Half page autograph letter signed to R(ichard) B. Callender.
Charleston, South Carolina. July 27, 1840. 25 cm. Single sheet folded. Holograph note on a printed circular concerning ship's agent business. George W. Brown (b. 1803), an attorney "formerly of Nicholasville, Ky" came to Charleston in 1840 to go into business as a ship's agent, "a general Commission and Forwarding Business...." His business is shown in Charleston city directories as "Brown & Hyams; George W. Brown and Mordecai Hyams, Ship Agents, Brown & Co., Wharf." Charleston was active in the commodities and slave trade. The note, approx. 100 words, written on this circular to R.B. Callender (likely Richard Callender, a merchant) attempts to drum up business: "I presume the liberty of suggesting that I am conducting a general Agency and Commission business as the opposite page will show, and that there is a constant and extensive demand in our market for the following and many other articles in which you deal. Sperm oil at 120 @ 135 ct per gallon, Black fish, and Elephant oil 40 to 45..." Items also include gin, rum, and candles. Brown & Co. operated out of Gibbs' South Wharf, at the foot of Vendue range. The circular states: "He flatters himself that his judgment in Western Produce, to wit, Bale Rope, Bagging, Grain, Bacon, Pork, Lard, Sugar, and Molasses... will be excelled by none in the market." Item #67617
Price: $150.00