3c Brownish Carmine, Type II (11A). Large margins to barely in along bottom outer frameline, tied by vivid red grid cancel, matching red "Lou. & Cin. S. B. Mail Line March 19" (1852) contract steamboat route agent's circular datestamp and "U.S. (Mail) Steamer Telegraph No. 2 * McLelland, Master *" name-of-boat circular handstamp on folded letter from Cincinnati to Nashville Tenn., neatly docketed

EXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLY BEAUTIFUL LOUISVILLE & CINCINNATI MAIL LINE CONTRACT STEAMBOAT COVER WITH THE 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE.

According to Hugh Feldman (Rumsey sale catalogue), "In July 1842, C. M. Strader, President of the U.S. Mail Line of Cincinnati contracted for the Cincinnati to Louisville route. Renewed every four years until 1870, in the period 1846 to 1858 the route was designated as 5032 with a daily trip each way paying $3,850 a year. Amongst the many steamboats owned by the company were the Telegraph No. 2 and 3. Both were used on Route 5032 as shown by combinations with the route agent cds." The Feldman catalogue lists three examples of these markings (March 19, March 27 and a rebacked front dated April 9, 1852).

Ex Grunin, Schwartz, Feldman and Sharrer.

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