WESTERN EXPANSION continued...
STEAMBOATS continued...
| Lot |
Symbol |
CatNo. |
Lot Description |
CV or Estimate |
| 721 |
 |
|
Steamer/St. Ange, red circular handstamp with fancy shinning star on 1849 folded letter with integral address leaf to Gooding Grove, Ill., with red "STEAM 10"
handstamp, very fine.The letter, written on board the St. Ange under the dateline of "Missouri River April 12th 1849" by a west-bound Forty-Niner, to his wife reads in part: "...One can hardly form an idea of the immense rush to California.
Every boat is loaded to the waters edge...There is gambling a plenty of it on board all these western - at any rate the Missouri boats. 13th They stop running nights on account of the immense quantity of driftwood. We have just stopped to bury a man
who died on board. 16th We are now most arrived at St. Joseph.." He goes on the report the death of a fellow townsman of the Cholera and asks his wife to break the sad news to Luther's wife. Then "St. Joseph April 17th. We have just
arrived...At this place and Independence (there are) 5 or 6000 teams." The writer, J.A. Gooding, did get to California overland, and later he returned to his family in Illinois, via Panama.The St. Ange was a side-wheeler of 254 tons built
at St. Louis for Captain Joseph La Barge for the Upper Missouri trade. She was at St. Louis at the time of the great steamboat fire of 17 May 1849, but was able to avoid the disaster. In 1850-52 she was in the employ of the American Fur Company and
was lost in 1854. (Image) |
Est. $500-750
SOLD for $1,600.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 722 |
 |
|
Steamer Saranak, oval handstamp in blue on 1850 Bill of Lading to Weston, Missouri and in red on 1849 folded letter with integral address leaf written by Robert
Campbell of Fur Trade fame to Major Dougherty, the Quartermaster and Indian Agent at Fort Leavenworth, very fine duo.The Saranak was a side-wheeler of 198 tons built at Elizabethtown, Pa. in 1846 for the Missouri River trade. She was abandoned
in 1854. (Image) |
Est. $400-500
SOLD for $600.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 723 |
 |
|
Sultana, manuscript endorsement on February 3, 1847 folded letter with integral address leaf datelined at New Orleans and addressed to Memphis, Tenn., upon arrival
it was struck with their fancy blue "Steam" steamboat illustrated handstamp by the postmaster who rated it "10" due, some trivial toning, extremely fine strike; only two examples of this fancy "Seam" postmark have been recorded;
ex-Eggan.The Sultana was destroyed by a boiler explosion on 27 April 1865 seven miles above Memphis, she was loaded with nearly 2,000 exchanged Union prisoners of war. There were approximately 1,500 casualties, making this the country's
worst river disaster. (Image) |
Est. $1,000-1,500
SOLD for $4,750.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 724 |
 |
|
TUSCUMBIA, perfectly struck red fancy ornamental linen tester handstamp with spread eagle on buff cover to California from Kaskaskia, Illinois, entered the mails
with red "New Orleans, La./Jan 14" datestamp and matching straightline "STEAM" and "40" in circle rate handstamp, cover aged with reinforced edges, bottom flap missing and silked internally for preservation, extremely fine strike; the only
recorded cover to California with the 40c rate sent via steamboat.The Tuscumbia, a side-wheeler of 281 tons was built at New Albany, Indiana in 1846 for the Ohio and Mississippi trade and was lost in 1852.Elisha Leymour, to whom this
letter is addressed, was one of those who went west in 1849 in search of gold. The enclosed letter is from his family reporting the news back home and the fact that they have not heard from him since he addressed them from Fort Laramie. On his way
back from California Leymour was drowned while crossing a river and this letter was returned to the family with the sad news. (imagea)
(Image) |
Est. $1,000-1,500
SOLD for $4,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 725 |
 |
|
N. Orleans & Memphis Packet/VICKSBURG/J.M. White Master Sam Ayles Clerk, beautifully struck handstamp on original New Orleans "The Evening True Delta" Confederate
