Hi Everyone, I am trying to figure out what this piece is. I see a postmark plus old stamp but it's ON the paper, not inside an envelope. There is also some sort of red round marking.
I tried to look up the bank online but I am not sure I can read the correct spelling of the name? Did they used to send items like this without envelope? Here are the photos
Historical records confirm that Mr. W.L. Schaffer, Esq., of Philadelphia was the Cashier at the Girard Bank (circa 1866), so that, too, fits into the time frame of this document.
Mr. W.L. Schaffer was also President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (circa 1860).
This is called a "folded letter". Postage in those days was based in part on how many sheets of paper were being sent, and an envelope was considered a sheet of paper. So it was cheaper to simply fold up the written sheet and seal it with the wax. An entire is any cover that is a full envelope or folded letter, as opposed to one that is missing some portion.
Only a minor connection, but in the sixth scan there is a list of payments and the first name is "Bush and Lobdell" which was a railroad wheel manufacturer from Wilmington, Delaware back in the day. Here's a scan of their period letterhead:
Some railroad collectors might find that connection interesting.
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Posted 04/26/2013 9:31 pm
