1946 Ships Mail Cover from Indianapolis, IN to SS Santa Rosa in NYC (Returned)

Description: 1946 cover Indianapolis, IN to the second officer on board the SS. Santa Rosa, a cruise ship on the Grace Line docked in New York, NY. It is filled with markings and cancellations, because that officer was not on board, and the letter was ultimately returned. It is postmarked with a cancellation clearly reading December 14, 1946 (departing Indianapolis, IN), another reading December 16, 1946 (arriving to the Grace Line), another reading December 28, 1946 (New York, NY -- Return to Wall Street Station), a final one reading December 30, 1946 (New York, NY). It is franked using three 1c U.S. (Scott #804) stamps. Various stamped markings include: "Not On Board -- Return to Sender," "Return to Sender -- Not at Address Given -- New York, New York," "Not on Board -- Return to Sender -- Grace Line, N.Y. 5, N.Y.," "Not in Directory -- Wall Street Sta.," "Hold for Delivery." There are also some handwritten markings. It is a scarce item ready to enhance any collection of U.S. postal history or ships mail.By way of background, the SS Santa Rosa (later SS Athinai) was a passenger and cargo ocean liner built for the Grace Line. She was one of four sister ships (the others being Santa Elena, Santa Lucia and Santa Paula) ordered in 1930 from the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company of Kearny, NJ. Her regular route included inter-coastal service between the east coast and the west coast of the USA via the Caribbean and the Panama Canal. She was the second of ultimately three vessels to bear the name Santa Rosa for the Grace Line. (The first Santa Rosa was a 1917-built ship that was sold in 1925.) The Santa Rosa sailed on her maiden voyage on November 26, 1932. Her East-West coast route of New York-Seattle was 20 days and included a one-day call in Los Angeles and two days in San Francisco. The ship's service speed of 20 knots and her superior accommodation made her very popular compared to that offered by Pacific Coast shipping. In 1936, however, the intercoastal service ended and Santa Rosa and her sisters transferred to service to the Caribbean. Santa Rosa was requisitioned by the US War Shipping Administration on January 3, 1942 with Grace Line operating the ship as agents and allocated to Army for troop service. Santa Rosa made 21 voyages from the east coast of the US from 1942-1945: one to Europe, one to Australia, one to India, and three to Africa. After her war service, she underwent repair and refit at the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company prior to redelivery to her owners. Santa Rosa returned to Grace Line and resumed the Caribbean service on February 7, 1947. In 1958, after 26 years of service, Santa Rosa was replaced by a larger liner of the same name. In June 1958, Santa Rosa was renamed Santa Paula. The older ship was laid up at Hoboken, NJ until 1961 when she was sold to Greek owners. Another Extremely Fine Piece of Postal History!We Currently Have Other U.S & Worldwide Postal History Up For Auction - Check Out These Listings HereExplore All Our eBay Store Items - Check Out These Listings HereTerms and ConditionsUS Shipping is $5.95 for up to 5 (Five) covers, $7 for 6 (Six) or more covers. For multiple wins, please do not pay until you receive our updated invoice reflecting these rates.International Shipping is $19.95 for up to 5 (Five) covers, $21 for 6 (Six) or more covers. For multiple wins, please do not pay until you receive our updated invoice reflecting these rates.PayPal preferred, or contact us for other options. Shipped within 5 days of cleared payment.We try to describe items accurately. Please contact us immediately if there is problem with your purchase.Member APS, USPCS. 20+ Years Buying and Selling on eBay.Item #ES-A110

Price: 15 USD

Location: Saint Louis, Missouri

End Time: 2024-02-28T01:14:18.000Z

Shipping Cost: 5.95 USD