Charleston S.C. "Steamboat". Straight line handstamp on embossed enamel ladies cover to Columbia, franked with 1852 3¢ dull red, type II (full margins) and tied by "Charleston, S.C., Paid, Feb 6" cds, large "2" due handstamp for the 5¢ steamboat rate, Very Fine and attractive.
Scott No. 11A; Estimate $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Charleston S.C. "Steam.Boat". Straightline ties 3¢ dull red (26) on circa 1859 light buff cover with pretty black and yellow "C.H. Lilienthal, Fine Cut Candish, New-York" box corner card to Charleston S.C., matching "2" due handstamp for 2¢ steamboat fee; missing flap, few toned perfs, Very Fine and attractive steamboat use.
Estimate; $400 - 600. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

Cleveland, O. "Steam-Boat". Bold strike of straightline and "Cleveland O. Aug 9" cds ties two 3¢ dull red (11A) singles, pos. 71R5L, 83R5L, large to slightly irregular margins, on orange cover with "Marquette House, W.S. Barker & Co., Marquette, Lake Superior" fancy corner to Elyria Oh., matching 1856 datelined Marquette House letterhead enclosure; small cover faults, a Very Fine and scarce Cleveland steamboat use.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Frank Lyon. Clear strike of red oval illustrated handstamp depicting a Lion, on light blue folded letter datelined "Barnesville Feb 19 1852" to Mobile Ala. bearing 3¢ dull red (11A), deep rich color, tied by "Steam 5" in oval handstamp, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THIS DESIRABLE ILLUSTRATED PACKET MARKING.

The Frank Lyon employed an unusual cachet incorporating the silhouette of a lion. She operated on the Tombigbee River as a non-contract steamboat. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

"M Head 23 Nov". Manuscript postmark and red manuscript "SH 19" rating on folded letter datelined "at Sea - Halifax Nova Scotia Novr. 17 - 1805" (Halifax crossed out) and addressed to East Haddam Ct., interesting content reading, "Gentlemen I arriv'd off Sandyhook October 31st with 209 Hhds Sugars on board where I was boarded by the Cambrian Frigate and Ordered on board With my papers after they were Examind the Capt told me he should detain me and send me to Halifax. My mate and all my men except the Cook was taken out - a prize master mate & seven men put on board & made sail for this place I am not disappointed in being sent in." and postscript "N.B. I wrote this letter to send from Halifax we have been drove off 3 times & I am in hopes to get in shortly by a fighting ship", Very Fine and interesting ship letter use.
Estimate; $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

(New Jersey Steam Navigation Co., L.I. Sound Route 801) "Steamer 10". Complete strike of red oval rating handstamp on folded letter datelined "Boston July 21st 1847" to Philadelphia Pa., carried by either the Oregon or Knickerbocker west from Stonington to New York on Route 801; file folds, Very Fine.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

ONE OF ONLY NINE RECORDED "STEAMER 10" USAGES ON THE STONINGTON-NEW YORK WESTWARD SAILING.

The route agent's "Steamer 10" rating handstamp is not known with the Oregon suffix. The census of 10¢ covers on this route reveals the rarity of this marking on covers going west from Stonington to New York. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Packet Ship Atlantic / Abraham Bell & Co Owners / No 33 Pine St New York. Sharp strike of red three-line name-of-boat handstamp on flap of Mar. 8th 1830 folded letter from Blacknow, Ireland to New York N.Y., New York red "6" cent due rating; some letter bleed on front, Fine and rare, ex-Hahn.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE ABRAHAM BELL & CO. "PACKET SHIP ATLANTIC" HANDSTAMP.

This letter was handled by Abraham Bell & Co. who did a good deal of business in Ireland. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Packet Ship Courier, / Abm. Bell & Co Owners. / New York. Red three-line handstamp struck on reverse of Jan. 18th 1828 folded letter from Tyrone, Ireland to Philadelphia Pa., red "New-York Mar. 16" cds and matching "Ship" handstamp with manuscript "14½" rating for 12½¢ postage plus 2¢ ship fee; some wear and folded toning, still a Very Fine and sharp complete strike, ex-Hahn.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ABRAHAM BELL & CO. "PACKET SHIP COURIER" HANDSTAMP.

Letter from John Barnwell has learned of death of his brother and uncle and plans to come to America in April when he has sold property that is in litigation. Ship "Courier" is probably the 148-ton vessel built in 1827 at Brookhaven Conn. and registered at New York City Jan. 8th 1828 serving on the Union Line and later the Schooner Line. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

Packet Ship Josephine / Abraham Bell & Co Owners / No 33 Pine St New York. Red three-line handstamp struck on reverse of Oct. 25th 1831 folded letter from Cullyhanna, Ireland to Pittsburgh Pa., red "New-York 'Ship' Jan. 2" cds and and manuscript "20¾" rating for 18¾¢ postage plus 2¢ ship fee; soiling and faults, still a Very Fine clear strike of this rare ship handstamp, ex-Hahn.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ABRAHAM BELL & CO. "PACKET SHIP JOSEPHINE" HANDSTAMP. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Per Belfast & New York Packet / Ship Sarah Sheafe / Abrm Bell & Co Owners / No 30 Pine Street New York. Red four-line handstamp struck on reverse of Feb. 12th 1836 folded letter from Ballyrobin, Ireland to Lynchburg Va., red "New-York Ship Apr. 21" cds and manuscript "27" rating for 25¢ postage plus 2¢ ship fee; wear and tears, a Very Fine strike, ex-Hahn.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

THE DISCOVERY EXAMPLE OF THE ABRAHAM BELL & CO. "PER BELFAST & NEW YORK PACKET SHIP SARAH SHEAFE" HANDSTAMP.

This letter was handled by Abraham Bell & Co. who did a good deal of business in Ireland. The "Sarah Sheafe" was a copper-clad American sailing ship that was basically an immigrant ship rather than a mail ship. Cal illustrated this cover in part 2 of his article "Speeding the mails overseas" in Stamp Collector (May 12, 1979). Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Red River Packet St. Charles. Red oval clearly struck on 3¢ red on buff entire (U10) from Buchanan Carroll correspondence to New Orleans with bold pen cancel.
Milgram No. 1302; Estimate $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

"St. Louis & Memphis, SBB, Dec 21st". Manuscript steamboat postmark and cross-hatch ties 3¢ rose (65), nat. s.e. at right, on orange cover to Cooperstown N.Y., fresh and Very Fine.
Towle No. M-1-c var.; Estimate $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

"STEAM" (Great Lakes). Neat strike of blue straightline handstamp and manuscript "20" rating on folded letter datelined "Port Huron, August 27th 1843" by Great Lakes steamboat to New Boston N.H., Very Fine and scarce Great Lakes "Steam" marking, ex-Herman Herst.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Union R.R. & Transportation Co's "Union Line". Blue and red star illustrated ad design on cover bearing 3¢ rose (65), couple perf flaws, tied by tied by quartered cork handstamp duplexed with "St. Louis Mo. 15 Apr" cds to Boston Mass., clean and Very Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200