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MISSISSIPPI RIVER STEAMBOAT
ITEMS
12258 - THE
STEAMBOAT LESSIE TAYLOR, Huge illustrated freight bill 8"
X 10" with vignette of a side wheel steamboat January 10th, 1871
shipping 35 bales of cotton to New Orleans from the port of
Washington, MS [near Natchez], unusually large and attractive. Very
fine............................................$39.00
12259 - THE STEAMBOAT J. S. MCCLURE, 8" X 10"
waybill with a large attractive vignette of a side wheel steamboat at
the Port of Jacksonport, AR. Bound for New Orleans with 13 bales of
cotton, November 27th, 1867. Very nice to display. Very
fine....................................................................$49.00
12260 - THE STEAMBOAT JOHN B. MAUDE, 8" X 10",
freight bill March 13th, 1873, large vignette of a side wheel
steamboat shipping over 100 bales of cotton from Memphis to New
Orleans, fresh paper, coupe of spindle holes, otherwise fine [boat was
sunk with 800 bales of cotton in 1875 and raised and put in service
again, then burned at New Orleans in
1886]........................................................$39.00
 8004
- MISSISSIPPI RIVER STEAMBOAT CERTIFICATE, June 13th, 1888,
Certificate for Enoch Dougherty certifying Dougherty as a Mate on
steam vessels traveling on the Western and Southern Rivers. Large
eagle vignette. Dougherty served on many steamboats during his career
and lived until 1921 [1844 - 1921]. Some data on Dougherty included
with certificate. Nice steamboat item. Very good, some tone at bottom
margin.....................................................$50.00
 THE GREAT STEAMBOAT RACE, JULY
1870 BETWEEN THE ROBERT E. LEE AND THE NATCHEZ
Ever since two
steamboats passed each other on the Mississippi River, pilots and
owners have wanted to compete to see whose boat was faster and could
carry more cargo. Perhaps the most famous steamboat race occurred in
June, 1870, from New Orleans to St. Louis between the Natchez VI and
the Robert E. Lee. In that month, the Natchez had made a record
breaking trip from New Orleans to St. Louis in 3 days, 21 hours, and
58 minutes. Captain John W. Cannon of the Lee decided that the Natchez
success could not go unanswered. While waiting for the Natchez to
return to New Orleans, he readied the Robert E. Lee for a race by
stripping her of excess weight and declining any passengers or cargo.
Captain T.P. Leathers
of the Natchez welcomed the challenge, but refused to lighten his
burden. The two boats left New Orleans with the Robert E. Lee slightly
ahead. During the race, Captain Cannon had arranged for barges to be
floated alongside of the Lee to expedite the refueling process. The
Natchez was forced to do the same, but only after some time had
passed. The Robert E. Lee won the race by several hours, but the
Natchez had been stuck on a mudflat for six hours. The Natchez might
have won the race if Captain Leathers had unloaded his cargo and
passengers.
THE LEE AHEAD
AT VICKSBURG AND GAINING ON HER RIVAL!
 61910 - THE
NEW ORLEANS TIMES, JULY 2ND, 1870, complete issue, front
page account amounting to a long column and a half describing the
famous race from New Orleans to St. Louis of the steamboats Robert E.
Lee, and the Natchez (VI). Reports of the advance of the tow boats
from Bayou Sara, Natchez, and at Vicksburg by telegraph back to New
Orleans, information on the Lee and Natchez, the remarkable speed of
the Lee...The back page contains an illustrated ad for both the Lee
and the Natchez, paper is loose at the spine due to microfilming, but
paper is MINT. An important and historic issue.............$75.00
THE LEE STILL
AHEAD, UNPRECEDENTED TIME, THE NATCHEZ HAS AN ACCIDENT LOSES 36
MINUTES!
 61911 - THE
NEW ORLEANS TIMES, SUNDAY, JULY 3RD, 1870, complete issue,
large folio edition, from page dispatches on the progress of the great
race, shows six different dispatches in one long full column on page
one. The Lee still ahead at Memphis, the Natchez has an accident which
cost her 36 minutes, 10,000 people see the boats pass at Memphis, the
Lee ahead by one hour and six minutes, the Lee coals up in the river
in front of Memphis. A huge 16 page Sunday issue with ads for both
boats on the last page. The back page contains an illustrated ad for
both the Lee and the Natchez. Paper is loose at the spine due to
microfilming, but paper is MINT. An important and historic
issue..........................$135.00
THE LEE ARRIVES
AT ST. LOUIS AHEAD OF THE NATCHEZ, THE NATCHEZ CAPTAIN STATES THAT HE
WOULD HAVE BEAT THE LEE LESS FOR THE FOG AND ACCIDENT! THE GREAT RACE
IS OVER!
 61912 - THE
NEW ORLEANS TIMES, JULY 6TH, 1870, complete issue, front
page long column announcing the arrival of the Lee which continues on
into page two. Captain Leathers of the Natchez claims a moral victory
over the Lee due to fog and mechanical problems, those deducted he
would have beat the Lee by 20 minutes. Great details about the passage
of the boats at Memphis, late reports on page two from St. Louis
giving details on the Lee's arrival in St. Louis with the Natchez
nowhere to be seen, a dinner was to be held at the Southern Hotel that
night for both Captains, much on the betting of the race. The race is
finally over with exceptional coverage from Memphis to St. Louis. A
huge 16 page Sunday issue with ads for both boats on the last page.
