1827 Stampless folded letter - historical content
This 1827 stampless folded letter is addressed to the prominent antebellum figure Elie Beatty, Esq., longtime Cashier of the Hagerstown Bank in Maryland.
The front displays an exceptionally crisp, clear strike of a circular red "SEP 18" postmark accompanied by a bold manuscript "10" cent rate mark. The reverse features its original striking red wax letter seal residue.
The highly legible interior letter is datelined "Groton, January 29th 1827". The author declines a farm purchase for $1,200 down in favor of staying in "Old Groton," sending his brother-in-law, Mr. Clift, to look at the land instead as he migrates west. Most remarkably, the letter includes a complete local "Price Current" agricultural market list charting the costs of corn, rye, oats, pork, beef, and hay by the ton/hundredweight.
A spectacular, museum-worthy addition for collectors of Maryland postal history, early banking archives, or Jacksonian-era Americana.
Condition: Excellent antique condition. Minor edge wear and toning consistent with a 200-year-old document. Securely packaged and shipped with tracking.
The Addressee: Elie Beatty was a prominent figure in Western Maryland, serving as the long-time cashier and later interim president of the Hagerstown Bank (founded in 1807). Historically, a bank "cashier" acted as the chief operating manager. Thousands of surviving "stampless covers" addressed to him make up a famous archive detailing early American regional banking and trade history.
The Dilemma: The writer describes a potential land acquisition ("Mr Millers farm") priced at $1,200 down. Though interested, the writer decides to stay in "Old Groton" (likely Groton, Connecticut) and passes the opportunity to a brother-in-law, Mr. Clift, who is looking to migrate westward.
1820s Economy: The letter features a "Price Current" list tracking standard commodities of the era, which gives unique insight into agricultural values in early 1827:
Corn & Rye: 75 cents per bushel
Oats: 50 cents per bushel
Pork: $5.18 per hundredweight (cwt)
Beef: $3.50 to $4.50 per hundredweight (cwt)
Hay: $20.00 per ton
