Steam Packet Columbia, black two-line handstamp 1838 folded cover (enclosure removed) to Washington Texas, entered mails with "Independence Mo. Jun 15" cds and matching "Free" handstamp, manuscript "R. Fristoe, P.M." free frank endorsement, black "Sam Ricker Jr., Agent of the Texian Post Office, New Orleans" double-oval handstamp, endorsed in his care at lower left, Very Fine. Milgram No. 266  Estimate $500 - 750. During the period of the Texas Republic 1836-1845, a regular service between Galveston and New Orleans was operated with an agent based in New Orleans for the "Texian Post Office". One of the vessels providing the service circa 1838-42 was the Columbia, a 140 ton side paddle steamer built in 1835 at Cincinnati Ohio. This letter was surely brought down the Missouri-Mississippi rivers to New Orleans by steamboat. At New Orleans, Ricker sent it by the Gulf steamboat "Columbia", either via Galveston or Brazos. $0 (Image)

Steam Packet Columbia, red two-line handstamp on circa 1838 folded letter cover to Ashbel Smith, the Surgeon General of the Republic of Texas (1836-1844) in Houston Tex., manuscript "Free" franking at top and endorsed "Steamer Packet Columbia" at bottom, Very Fine. Milgram No. 266  Estimate $300 - 400. During the period of the Texas Republic 1836-1845, a regular service between Galveston and New Orleans was operated with an agent based in New Orleans for the "Texian Post Office". One of the vessels providing the service circa 1838-42 was the Columbia, a 140 ton side paddle steamer built in 1835 at Cincinnati Ohio. $0 (Image)