No. 86 S.S. City of Petoskey, Michigan State Ferry ~ Published by the L. L. Cook Co., Ypsilanti, Michigan, by Colourpicture, Boston. Production number 45372. Card is unused and dated 1950. Very light wear, a little color chipping at the corners which are otherwise fairly sharp. FINE/VERY FINE condition.

Straits of Mackinac auto ferries: The state provided auto ferry service between 1923 and 1957. The ferries carried almost 1 million cars a year in the mid-1950s before the bridge opened in 1957. At that time, there were five ferries running with a total capacity of 500 cars; the largest ferry could carry 150. In their last year of service, the state ferries employed 400 people. City of Petoskey built in 1940. Registered length - 330 feet. Vehicle capacity - 105 - 110. Crew - 45. The beautiful Straits area - the passing steamers - an excellent view of historic and beautiful Mackinac Island make this restful 50 minute trip between St. Ignace and Mackinaw City, Michigan one long to be remembered.

Click on my graphic to enlarge it greatly but, if you do, remember that magnified defects appear to be much worse than they actually are and my scanner glass may not have been entirely clean. All of the postcards I sell on eBay are genuine vintage originals unless specified otherwise. I try to describe their condition to the best of my ability but please study my scan before bidding. Cards often have a previous dealer's price written on the back in pencil. I do not consider this a defect. All of my cards are duplicates or unwanted material from my own collection. I have collected cards for over 40 years and have a heck of a lot of unwanted and duplicate material. Check my eBay store in the postal history category for postcards that are more valuable as philatelic objects.