newspaper dated "Thursday Evening, February 6, 1862" being in a remarkable state of preservation, probably a copy for use on the steamer, the strike is extremely fine, the only reported steamboat handstamp on a newspaper reported in the
Confederate period.The Vicksburg was a side-wheeler of 635 tons built at New Albany, Indiana in 1857 for the New Orleans to Memphis trade. She was lost in 1863.On 6 February New Orleans was still in Confederate hands and did not fall to the
Federals until 24 April, 1862. This copy of the newspaper was for the use of passengers on board the steamboat. Besides war reports such as "Gunboats attacking Fort Henry" and "Great Disaster to the Burnside Fleet" the paper contains steamboat and
river news. (Image) |
Est. $5,000-7,500
SOLD for $5,500.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 726 |
 |
|
Steamer/War Eagle, mostly clear red oval ornamented handstamp on June 2, 1845 partially printed Bill of Lading from St. Louis to Fort Snelling, use while part of Iowa
Territory, handstamp repeated on back, fine.The War Eagle was a side-wheeler of 155 tons built at Cincinnati in 1845 for the Mississippi and St. Croix River trade. (Image) |
Est. $300-400
SOLD for $500.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 727 |
 |
|
Steamer/War Eagle, well-struck red oval handstamp on April 7, 1846 partially printed folded Bill of lading with integral address leaf dated at St. Louis for
merchandise to be delivered to Stillwater, W.T., fresh and very fine; three reported examples; at the time Stillwater, Minnesota was in Wisconsin Territory, Minnesota Territory was not formed until 1849.The War Eagle was a side-wheeler of 155
tons built in Cincinnati in 1845 for the Upper Mississippi and St. Croix River trade, she was converted into a barge in 1851. (Image) |
Est. $1,000-1,500
SOLD for $1,150.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 728 |
 |
|
SM. WAR.EAGLE AUG, straightline handstamp with manuscript "6" date tying 3c Dull red (#11) to yellow cover to Portsmouth, N.H., cover with large repaired tear across the
front not affecting the stamp or postmark, fine strike.The War Eagle was a side-wheeler of 296 tons built at Cincinnati in 1854 for the Minnesota Packet Company. Except for one trip to the Tennessee River during the Civil war she operated on
the Upper Mississippi. She was destroyed by fire at La Crosse in 1870. (Image) |
Est. $750-1,000
SOLD for $1,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 729 |
 |
|
Will S. Hays/General Steamboat and Steamship Passenger and Ticket Agent, gorgeous all-over steamboat illustrated advertising cover in green to Lawrenceburgh, Indiana
franked by 3c Green (#184) cancelled by "1" in three-ring target, with matching "Louisville, KY/Jan 18" datestamp alongside, 1882 docket at base, slightly reduced at right, very fine and handsome.The Will S. Hays was a side-wheeler built at
Freedom, Pa. in 1882. Her cabin and machinery came from the Thompson Dean when that boat was dismantled. She was named for the noted song writer and river reporter Colonel Will S. Hays. She operated in the Cincinnati to New Orleans trade and
was wrecked by ice in the river in 1888. (Image) |
Est. $300-400
SOLD for $750.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 730 |
 |
|
Inland waterways substantial balance of the Risvold collection, an exciting group of almost 100 mid to late 19th century covers mounted on his exhibition pages and loose, many are "name-of-boat" handstamps, but also some manuscript
endorsements, Bills of Lading, many steamboat illustrated corner cards and covers with "Steam" or "Steamboat" handstamps, the holding is too extensive to describe in great detail, but just among the "name-of-boat" handstamped markings we note Red
Cloud (1877), P. Dalmau (1852), Henry M. Shreve (1877), Shenandoah (1854), Vicksburg, Hecla (1850), B.L. Hodge, B.L. Hodge No. 2 (1870), Dr. Franklin (1849), Duncan Carter, Kate
Howard, Timour No. 2 (1852), Danube, J.M Relf (1859), R.W. Mc Rae, Dubuque (1851), Sultana (1849), Princess No. 3 (1852), Sydonia, Capt. R.W. Sherman (1833), D.R. Carroll,
Old Hickory (1847), Boreas No. 2 (1845), Amaranth (1849), Monsson (1849) and others, some with usual faults, most are fine-very fine and generally with nice easily readable strikes. |
