Ocean Sailing Vessels - Ship Purser Markings

Ship Milo, S.G. Bronson, Sail'd mar 27 clear handstamp in dotted, double circle handstamp on February 23, 1818 folded letter from Holyhead, North Wales, via Liverpool to Dedham, Massachusetts, Holyhead Feb 23 mileage origin datestamp and "P 10d" rate, entered US mails with Boston April 25 postmark, "Ship" handstamp and manuscript "8" ship rate

(stock #L131, $1,750)

Pr * Ship * Friends* red straight line handstamp at lower left of April 18, 1821 folded letter from Glasgow, Scotland to Princeton, New Jersey, entered the mails with New York Sep 22 postmark, Ship handstamp and "12" rate

(stock #L163, $2,000)

Coastal Steamers - Gulf of Mexico waters.

Steam Packet Columbia red two line handstamp on January 5, 1838 folded letter from New York City, Zavala correspondence to Texas Republic sent to the care of James Reed, the Texian postal Agent at New Orleans, send by Express Mail with required manuscript endorsement at top, red New York Jan 6 postmark, "Paid" arc and "75" express mail rate (triple 25c distance rate), endorsed Messrs James R(eed) & Co will please forward under cover either to J Morgan or direct ..."

(stock #L157, $3,500)

S.(team) P.(acket) New York black two line handstamp on March 8, 1838 folded letter from Galveston, Texas (Republic) to Kennebunk, Maine, entered mails with red New Orleans March 27, postmark, "Ship" handstamp and "27" ship rate

carried on the second trip of Steam Packet New York

(stock #L164, $9,500)

Steamship Lodona * Hovey * blue double oval "Feb 20" datestamp on cover to Essex, Connecticut, original letter dated "Stmr Lodona" from Capt. Hovey to his wife, entered the mails with New Orleans postmark and 3c green 1870 issue with matching black cross cancel

(stock #L145, $700)

Coastal Steamers - Atlantic Ocean waters.

Steamer Oregon 5 red oval, Long Island Sound route agent handstamp on November 12, 1846 folded letter from New York to Slaterville, Rhode Island

(stock #L201, $350)

Steamer 5 red oval, Long Island Sound route agent handstamp, "Oregon" removed, on January 19, 1847 folded letter from New York to Boston

(stock #L202, $200)

Steamer 10 red oval, Long Island Sound route agent handstamp, "Oregon" removed, on July 22, 1847 folded letter from New York to Portland, Maine

(stock #L203, $500)

(Steamer Perry) small, red, streamer illustrated handstamp on September 26, 1853 folded letter, illustrated letterhead of Rhode Island Office of the Atlantic fire & Marine Insurance Company, used to Newport, Rhode Island, 3c 1851 issue adhesive tied by Newport grid cancel upon arrival

The steamer Perry operated on Narragansett Bay as a non contract mail steamer and the red handstamp was used at Newport to denote a letter received by steamboat

(stock #L155, $6,500)

N.Y. & Boston Stmb & R.R.R. black combination railroad and steamboat route agent "Dec 20" datestamp tying 3c dull red 1857 issue adhesive (#26) to 1859 folded letter from New York to East Dennis, Massachusetts

(stock #L211, $150)

N.Y. & Boston Stmb & R.R. R. black combination railroad and steamboat route agent "Mar 4" datestamp tying 10c green 1857 issue adhesive (#33) to cover to San Francisco, California

(stock #L212, $450)

U.S. Steamer Guide Oct 28, 1863 datestamp on cover that entered the mails with Old Point Comfort Nov 1 postmark, 3c rose 1861 issue (#65) with matching target cancel, PF certificate

The US Steamer Guide was a troop and supply transport vessel operating between North Carolina and Fortress Monroe (Old Point Comfort)

(stock #L138, $1500)

Philadelphia & N.York Express Steam Baot Co, Wm. P. Clyde, Agent, Philadelphia, blue embossed, steamer illustrated, cameo advertising cover, Clement imprint, used to New Jersey, 3c rose (#65, light gum stain) tied by large geometric cancel, matching "Old Point Comfort, VA" postmark to left, minor reduction at right, ex Jarrett

(stock #L112, $950)

Coastal Steamers - Pacific Ocean waters.

Per Str Columbus red straight line directive on June 8, 1850 folded cover to New York, matching San Francisco, California June 11 postmark and "40" due handstamp, red 'paid" crossed out at left, minor ink erosion to left of address, faint crease at top, ex Somdal

The use of this handstamp by San Francisco postmaster served to authorize carriage by non-contract George Law Line steamer Columbus, first trip of two that the straight line marking was used.

(stock #120, $2000)

Per Str Isthmus red straight line directive on July 16, 1850 cover to New York, matching San Francisco, California postmark and "Paid" and "80" handstamps, pencil directive as well, PF cert, ex Haas

The use of this handstamp by San Francisco postmaster served to authorize carriage by non-contract George Law Line steamer Isthmus. This handstamp was used only on this single trip.

(stock #121, $2500)

Steamer Winfield Scott red two line purser handstamp, struck twice, on cover from California to Wirt, New York, blue manuscript "10" rate applied by route agent, cover crease at right

This carried on first trip of steamer Winfield Scott after sale to PMSS (Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company) that departed on San Francisco on August 16, 1853 for Panama. She wrecked on her second trip.

(stock #L134, $1500)

Steamer Winfield Scott red two line purser handstamp on November 21, 1853 folded letter to Joliet, Illinois cover, San Jose, California postmark, "Paid" handstamp and manuscript "6" rate, recovered from wreck of the steamship with some water soaking

This carried on second, and last, trip of steamer Winfield Scott after sale to PMSS that departed on San Francisco on December 1, 1853 for Panama. She was wrecked the following day and much of her mail was recovered.

(stock #L135, $2500)

Vapor Newbern * Agencia De Correos * circular handstamp on Wells, Fargo "California & Mexican Coast Routes, Paid 10 Cents" franked cover, circa 1875, to San Francisco, blue frank and matching La Paz, Lower California, Commission Merchant's imprint at left, blue Wells, Fargo La Paz, Mexico oval "Jul 1" datestamp and matching "Paid" oval, minor edge nicks at bottom, the only reported example, ex Haas

(stock #L162, $2000)

forward to next page