New Haven Conn. Beehive. Red
pictorial handstamp clearly struck on folded cover to Miss Laura Hines, New
Haven Conn., red ms. "12-1/2" rate, toned at left side, still a Very Fine
strike of this rare marking, recent research proves that the New Haven
Beehive was applied to covers during a ladies' fair and is, therefore, an
official postal marking -- this example was discovered in a Southern
college's archives and reached the market in 1994
(Image) 
Louisville & New-Orleans Packet,
Bunker Hill No. 3. Perfectly-struck red illustrated handstamp on
December 1849 folded letter to Louisville, ms. initials and "Bunker
Hill" name-of-boat endorsement at top right, Extremely Fine and early
strike of this scarce marking, the Bunker Hill No. 3 was built in
New Albany Ind. in 1849 and its first captain, Job. Whipple, died aboard
ship between Natchez and Memphis on March 25, 1849 (several other crew
members also died of cholera) (Image) 
By Steamer Rapides. Perfect
strike of illustrated packetboat marking on 3c Red Nesbitt entire to New
Orleans, cancelled by bold "Steam" handstamp, light strike of red "New
Orleans La. Dec. 20" circular datestamp, from the Buchannon Carroll
correspondence with usual small filing holesEXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THE RARE STEAMER RAPIDES NAME-OF-BOAT HANDSTAMP WITH ONE OF THE MOST DETAILED ILLUSTRATIONS OF ALL AMERICAN POSTAL MARKINGS.
The Rapides, a wooden-hull side-wheel packetboat, was built in New Albany Ind. in 1855. Originally built for C.J. Barston of Rapides Parish La., she plied the waters between New Orleans and Donaldsonville up to 1856, then later between New Orleans and Shreveport before being used by the Confederacy after 1861. The marking used on mail carried by the Rapides is an incomparable depiction of a Mississippi steamboat among handstamps of the period. (Image)