MGJ Postal History

	Description	Price
	KINGSTON RHODE ISLAND 1852 COVER AND LETTER FROM AMOS WELLS TO JOHN VERNON, PROVIDENCE RI REGARDING HUNTING WITH MUSKETS Neat cover and letter from Amos Wells to his hunting friend John Vernon. Excerpts from his missive are below. Stamp is Scott 11A. Dear John, I shouldered my musket yesterday for the first time since I returned home for a sally among the quail and found them contrary to my expectations after what I had heard in Prov quite plenty. If our old friend Sport had been with me, I should have brought home quite a bunch of birds. As it was, with the assistance of old “buck” I bagged three quail and one woodcock in about two hours and knocked down two more quail which I could not find for want of a decent dog. Besides missing a very respectable number of fair shots and had also marked down a fine bevy of quail before me when on accidently shoving my hand into my pocket I discovered the bank keys which I had by mistake carried with me and was in consequence obliged to hasten home with all due speed. You may wonder what my long prelude is driving at. It is simply that I am very anxious for your company next week and hope to see you here armed and equipped for a renewal of your acquaintance with our No. Kingston quail on Monday next…bring Sport or his substitute if possible and I think I can promise you a good time… Yours Truly, Amos Wells There is more content in the letter regarding the usual welfare of family and friends. Records show that Amos Wells was cashier at the Landholders’ Bank, Kingston.	$50.00
	CINCINNATI OHIO 1852 STAMPED FOLDED LETTER TO SALEM MASSACHUSETTS. SCOTT 11A EARLY USAGE PLUS GREAT LETTER Scott 11A is listed in Scott as first issued in 1853. This 11A is tied to a stamped folded letter mailed March 27, 1852. Solid and full postmark. Letter is between business partners Edward D. Kimball of Salem, and John Swasey, in Cincinnati at that time. It discusses upcoming cotton transactions as well as the writer's daughter visiting the recipient. Excellent early historical letter of commerce in the mid 1800s. John Swasey, bark, 294 tons, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1850. Reg. June 10, 1851. Nathaniel A. Kimball, Edward D. Kimball, Franklin D. Reed, Boston, John Swasey & Co., Cincinnati, owners; John Phillips, master. Reg. Jan. 17, 1853. Nathaniel A. Kimball, Edward D. Kimball, Thomas P. Pingree, John Swasey & Co., Cincinnati, owners ; Samuel Hill, master. Reg. Sept. 15, 1854. Edward D. Kimball, Nathaniel A. Kimball, Chas. H. Miller, Thomas P. Pingree, owners; William Arnold, master. THE NAUMKEAG STEAM COTTON COMPANY David Pingree (1795-1863), merchant, ship owner, president of the Naumkeag Bank, and Mayor of Salem in 1851, was the first president of the Naumkeag Steam Cotton Company. He was succeeded by Edward D. Kimball (1811-1867), also a Salem merchant and ship owner. Both of these men were also active in the African trade, their ships going to West Africa or Zanzibar. It seems to be somewhat more than coincidental that one of the products most in demand in Africa was American cotton cloth, which was traded for hides, ivory, and particularly gum copal, a resin used in varnish. This connection allowed another new industry to flourish in Salem, Jonathan Whipple’s gum copal processing works at the foot of Turner Street. The Africans prized the fine quality cotton sheeting. They called it ‘Mericani (American cloth). A specific example is taken from the outward manifest of the brig Ganges of Salem for October 5, 1839. Among a mixed cargo is found an entry for four cases (4,505 ½ yards) of bleached shirting valued at $527.11.14 The primary (later, exclusive) product of Naumkeag Mills, was cotton sheeting. The company grew steadily. By the turn of the 20th century more than 2,700 looms were in operation weaving Pequot sheets, and in 1909 the Danvers Bleachery became part of the Naumkeag operation. The mills were Salem’s largest employer and, in turn, provided jobs for immigrants from Ireland, French Canada, and Poland and Eastern Europe. But disaster struck on June 25, 1914. The mill complex, then consisting of twenty buildings, perished in the great Salem fire.	$100.00
	BURLINGTON VERMONT MARCH 3 1869 COVER WITH SCOTT #25 BLUE SOCK ON THE NOSE POSTMARK Strong and full blue Burlington Vermont sock on the nose full date...month, day, year...postmark on small cover.	$50.00
	BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS 1800S PAIR OF 2-CENT BANKNOTES WITH REVERSE NUMBERS 22 CANCELS R. A. Malone was the contractor for the tunnel according to the corner card. Good reverse 22 killer marks. Nice Albany, NY, receiver on the back. Left stamp is damaged and cover is opened roughly at left.	$5.00
