made on a weekly basis at $200 for three round trips per week. $0 (Image)

(Route 12717) Steamer Illinois, Summer Sailing Schedule of 1962, printed summer sailing schedule for the Cleveland, Detroit & Lake Superior Line, on reverse of orange buff cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by blue "Ontonagon Mich. Jun 25" cds and addressed to Haddam Conn., carried on Route 12717 to Cleveland for transfer to the rails east; flap tears, front with hinge remnants and tape stain, Fine, Illustrated in Milgram on page 637. Milgram No. 637  Estimate $200 - 300. $0 (Image)