UNITED STATES STAMPLESS LETTER NORFOLK VA PORTLAND MAINE 1849 F951

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Condition

Unused

Stamp Format

Single

Item Description

Condition: See 20,000+ Exceptional listings in my store! Watch my items for discounts and add me as a favorite ... Read more about the seller notes See 20,000+ Exceptional listings in my store! Watch my items for discounts and add me as a favorite seller for a great newsletter! Read Less about the seller notes

Grade: Ungraded
Summary of the ItemType: Stampless Folded LetterOrigin: Norfolk, VirginiaDestination: Portland, MaineDate: Mailed January 12, 1849Postage Rate: The red, hand-stamped "10" indicates the postage was 10 cents, paid by the recipient upon delivery. This rate was established by the Postal Act of 1845 for a single-sheet letter traveling over 300 miles.Content: The letter is a business communication between commission merchants. The sender, Alexander Kerr, discusses a recent drop in flour prices, an improvement in the corn market, and future market predictions. He also asks the recipients, J. & C. Cram, to store and insure his lime.Transcription of the LetterNorfolk January 12th 1849Messrs J. & C. Cram Portland Me.Dear SirsI have yours of the 2nd Inst to acknowledge, and I am sorry to hear of the fall of the price of "Flour" and fear our Cargo will be subject even to a loss.The Corn market here and in Baltimore has improved, and receipts for forty or sixty days to come, will not be large, and New Orleans will not be likely to send forth her usual streams of Corn this year, at so early a period as in former years, to feed all our Northern and Eastern markets. hence I look for improvement in all the Northern markets. Sales at your last quotations of the best White Cargo would put me in for a loss. try and save me from this, if possible. If you store my lime, insure it against fire -Very Respectfully Your Obt Servt Alexander KerrAbout the Sender and ReceiverSender: Alexander KerrAlexander Kerr (c. 1806 - ?) was a prominent commission merchant operating in Norfolk, Virginia.The 1850 U.S. Census for Norfolk City lists him as a 44-year-old merchant who was born in Scotland.City directories from the era, such as the 1851-52 Norfolk and Portsmouth Directory, list his business as being located at "4 Roanoke square" and his residence on Boush Street. As a commission merchant, he would have acted as an agent, buying and selling goods like corn, flour, and lime on behalf of others for a commission.Receivers: Messrs. J. & C. CramJ. & C. Cram was a firm of commission merchants located at 12 Long Wharf in Portland, Maine.The firm was operated by two brothers, John F. Cram (c. 1805-1886) and Charles A. Cram (c. 1811-1884).Like Alexander Kerr, they were engaged in the coastal trade of various commodities. The manuscript notation on the outside of the letter, "Ans Jany 15," indicates they prepared a response just three days after Kerr wrote his letter, showcasing the efficiency of their business operations.SEE MY 20,000+ EXCEPTIONAL LISTINGS IN MY STORE! WATCH MY ITEMS USING YOUR WATCH-LIST FOR SPECIAL DISCOUNTS AND ADD ME AS A FAVORITE SELLER FOR A GREAT NEWSLETTER!Attention Sellers - Get TemplatesImage Hosting, Scheduling at Auctiva.com. Track Page Views WithAuctiva's FREE Counter

Seller Information

Seller

bluemule22 (20472)

Registered Since

04/19/2013

Feedback

99.9%

Store

SuperiorStamps

Item Location

Minnesota, United States

Ships To

Worldwide

Returns Accepted

No