Est. $5,000-7,500
SOLD for $11,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 731 |
|
|
Way-bills Four way-bills for travel on the steamboats Wm. C. Bouck, on the Erie Canal, 1823; the Sinitar on the upper Mississippi, 1849; the Benton, from (Fort) Benton, Montana, bound for Chicago, 1877; with another from
the same place to Sioux City, IA, aboard the Katie P. Kountz. With three other documents and a few engravings of work on the Erie Canal. |
Est. $300-400
SOLD for $210.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 732 |
|
|
Steamboat related ephemera accumulation, a substantial holding of over a hundred items from about the mid 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century,
including many fancy illustrated letterheads depicting steamboats, picture post cards, named steamboat illustrated letterhead and many of their Bills of Lading illustrating the steamboat, checks, photographs, engravings and vignettes, and even an
original copy of the "Steamer City of Memphis Reporter" newspaper from 1858. (Image) |
Est. $1,000-1,500
SOLD for $2,300.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 733 |
 |
|
[Photographs - Steamboats on the Mississippi], a quarto Gilson adjustable album containing over 160 photographs of steamships (102), and improvements such as dredging, levees, canals, etc., and the machines and men who run the boats and
wrestle nature to make travel on the "Father of Waters" and its tributaries faster and more profitable. Includes packets, raft boats, excursion barges, snag-pullers, tow boats, launches, ferries, and more. Notes on labels tipped to album pages (most
photographs are set in windows, not tipped in) give additional information. For example, they tell that the line packet Libbie Conger was "lost in the St. Louis Cyclone May 1896," or identifying that "U.S. Dredge 'Ajax' working at Rock
Island Levee". Some images with wear or discoloring, but condition is generally outstanding. (imagea)
(imageb) |
Est. $750-1,000
SOLD for $8,500.00
Will close during Public Auction |
RAILWAYS
| Lot |
Symbol |
CatNo. |
Lot Description |
CV or Estimate |
| 734 |
 |
|
[Railways], Book: Reports of Explorations and Surveys...for a Railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean Washington, 1860 - Vol XII, Book I only.
Senate issue. 4to, half leather with marbled boards. Three maps in rear (one with closed internal tear). Well rubbed boards and worn hinges, cracking to well-worn spine leather. Foxed endpapers, but interior exceptionally clean, scarce in this
condition. Risvold label on front pastedown. (Image) |
Est. $400-500
SOLD for $325.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 735 |
 |
|
[Railways], Books: Sioux City & Pacific Railroad Code of Rules and Instructions. Chicago, JMW Jones, 1875. 12mo, original cloth with gilt title. Errata sheet tipped to Time Table page. Pen notes on covers. Front hinge cracking. Interior
tight. Gazetteer of Railway Stations in the United States and the Dominion of Canada. Philadelphia, National Railway Publication Co., [1874]. 12mo, original cloth with gilt design, spine. Pencil owners' notes on pastedown. Exterior wear.
Railway Mail Service. Chicago, AC McClurg, 1909. 8vo, with illustrated front board. Signed with gift inscription by George B. Armstrong (founder of the service), 1914, on free endpaper. Risvold label on front pastedown. Charter of the Racine
and Mississippi Railroad Company. Racine, WI, Hulett & Harrison, 1855. 8vo, disbound. Reading copy. Views Along the Denver & Rio Grande RR. Columbus, 1890. Fold-out book of engravings. Oblong 12mo, stamped cloth with gilt title. |
Est. $100-150
SOLD for $50.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 736 |
 |
|
Report of the Secretary of War Communicating the Several Pacific Railroad Explorations. Jefferson Davis. Washington, AOP Nicholson, 1855. 3 volumes in one
(showing three routes). 8vo, modern leather binding with marbled boards, gilt spine. Pages toned, binding pristine. (Image) |
Est. $300-400
SOLD for $150.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 737 |
 |
|
Colton's Railroad and Township Map of Ohio. Joseph Colton. New York, GW & CB Colton & Co., 1875. 25" by 29", folded to 16mo, brown cloth with gilt title.