	FAIR HAVEN Mas. 1845 STAMPLESS FOLDED LETTER. J.B. MASSE TO LEVI SNOW, HARWICH, MASSACHUSETTS. UNLISTED POSTMARK Snow has requested a new order of merchandise and Masse has agreed to send it "as soon as you can send me the balance of your account." The full, red Fair Haven postmark is not listed in ASCC with the state identification as Mas. Note soiling at lower left. No tears or separations. Snow was a prominent citizen of Wychmere Harbor. See information below. Wychmere Harbor Wychmere Harbor used to have no opening to the sea. In the early times it was called Salt Water Pond. The fisherman of Harwich tried to dig by hand a passage for their boats where a trickle of water flowed between the sea and the pond. When this did not work, they plugged the little stream and built a 3/4 mile race track all-around the pond and raced their horses there. In 1889 the state dredged a proper channel. It measured about 100 feed wide with jetties on each side and fishermen then had a safe anchorage. Fifty years later the big outer harbor was dredged. Around 1891, Levi Edric Snow paid about $250 for land at the end of the dirt road on the west side of Salt Water Pond. He built an eight room seaside cottage and had so many relatives visiting the following summer that he built a 20 room addition and began charging rent. In 1913 when Levi’s grandson Biddle was married, the hotel became a year round business. Biddie and his wife had three sons–The Clam Bar’s “Thompson Brothers.” The boys, all over six feet tall, grew up at the Inn and a place was built for them by the dock. They called it Hangover Inn or Spit ‘n Whittle. After World War II, the family began another business. Line Trawlers tied up at the dock and the fish was packed and shipped to Boston and New York. The new wholesale business had begun! Fish, clams and lobsters were unloaded on the dock. This brought many onlookers, whom all wanted to eat and purchase seafood. Thus from the top of a fish box or a barrel head, freshly opened clams were served. People started buying lobster retail, then wanted them cooked and opened. The family responded; away went the Spit ‘n Whittle and up went The Clam Bar. The fish you serve are probably direct descendants of the first ones unloaded here over forty years ago. Over the years the dirt road was paved, the salt water pond become Wychmere Harbor, a long jetty curved out into the Old Inn and Channelside Restaurant grew yearly and became known far and beyond the small village of Harwich. Thompson clam bar later was established at the Inn by Levi’s daughter, Clementine. In 1983 a developer purchased the inn, and closed it after 100 seasons in 1991. Letter is from J. B. Masse. There are several Masse’s listed in Fair Haven (now condensed to Fairhaven) historic records.	$25.00
	NEW YORK 1852 STAMPLESS FOLDED LETTER WITH PAID 1 CT IN RED POSTMARK. SEE LETTER DETAILS Letter from L. H. Moore Company, 122 Broadway, New York City, of E&J Harding, Danville, VA regarding how they do business and what their terms are. The Moore Company was a well-known distributor of dry goods. See scan for the full text, but here are some excerpts: "The cost of all goods shall be quoted to the buyer in every instance, & no article shall be averaged up from the original cost. We shall charge a uniform profit of five per cent upon the cost, and no more under any circumstances for large or small bills." "Our terms are strictly cash. All bills not paid on delivery must positively be paid within 30 days. We will not make out duplicate bills varying from the original in any case, neither will we make a discount to manufacturing, bobbers, & other buyers on any goods; whether imported, bought at auction, or at private sale, either for cash or credit..." "We chall not deliver goods to houses who usually put us to the expense of sending for paymehnt at the expiration of 30ds..." "We shall be buying from $1,000 to $5,000 per cay at auction during the business season..." The letter continues with a list of the varioius products they carry. Quite easy to read. No rips or tears No wax seal to cause a rip of any kind. Full but slightly smudged New-York Paid 1 Ct postmark.	$50.00
	FITCHBURGH MASSACHUSETTS 1850S STAMPLESS COVER TO DUBLIN NEW HAMPSHIRE. THIS SPELLING OF FITCHBURGH IS UNLISTED IN ASCC. Cover is very presentable on the address side with full Fitchburgh red postmark. This mark is unlisted in ASCC. Paid 3 in circle mark in red. Back is a bit ragged (see scan) but complete.	$20.00
	McDONOUGH DELAWARE 1850S STAMPLESS FOLDED LETTER TO NEW TOWN PENNSYLVANIA Light but discernable postmark on this McDonough Delaware SFL. No content in letter. ASCC 1997 price of $75.	$35.00
	CHICAGO ILLINOIS 1858 COVER WITH SCOTT #26A. LARGE STRONG FULL-DATE POSTMARK Nice cover. Full postmark on very good Scott 26A stamp. Corner card is on right side noting letter is from Cashier's Office, Land Department, Ill CRRC(?). There is some aging as is to be expected in covers this old.	$50.00
	BELMONT MASSACHUSETTS 1850S MANUSCRIPT POSTMARK WITH SCOTT #25 COVER Scott #25 is clean and fresh on this small cover with manuscript post and date marks along with an X to cancel the stamp. Also, Belmont Massachusetts manuscript postmark adds value. You won't find many examples of 25 on cover better looking than this one. There is some aging as is to be expected in covers this old.	$75.00