[R. Dale Flick]

Hi, Frank & Steamboating colleagues:
The new U.S.P.S. U.S. Merchant Marine Stamps do omit any plates cut for inland river vessels past and present. I rummaged around here finding a classic issue of U.S.P.S. stamps done in 1995 featuring the steamers: FAR WEST, REBECCA EVERINGHAM, BAILEY GATZERT, ROBT. E. LEE, SYLVAN DELL representing a range of steamboats north, south, east, west. BAILEY GATZERT was one of the most renowed if not fastest sternwheeler in the west of her day if not the country. The cost was then a mere 32 cents to mail a letter. The United Kingdom mail service also cut stamps some years back featuring great British steamships dating back to Samuel Cunard's first BRITANNIA up to the QE-2.

Just returned home from the sea this past weekend from the north Atlantic, Canadian Maritimes. The TITANIC cemetery and museum in Halifax, Nova Scotia, one of my high points. Sam Cunard hailed originally from Halifax and can be found in statues, historical markers here and there in the city. Incredible ship models including a working scale model of a period three cylinder [High, indermediate, low pressure] reciprocating steam engine similar to those on AQUATANIA etc. Very moving indeed seeing the TITANIC grave stones with fresh flowers, photos, dolls and teddy bears placed. One grave bearing just a recovery number on the headstone had been opened to do DNA studies linking the sinking victim to the present family. Didn't get to E=Mail friends from .org along the route stops as ship internet 'ify' and several ports of call reversed due to pier logistics. Rocked, rolled in wind, rain, fog for two days returning to New York's Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. Frank knows that terminal well from his CUNARD ship voyages. Cheers!

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.