Cincinnati: 1810. Unbound. This stampless one-page folded letter measures 15.5” x 12.5” unfolded. It was sent from Sedam’s farm near Bold Face Creek about three miles west of Cincinnati and is dated November 11, 1810. The cover is addressed to McHenry at Baltimore, Maryland. It has a manuscript Cincinnati postmark... More about PLEA FROM A HERO OF THE NORTHWEST INDIAN WARS TO RECEIVE HIS ARMY PENSION; Folded-letter from...

Juneau, Alaska and Portland, Oregon: 1948. Unbound. Two-page typed letter, unsigned. The letter is datelined, “Morningside, Hospital. / Montaville, Station. / Portland, Oregon. / Sept, 23, 1948,” and is in nice shape. Eino Mack was the son of a Finnish emigrant who worked for the Alaska-Juneau Gold Mining Company. Beginning... More about Psychiatric hospital letter from a schizophrenic Alaskan, who murdered his gold-miner father...

London to New York and Boston: 1813. Unbound. This two-page stampless folded letter measures 15.75” by 10” unfolded. It is datelined “duplicate London 30th January 1813.” The letter was forwarded to New York after originally having been addressed to Boston. It bears a straight-line “SHIP” handstamp and two receiving postmarks..... More about Commercial letter from London to the United States discussing the prospect of continuing the War...

Tallahassee: 1848. Unbound. This one-page folded letter measures 15.5” x 10” unfolded. It is dated “January the 16th, 1848.” The cover bears a green “Free” handstamp indicting no postage was required as it was addressed to a U.S. Senator. It is postmarked with a green circular Tallassee handstamp dated January..... More about RECOMMENDATION FOR A FLORIDA PHYSICIAN AND PLANTATION OWNER TO RECEIVE A FEDERAL COMMISSION AS A...

Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia: 1861-1862. Envelope or Cover. Ten letters sent by a private in the 1st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, later the 1st Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment. They begin with the unit’s creation in June 1861 and continue through May 1862. During this time the unit first mustered at... More about One year of letters home written by soldier in a three-month volunteer unit that defended...

Camp Lucas (St. Louis), Missouri to Warren Court House, Pennsylvania: 1847. Unbound. This one-page stampless folded letter measures 15.5” x 10” unfolded. It is dated “Camp Lucas May 30th 1847.” The cover must have been delivered by hand, outside of the postal system, as it is unfranked and bears no... More about One-page Mexican-American War letter from a newly appointed ensign in the Missouri Volunteers as...

At sea and Bombay, India: 1817-1818. Unbound. Four-page folded folio-sized sheet to Betsy Putnam of Danvers, Massachusetts signed by E. S. Nichols. Three separately dated letters are on the sheet: 31 Dec 1817, On board the Ship Saco; 2 Feb 1818, Off the coast of Ceylon; 30 Apr 1818, Bombay... More about Early 19th century American missionary correspondence from the Ship Saco and India

Vladivostok, Siberia: October 2, 1919. Unbound. Envelope only, no letter. The envelope is addressed to Anna Raumgarten, Altona-Elbe, Germany. The return address reads, “Prisoner of war Mail / Vladivostok / Siberia / American prison camp / Martin Prigge / No. 326.” It bears a small steel circular postmark that reads... More about World War I mail from a German Prisoner of War held at the American prison camp at...

Various locations: 1863-1867. Unbound. Four letters and one stereoview. The first two letters are from Cooper to his family, one of which cautions against allowing a younger brother to become prey to full-grown seamen by joining the navy. The third is a manuscript copy of an official letter (with secretarial... More about Small collection of letters pertaining to a Civil War naval officer who became a faculty member...

Richmond, Virginia: 26 July 1861. Envelope or Cover. This 5.5” x 3.25” envelope has two Richmond, Virginia postal markings: a circular city postmark dated “Jul 26 1861” and a circular “Paid 10” handstamp indicating Confederate postage was paid at the time of mailing. There is also a bold strike of... More about Civil War “Across the Lines” private express mail envelope with special instructional label

Various locations: mostly 1865. Unbound. Nine letters written to Stephen H. Gregory, a member of D Company, 39th New York Volunteer Infantry. Eight were written during April and May of 1865 while Gregory was recovering from wounds at the Homewood Hospital in Washington D. C. The ninth letter is pre-war... More about SMALL ARCHIVE OF CIVIL WAR LETTERS WRITTEN TO A WOUNDED MEMBER OF THE 39TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER...

Wading River, Long Island, New York: 1853. This 4-page letter from a schoolteacher to her aunt, apparently in Bridgeport, Connecticut, measures approximately 6.5” x 8.5”. It is in very nice shape. Much of the letter concerns news about family and friends, however Clarissa notes that “My school is not yet... More about Schoolteacher’s letter describing a young slave’s attack upon three children in her classroom