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
M.C.A.S. Goleta California to Armed Gd School, Gulfport, Mississippi: 1944. Unbound. This two page letter is written on U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara stationery is dated “Jan. 25 – 44.” It is enclosed in a free-franked, Marine Corps envelope and postmarked at Goleta, California on January 26, 1944..... More about World War II letter from a foul-mouthed, misogynist who hated serving in the Marine Corps
Stalag IIB (Hammerstein, Germany): 17 June 1944. Unbound. This German Kriegsfangenenpost Postkarte (prisoner of war mail postcard) is addressed to Jodice’s girlfriend in Watertown, Massachusetts. It bears an indistinct German town postmark and purple handstamp from Stalag IIB. A U.S. censor’s handstamp that was applied before delivery is in the..... More about World War II U.S. Prisoner of War Mail from Germany
Alexandria, Virginia: 1862. Unbound. This two-page letter is datelined “Near Alexander va Nov 13th 1862.” It is complete with an inch of toning along the top edge. Short .5” splits starting at the ends of one mailing fold. A transcript will be included. Aldrich was a member of the... More about Civil War soldier’s letter from an atrocious speller describing the layout of the massive...
Camp Butler (Springfield, Illinois): 1864. Unbound. In this letter a sutler, named Sam, describes his method of selling wares to soldiers at one of the largest Union training camps during the Civil War. “I had a very good trade yesterday amounting to 70$ so I went to town this morning to... More about Four-page letter from a sutler describing how he sold goods to soldiers at a large training camp
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. On... More about Letter from an American passenger describing the arrival of immigration ship and informing a...
Marietta, Ohio: 1892. Envelope or Cover. This advertising envelope features an illustration of ascending hot air balloon and a text that reads, “Billy F. Travise’s * Souvenir Minstrels * Season ’92. & ’93. Touring Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky.” The reverse notes that for the next season, the show will be..... More about Illustrated advertising envelope promoting Billy F. Travise’s Souvenir Minstrels
New York: 1814. Letter. This important three-page folio-sized manuscript letter reports on the American actions at the Siege of Fort Erie during September of 1814 including a detailed description of the sorties attacking British artillery batteries and the death of General Daniel Davis, the leader of the New York Militia... More about War of 1812 American Militia Letter - The Siege of Fort Erie
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...
1944-1945. Envelope only, no letter. The envelope was addressed to Private First Class Walter Mikucki at the Osaka Yodogawa Bunsho POW Camp in Japan. It has a typed “Prisoner of War Postage Free” free frank in the upper right corner and has received a Chicago “War Savings machine postmark dated..... More about Returned mail sent to a World War II Marine who was captured on Corregidor and died in a Japanese...
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 about Letter from a U. S. mariner held captive in Naples after his ship was captured and condemned...
Fort Direction (Macon), Georgia to Greensboro, Alabama: March 25, 1865. Envelope or Cover. This three-page letter was sent by Lanier to Waller just one week before the fall of Richmond and two weeks before Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. Its envelope is annotated on the front “Paid on the other side,”..... More about A mysterious, tongue-in-cheek letter from an Alabama Cavalry Sergeant to an Alabama Infantry...
Clay Center, Kansas: 1898. Envelope or Cover. The envelope features an illustration of a man hanging by his feet from a parachute attached to an ascending hot air balloon. It is addressed to “Secy of Fair. McPherson, Kansas.” The letterhead contains illustrations of “The Balloon Ascending, Leaving the Balloon, Parachute..... More about Illustrated advertising envelope and letter promoting “Professor” Edward Rush’s balloon...
Washington, DC: 1861-1863. Unbound. Six letters to family members at home, four from 1861 and two from 1863. One of the letters has its original envelope. All of the letters are complete except one that is missing its final page. The handwriting is legible. Three of the letters are written... More about Collection of six Civil War letters from a soldier who served from April of 1861 until he was...
Louisville, Kentucky: 1929. This small 2” x 3” typewritten advertisement was enclosed in the accompanying envelope with a printed return address that reads, “Presbyterian Colored Missions, Incorporated, 314 South Hancock Street, Louisville, KY.” The advertisement reads, “EXTRA ****** WANTED—TEACHERS At the Presbyterian Colored Missions, 314 S. Hancock St. Won’t YOU..... More about Job advertisement for teachers to work at the Presbyterian Colored Missions in Louisville, Kentucky
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...
Greenpoint (Brooklyn), New York: 1861. This 3-page letter and endorsement measure approximately 8” x 9”. It was apparently delivered by courier between Rowland’s Continental Iron Works and the Providence Tool and Armory Company, which employed both Borden and Andrews, as there are no postal markings. The letter has two horizontal..... More about Correspondence between Thomas F. Rowland, Colonel William Borden, and J.B. Andrews regarding the...
Camp Nelson, Kentucky to Worcester, Massachusetts: December 28, 1863. Unbound. This two-page letter is dated “Dec. 28th/1863”. Its envelope is franked with a 3-cent Washington stamp (Scott #65) tied to the cover with a circular, black “Camp Nelson, KY.” postmark dated “DEC 29” and a neat slash of black ink..... More about A risqué letter to a married woman from a white Union soldier (presumably from her husband), who...
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 about 12-page Letter from Canon City, Colorado to North Adams, Massachusetts referencing the Colorado...
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: 1817-1854. Unbound. This archive consists of 30 different stampless letters, some with enclosures. All the correspondence pertains to Oliver’s shipping business (ship conditions, repairs, cargo, business opportunities, invoices, pricing, illustrated bills of lading, weather, etc.) which was headquartered in Portsmouth-New Castle, New Hampshire. The letters were... More about Five-decade archive of letters and documents pertaining to the shipping business of Captain...
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...
Suffolk, Virginia: May 31, 1863. Unbound. This four-page letter is written on patriotic stationery that features an illustration of the U. S. Capitol. In it, Lewis—a member of the 13th Indiana Regiment—reports that it has been quiet as “the enemy has retired beyond the black water a distance of 20..... More about Letter from an Indiana soldier stationed at Suffolk, Virginia commenting upon an attemp by...
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 Burlingham... More about Letters to a Civil War deserter who escaped to Canada
Camp Sibley (Henderson) and Fairmount, Minnesota: 1862 and 1863. Unbound. Stephen’s first letter—on campaign stationer featuring John Fremont—was written from Camp Sible, Lower Sioux Agency. Its patriotic envelope-featuring the popular song, The Girl I Left Behind Me—was postmarked at Henderson, Minnesota on November 5, [1862]. The letter is in nice..... More about Two letters from a Minnesota militiaman who fought against the Sioux follow their barbarous...
