3c Yellowish Rose Red, Type I (11). Large margins to in at left, tied by exceptionally bold strike of "Morning Star." name-of-boat circular handstamp with 5-point central star, matching "STEAM" handstamp on buff cover to Geneva O., with May 30, 1856 letter enclosure written on board the Morning Star which is "aground for the hundredth time", describes in detail the boat and journey, pristine condition

EXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THIS RARE MISSOURI RIVER NAME-OF-BOAT HANDSTAMP.

The Morning Star, with T. H. Brierly as master, was built in 1856 and ran on the Missouri River from St. Louis to St. Joseph. It was destroyed by fire on June 21, 1859. The records of the boat's trips can be found on the State Historical Society of Missouri website. Only three examples of the "Morning Star" in circle handstamp are recorded. Two have the star at center, and one appears to have the star omitted. This cover is the finest of the three and was sold at auction in the David G. Phillips Feb. 24, 1979, sale of the E. N. Sampson collection. It later appeared in Kelleher's Sale 577 (Jan. 20-22, 1988), which included covers from the David T. Beals III collection. Mr. Eubanks acquired the cover privately from Richard Frajola.

Ex Sampson and Beals. With 2021 P.F. certificate

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