Contemporary tint. Ink owner note on map title shield. Minor fold wear including small splits. An exceptional condition copy. (Image) |
Est. $400-500
SOLD for $400.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 738 |
 |
|
[Pennsylvania Railroad, Carnegie], Carnegie at age 24 presents the costs of wood fuel vs. coal. Very early Autograph Letter Signed "Andw. Carnegie" as
Superintendent of the Pennsylvania Rail Road's Western Division, 2 pages on one sheet, 4to, on blue stationery embossed with the seal of his office, Altoona, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1859. To W.J. Palmer, he sends a list (not present):"of Stations at
which wood is generally taken .. sometimes compel Trains to take wood at other points but those given are the Regular Wood Stations. It includes the entire cost of all hauling done from the time Wood is delivered by Contractor until it is placed in
Wood Stations ready for delivery. The average Cost of Wood as charged out to Engines each month includes all labor connected … etc."With an 1870 Rail Pass, No. 869, issued to Mrs. C.P. Samborn on the account of the Secretary of the Kansas Pacific
RR, signed by superintendent Edward H. Williams. Carnegie, Andrew - Scottish-born American industrialist (1835-1919); from humble beginnings, he built a fortune in the steel industry, expanding to have a near-monopoly; formed US Steel in 1901;
devoted his later years to philanthropy, founding libraries, museums, and Carnegie Tech, which would become Carnegie-Mellon University. Carnegie had begun at the Pennsylvania Rail Road as a telegrapher in 1853 and soon became the secretary to Thomas
S. Scott, his predecessor as superintendent. This is the earliest letter by Carnegie that we have seen on the market in decades. (imagea)
(Image) |
Est. $500-750
SOLD for $5,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 739 |
|
|
[The Last Rail in the Northern Pacific] Extremely rare souvenir of the opening of the Northern Pacific Railroad. An actual slice of the excess cut from the last
rail laid to complete the line, which connected Lake Superior to Seattle. The last spike was driven on September 6, 1883 about 60 miles west of Helena, Montana. On the front of the ¼"-thick steel memento is etched "Last Rail / N.P.R.R." Accompanied
by a card stamped by A. Anderson, engineer in chief, explaining that "On the morning of August 22, 1883, the tracks of the Northern Pacific Railroad, approaching each other from the East and the West, were nine miles and 300 feet apart. At 3 p.m. of
that day they were closed, and an engine and train immediately passed over from one side to the other. When the last two rails were laid, it was neccesary to cut off their ends to exactly fit. Of the two ends...one was presented to the Montana
Historical Society...From the other a number of sections were cut off, of which the enclosed is one. With original box. This item belonged to Charles Lamborn, Civil War veteran (see his diary in that section) who was a land commissioner for the
railroad. With his 1886 free railroad pass for all personal and family packages. (Image) |
Est. $500-750
SOLD for $4,500.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 740 |
 |
|
[Illinois Railways] Chouteau, Pierre good content autograph letter signed by the former fur trader, New York, June 4, 1852. To his son Charles, who is investing in
railroads in Chicago and St. Louis. "Mr. Neal the Vice-President of the Central Railroad left some time ago for Chicago, and the line of 50 miles that must be started and completed this year, and continue to St. Louis. (Chouteau's son-in-law
Charles) Sanford has given him a letter for Chouteau Harrison & Valle, and another one for you. He is a businessman who has the full confidence of the company and whom you must treat as such...I learn with pleasure that you have obtained a guarantee
for the dubious debts, which is a good thing. The railroads offer too few profits to create bad debts. If it is at all possible, avoid this. The purpose is not to make a sale, but to be paid. One usually finds more buyers than good payers, which is
something you must keep in mind. One must expect to suffer at least some losses, but one must try as much as possible to avoid them and, above all, avoid that they be considerable."Pierre Chouteau had made his fortune in the fur trade, and then
nearly lost it all when the bottom fell out of the beaver market. Though still involved in the business, he had turned his attention to the expanding railroads. (Image) |
Est. $1,500-2,000
SOLD for $1,600.00
Will close during Public Auction |
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