Bilbao, Spain: 1831. Envelope or Cover. This three-page stampless, folded letter is datelined “Bilbao 5th Augt 1831.” Although it references an enclosed invoice, the invoice is no longer present. The letter was no doubt favor-carried to Le Havre in France as it bears a faint forwarding agent cachet on the..... More

Ship Burgundy to Middletown, Connecticut: August 14, 1837. Envelope or Cover. This two-page folded letter measures 16” x 10” unfolded. It bears a circular red New York “Ship” postmark dated August 16 and is in nice shape. The ship Burgundy regularly brought immigrants from Europe to the United States..... More

November 6, 1775. Envelope or Cover. This two-page stampless folded letter measures 13” x 8” unfolded. It is datelined “Kent County, November 6th 1775”. It is annotated “p Post” and bears a “G Town” postmark as well as two faint manuscript marks: a Philadelphia “1/s” (one shilling) in the upper..... More

Naples: 1810. Unbound. This two-page stampless folded letter measures approximately 14.5" x 10" unfolded. It was sent by Olphert Tittle in Naples to Olphert Tittle (his father) in Beverly, Massachusetts. The letter is dated "March 11th 1810," and its salutation begins "Honor'd Mother." It bears a weak red strike of..... More

Onboard the SS Admiral Rogers, Chatham Sound, Canada (just south of Ketchikan, Alaska): 1923. Envelope or Cover. This foldout postcard measures 11” x 7” when opened into a four-page menu. It is franked with U.S. two-cent Washington stamp (Scott # 554) which has been cancelled by a duplex Seattle &..... More

Liverpool to Richmond via the Black Ball Line: 1830-1831. Envelope or Cover. These stampless folded letters both measure 16” x 10” unfolded. The 1830 letter discusses the market for American tobacco in Liverpool, and the 1831 letter discusses the market for other products, specifically butter, oats, flour and cotton. One..... More

Tuscaloosa to Montgomery, Alabama: 29 Sep 1861. Envelope or Cover. This letter is datelined “’Camp Beauregard’ Sept. 29th 1861”. It is enclosed in a stampless envelope addressed to Miss Marie. L. Elmore at Montgomery in “Care of Col. Jno a. Elmore”. It bears a circular “Tuscaloosa / Oct 2 /..... More

Canon City, Colorado: 1916. Letter. The letter is written on United States Post Office stationery from a man named Allen, probably a post worker, and addressed to a friend named Lewis. Although no envelope accompanies the letter, its first page is postmarked, Canon City Colo. / M.O.B (Money Order Business)..... More

Kansas City, Missouri: Baker & Lockwood Manufacturing Company, 1903. Envelope. An all-over advertising cover (envelope) for the Baker & Lockwood Manufacturing Company. Printed in green. Illustration features a large party tent. Franked with Scott #301 and postmrked with a Barry Postal Supply company machine cancellation dated 26 December 1903. Light..... More

Baltimore: The C. H. Pearson Packing Co., 1905. Envelope. Nice advertising cover for The C. H. Pearson Packing Company, located at the Chesapeake Warf in Baltimore. The cover (envelope) freatures an illustration of a woman holding a large oyster while standing upon a mound of fruits and vegetables in front..... More

New York to San Francisco: June 1-4, 1876. Unbound. The transcontinental Lightning Express captured the attention of the nation while transporting a theatrical troupe from New York to San Francisco in record-breaking time for opening night. A small archive relating to Jarrett & Palmer's famous non-stop transcontinental Lightning Express..... More

Edmeston, [New York]: 1 May and 27 September 1863. Unbound. Two letters: one two-page letter and one four-page letter. Both have mailing and storage folds. Clean and legible. Centerfold of one has a split mended with what appears to be archival repair tape. Both letters were written by Waterman..... More

Richmond, Virginia: 1860-1861. Unbound. This unused U. S. postal stationery envelope displays an embossed oval advertisement on the rear flap that reads, "Betts & Gregory / Auctioneers / For the Sale of Negroes / Franklin St. / Richmond, Va." The buff-colored envelope with the double-line POD/US watermark (Scott..... More