(Route 7702) By Steamer Rapides, perfect strike of this illustrated name-of-boat handstamp on 3¢ red Nesbitt entire (U10) from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La., faint red "New Orleans La. Dec. 20" cds and black "Steam" straightline handstamp; light vertical fold, usual filing hole, Very Fine, ex-Paul Rohloff, Dr. Robert LeBow. Milgram No. 1158  Estimate $4,000 - 6,000. ONE OF THE FINEST STRIKES OF THIS RARE AND HIGHLY DESIRABLE ILLUSTRATED STEAMBOAT MARKING. ONE OF ONLY NINE RECORDED EXAMPLES, SIX OF WHICH HAVE COMPLETE STRIKES. The "Rapides" was a wooden-hull side-wheel packetboat that was built in New Albany Ind. in 1855. Originally built for C.J. Barston of Rapides Parish La., she plied the waters between New Orleans and Donaldsonville up to 1856, then later between New Orleans and Shreveport before being used by the Confederacy after 1861. The marking used on mail carried by the "Rapides" is a remarkable depiction of a Mississippi steamboat without equal among the other handstamps of the period. It is interesting to note that all four dated examples originate from the same Dec. 20th circa 1856 sailing to New Orleans.The nine recorded covers bearing this marking:1. Dec. 20 (1856), 3¢ red Nesbitt entire #U10 from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La. (the example offered here.)2. Dec. 20 (1856), 3¢ red Nesbitt entire #U10 from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La., 2001 Siegel Rarity Sale (lot 5).3. Dec. 20 (1856), 3¢ red Nesbitt entire #U10 from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La., docketing on face. PFC #385244.4. Dec. 20 (1856), partial strike (paper loss painted in) on folded letter missing stamp to Messrs. G. Toledano & Taylor in New Orleans La.5. undated, 3¢ dull red #11 uncancelled on folded letter from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La., ex-West, illust. in Milgram.6. undated, 3¢ red Nesbitt entire #U10 from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La., ex-Klein-Somdal, "Antoine".7. undated, partial strike on 3¢ red Nesbitt entire #U10 from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La.,8. undated, partial strike on 3¢ red Nesbitt entire #U10 from the Carroll Hoy correspondence to New Orleans La., pencil "Valuable", ex-Bohren, PFC #1943269. unknown, front only bearing 3¢ dull red #11, ex-Latshaw Collection. $0 (Image)