The back page contains an illustrated ad for both the Lee and the
Natchez. Paper is loose at the spine due to microfilming, but paper is
MINT. An important and historic
issue.......................................$150.00
61213 - THE NATCHEZ AND THE ROBERT E. LEE, issues July -
September, 1870. The New Orleans Times. Complete folio
issue, back page advertisements for the Robert E. Lee and the Natchez
for future trips on the river. They had just completed their epic race
in early July 1870. Paper is loose at the spine due to microfilming,
but paper is MINT...........................$35.00/ea.
  70104 - MISSISSIPPI RIVER
STEAMBOAT PASS, Memphis & St. Louis Packet Company.
Handsome red and green printing. c1869 as the pass was good on five
steamboats mentioned on the verso...passage from St. Louis to Memphis
signed by the President of the steamboat company. Choice
condition................................................................$100.00
SOLD
LETTER CARRIED BY THE FIRST
STEAMBOAT ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER - THE NEW ORLEANS, 1812
60901 - LETTER
SHEET DATED JUNE 17TH, 1812, Postmarked NEW ORLEANS, June 2nd
(1812), addressed to Gabriel Tichener at Natchez, Mississippi from the
firm of William Kennert & CO. of New Orleans. Marked mail with 32
cents paid postage. Financial letter regarding drafts of money to be
exchanged for specie (gold & silver) with specific mention to the
steamboat NEW ORLEANS, which had arrived in New Orleans on January
10th, 1812 and put on the New Orleans-Natchez trade route on
January17th, 1812. The ship had just completed the first historic trip
down the Ohio-Mississippi Rivers from Pittsburg. By June 1812, the NEW
ORLEANS was making trips to Natchez from New Orleans once every three
weeks. The interesting letter mentions the new "Steamboat"
twice as well as Edward Livingston, brother of Robert Livingston who
was one of the partners owning the new boat. Robert Fulton, Robert
Livingston, and Nicholas Roosevelt jointly owned the boat and Nicholas
Roosevelt and his wife accompanied the boat on the initial voyage to
New Orleans. This letter was mailed to Natchez on or about June 20th
after being written from June 17th through June 20 pending an answer
on acceptance of drafts by an individual. By that time the mail was
being carried by the NEW ORLEANS between New Orleans and Natchez due
to the time saved by the new steamboat. Comments by the writer attest
to this practice by June stating that per Steamboat they have received
a letter from a representative (from Natchez)...also that Captain
Clement had just handed them Mr. Tichener's favor (letter of the 29th
"May 29th") - (Captain Clement of the NEW ORLEANS), also in
conclusion a mention of money to be sent in the form of specie "byt
the return of the steamboat" (return trip to Natchez). A
political note seen in this letter is the mention of meeting with M
(Mr.) Livingston to find out what his intentions are in relation for
the contract for carrying specie. (Edward Livingston was the brother
of Robert Livingston and was firmly entrenched with the politics of
New Orleans). The Livingston's, Fulton, and Roosevelt were determined
to create a monopoly on the river with their new steamboat and
contracts to carry mail/specie were in their sights.
New Orleans, June
17th, 1812
Gabriel Tichener Esq.
Dear Sir. We have
a letter from our W. Kinnie per steamboat dated the 30th
advising us that he had sold you payables out of the drafts in our
hands for the account of your bank. Two sets of exchange on New York
for $1,624.54 dollars which we charge to the Dr. of the bank. WE have
offered the acceptance we hold at the different banks, but the
pressure for money is so great that we have not got them done. We have
there fore judged most for your interest after consulting Judge Martin
on the subject who is of the opinion to purchase a draft with the
acceptance of 60 days allowing bank discounts to make equivalent to
cash, bills being now at par and you will please find enclosed Amory
Callending CO. exchange on J. Lenox & W. Maitland of New York at
60 days. Sight for $1000 which please pass to our credit and advice
accordingly. When the drafts we hold are in funds we will remit the
balance due you either in bills of exchange or specie as you may
direct. Whenever your banks finds an advantage on having good bills
from Eastern States, Tennessee, or Kentucky, we shall be happy in
attending in any negotiations which may promote your interest views. I
beg you shall communicate freely on such subjects as we have frequent
opportunities in purchasing such drafts on liberal terms.
Captain
Clement has just called and handed us your esteemed favor of the 29th
along with $6000 in bank notes and drafts on Samuel Elkins for
$1683.76, which has been sent to his house for acceptance, but he is
not to be found this evening-if accepted shall attend to your
directions respecting the remittance in specie-shall send your
$6000 by return of the steamboat. We shall call on M. Livingston
tomorrow and ascertain his intentions in respect to the contract for
carrying specie. We remain very respectfully, Wm. Kennert & CO.
We have seen Mr.
Elkins who says he will let us know tomorrow whether he will accept
the drafts or not...
June 20 - Drafts
are accepted Mr. Ellis
An important
correspondence carried to Natchez by the NEW ORLEANS as well as
mention of the boat several times along with commentary on Edward
Livingston involved with letting a contract for drayage on the river.
The NEW ORLEANS was lost July 14th, 1814 near Baton Rouge after
serving the New Orleans-Natchez trade for over two years. Letter is
complete with fold separations restored. New Orleans cancellation is
near clear with the last digit of the date weak (June 2). Usual age
tone to paper, but easily readable. An extremely early Steamboat NEW
ORLEANS steamboat item, just a few months in the career of the NEW
ORLEANS on the Mississippi River.
RARE...............................................$750.00
SOLD
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