Item #010745 1868 – Letter from a major Anglo-Argentine mercantile company advising one of the largest wholesale drug and perfume companies, whose bestselling product was Florida Water, in the world of its inventory status in Buenos Aires. John Eastman Co., Son.
1868 – Letter from a major Anglo-Argentine mercantile company advising one of the largest wholesale drug and perfume companies, whose bestselling product was Florida Water, in the world of its inventory status in Buenos Aires
1868 – Letter from a major Anglo-Argentine mercantile company advising one of the largest wholesale drug and perfume companies, whose bestselling product was Florida Water, in the world of its inventory status in Buenos Aires
1868 – Letter from a major Anglo-Argentine mercantile company advising one of the largest wholesale drug and perfume companies, whose bestselling product was Florida Water, in the world of its inventory status in Buenos Aires

1868 – Letter from a major Anglo-Argentine mercantile company advising one of the largest wholesale drug and perfume companies, whose bestselling product was Florida Water, in the world of its inventory status in Buenos Aires

1868. Envelope or Cover. This three-page stampless folded letter, measuring 18” x 10.5” unfolded, is datelined “Buenos Ayres / October 24th 1868.” It was sent from the John Eastman Co. & Son to “Messers Lanman & Kemp / Wholesale Druggests / New York.” A one-page “Note of Existences” (Nota Existencias), i.e., inventory list, is enclosed.

Postal markings and philatelic databases show that it was carried by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company’s branch line steamer Arno to Rio where it was transferred to La Plata for transport to Southampton where it arrived on 2 December 1868. It was then passed to London where it received the “64” rate mark before being sent to Queenstown where it was loaded onto the Cunard Line’s Java on 6 January 1869 for New York. It arrived on 17 January and was charged 68 cents (92 cents in depreciated currency.)

The letter reads in part:

“We avail ourselves of this opportunity to enclose your Note of Existences, account current,, and Mess” S. B. Alder & Co.’s receipt for $3,800 (say three thousand eight hundred silver dollars) being the amount in you favor [for] you various preparations during the past six months. . .. You will find all correct.

“We can hardly expect that you will be grateful with the sales of the past half year but if you will take into consideration from the very unfair position in which we are and ever have been placed since [the illness] of your Mr. Sanford . . . we feel sure you that you will rest contented knowing that all that it may have been possible for us to do has been done. . .. Today we have received a few lines from [him informing] us of his intention to be in this City [soon]. . .. He says nothing about his health therefore we presume that he . . . is considerable improved. . ..”

The inventory list includes Aqua Florida (Florida Water) among the other perfumes and patent medicines.

. Very good. Item #010745

Florida Water was invented in 1801 by perfumer Robert J. Murray, as an American unisex scent, less offensive than strong than most European colognes and perfumes. Marketed as "The most Popular Perfume in the World,” it was also used to scent linens and corsages as well as an aftershave. Claims were also made that it was an effective topical disinfectant that also could relieve headaches and reduce fevers. It remains popular as a ‘retro’ toiletry, but most purchases in the United States today are by practitioners of Hoo-Doo, who use it in Afro-Caribbean religious practices.

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Price: $200.00

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