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Original 1906 Chicago–South Haven Line business correspondence consisting of a typed letter and its original mailed envelope, relating to excursion ticket accounting between Chicago organizations and the South Haven Line steamers.
The letter is dated August 30, 1906, written on official Chicago–South Haven Line – General Traffic Department letterhead, referencing a $25.50 balance for excursion tickets issued to the Robert Emmett and Celtic Clubs for a July 22, 1906 steamer excursion.
This piece documents early Great Lakes passenger steamship commerce, Irish-American social clubs in Chicago, and pre-Titanic era maritime travel logistics.
The original envelope bears:
• 1906 Chicago, IL postmark
• 2¢ Washington definitive stamp
• South Haven Line Steamer return imprint
• Typed recipient address to Mr. Eugene F. Riordan, 301 Chicago Opera House Block
Together, the letter and cover form a complete, intact postal history set, significantly more desirable than a loose document or cover alone.
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Historical & Collector Value Highlights
• Dated August 30, 1906 (pre-1907 postal era)
• Great Lakes steamship line ephemera
• Irish-American club history (Robert Emmett & Celtic Clubs)
• Original business correspondence + mailed cover
• Clear postal markings and legible stamp
• Early Chicago commercial and transportation history
• Strong crossover appeal: postal history, maritime, Chicago, Irish history
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Item Specifics
• Type: Postal Cover & Business Letter
• Year: 1906
• Origin: Chicago, Illinois
• Stamp: 2¢ Washington (definitive)
• Postmark: Chicago, IL – 1906
• Organization: Chicago–South Haven Line
• Material: Paper
• Language: English
• Country/Region: United States
• Handwritten Address: Typed
• Condition: See condition section
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Condition
• Letter: Very good antique condition for age
• Envelope: Expected edge wear, creasing, and toning consistent with 1906 postal use
• No repairs or reproduction elements
• All markings, text, and stamp remain clearly legible
Please review all photos carefully for exact condition.
Keywords
1906 postal cover, chicago south haven line, great lakes steamer, maritime ephemera, pre 1907 cover, chicago history letter, steamship correspondence, irish american history, robert emmett club, antique postal history
