Sale 92: The Summer Sale

Lot 923    

1820 (Oct. 18) Charleston S.C. to New York N.Y., datelined folded letter endorsed "Steam Rob Fulton", carried as endorsed on Robert Fulton from Charleston Oct. 19th to New York arriving Oct. 28th, New York red manuscript "6" cent due for ship, Very Fine.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

THE EARLIEST OF ONLY 7 RECORDED COVERS CARRIED BY THE STEAMSHIP ROBERT FULTON.

"Fulton" carried covers which pre-date April 28, 1823 were rated as ship letters. After that date postmasters were instructed to rate them as though carried on post roads. The ship was operated without a mail contract.

Reference: Steamships on the New York and Charleston Route: the Robert Fulton James Baird, Chronicle 248, November 2015, pp. 372-379.

Realized: $1,900

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Lot 924    

1834 (Nov. 15) New York N.Y. to Augusta Ga. via Charleston S.C., datelined folded letter carried by David Brown from New York Nov. 15th to Charleston arriving Nov. 20th, entered mails with red "Charleston S.C., Nov 20" cds and matching "Steamboat" straightline with red manuscript "25" cent due rating for over 400 miles from New York to Augusta.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

THE ONLY RECORDED COVER CARRIED BY THE NEW YORK AND CHARLESTON STEAM PACKET CO. DAVID BROWN.

Reference: "The New York and Charleston Steam Packet Company" by James Baird, Chronicle 249, Feb. 2016, pp. 78-95, fig. 1.

Excerpts from the article: "The New York and Charleston Steam Packet Company operated from mid-1832 until early 1838, employing five ships, the "David Brown", the "William Gibbons", the "Columbia", the "New York" and (briefly and tragically) the "Home". The line managed to gain a contract with the United States Post Office, the first such contract granted to an offshore "coastal" steamship line. The "David Brown" was a small ship, 130 feet long and about 190 tons. James P. Allaire designed and built it to carry the output of his New Jersey casting works (the Howell Works) up to New York City. The Brown made a few trips in this role before Allaire began running her on a fortnightly schedule between New York and Charleston. The Brown's first voyage to Charleston was on November 17, 1832. She made four round voyages (New York-Charleston-New York) before she was taken off the line for the winter on January 20, 1833. While waiting for spring she had new boilers installed, which would permit burning anthracite coal. Operations resumed on April 20, 1833. She then operated more or less continuously, interrupted by a two-week layover in Charleston for maintenance and by delays in New York caused by a cholera outbreak. In early December, after Brown had completed 15 round trips over a period of 35 weeks, the partners again laid her up for the winter. The success enjoyed in 1833 convinced Allaire and his new partner, Charles Morgan, that the route had sufficient promise to run two ships, and they ordered another to be built.".

Realized: $750

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Lot 925    

(Coastal Mail) 1834 (Mar. 8) Charleston to Providence, folded letter which entered the mails with red "New York Mar. 14" cds and matching "STEAM BOAT" straightline with red manuscript "50" cent due rating for double the over 400 mile rate from Charleston, carried by the William Gibbons, Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $450

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Lot 926    

1837 (Jun. 28) New York N.Y. to Charleston S.C., datelined folded cover carried from New York Jun. 29th by steamboat New York to Charleston arriving Jul. 3rd. entered mails with red "Steam-Boat" straightline and red manuscript "25" cent rating, Very Fine, The only recorded cover carried by the N.Y. & Charleston Steam Packet Co. "New York", this being the maiden voyage..
Estimate    $350 - 500.

Realized: $525

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Lot 927    

(Coastal Mail) 1837 (Oct. 28) New York N.Y. to Doboy Island near Darien Ga. via Charleston, datelined folded letter noting final destination of Doboy Island, endorsed "per Steampacket via Charleston" at bottom left, carried by N.Y. & Charleston S.P. Co. Columbia from New York Oct. 28th to Charleston arriving Oct. 31st, red "Charleston S.C. Nov 2" cds and matching "Steamboat" straightline and manuscript "25" rating to Darien; central fold toning, Fine, Carried on the final voyage of the "Columbia" for the line..
Estimate    $350 - 500.

Doboy Island was located 8 miles west of Darien Geo. Charles Morgan, principal of the N.Y. & Charleston Steam Packet Co. was sending the "Columbia" to the Gulf to operate between New Orleans and Galveston. The "Home", a chartered vessel for the New York & Charleston Steam Packet Co., had been lost on Oct. 9th with 91 passengers. With Columbia's departure, only the "New York" remained operational. It would make only 7 trips before the line closed and Morgan sent it to join the "Columbia" in the Gulf.

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Lot 928    

1849 (Feb. 3) New York N.Y. to New Orleans La. via Charleston, datelined folded letter carried by Northerner from New York Feb. 3rd to Charleston S.C. arriving Feb. 6th, entered mails with bold red "Charleston S.C. '10' Feb 6" integral-due cds and "Steamboat" straightline, pretty and Very Fine, ex-Feldman.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $450

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Lot 929    

(Coastal Mail - Spofford) 1849 (Apr 22) Steamboat, red straight-line handstamp with matching "Charleston S.C. '10' Apr 25" integral rate cds tying 1847 10¢ black (2 var.), double transfer of left and bottom framelines, position 41R, large margins to clear at left, couple small corner creases, on blue folded letter from the Durand correspondence datelined "New York, Apr 22 1849" to Savannah Geo., F.-V.F., plated by Cal Hahn.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED CHARLESTON "STEAMBOAT" USES BEARING THE 1847 ISSUE.

This folded letter from New York City was placed aboard the steamer Southerner leaving New York April 21st. The letter arrived in Charleston S.C. on April 24th, entering the mails the following day to Savannah.

Unrecorded Charleston 1847 Issue Steamboat covers are:

1. Mar. 28, 1849, Charleston S.C. to New Orleans La. bearing 10¢ black (2), ex-Craveri, Hackmey.
2. Apr. 4, 1849, Charleston S.C. to New Orleans La. bearing 10¢ black (2), ex-Craveri.
2. Apr. 11, 1849, Charleston S.C. to New Orleans La. bearing 10¢ black (2), ex-Kapiloff, currently in Eubanks exhibit.
4. Apr. 25, 1849, Charleston S.C. to Savannah Ga. bearing 10¢ black (2), the cover offered here.

Realized: $1,700

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