2006-03
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/28/2006
This archive of over 700 documents and letters highlights the last decades of Salem, Massachusetts as an international trading post. It contains the papers of Captain Charles Henry Allen and his merchant son George H. Allen, both of Salem, and it concerns the shipping business of Stone, Silsbee & Pickman, for whom Charles was a captain and Pickman, Silsbee & Allen, in which George had an interest. These papers date from the 1850's through the 1880's, while these firms were primarily interested in the Philippines, Indies and China trades routes, concerning the shipment of sugar, hemp and tobacco. The papers pertain to accounts of these firms and Salem vessels but not specifically to the Allens. Included with this grouping are documents to famous clipper ships such as Syren, Sea Serpent, and Newsboy as well as many others engaged in the India and Philippines trades. This enormous grouping includes over seventy (70) letters pertaining to "Manilla cigar" trade, dozens of invoices many with fine illustrated bill heads, all types of business correspondence, miscellaneous letters, some relating to the death of a sailor, and much more. A short list includes: 1855 Agreement papers for the "Ship Syren" of Salem, "now bound from the Port of Boston to San Francisco at and from thence to such port or ports as the master may in the Indian or Pacific Ocean and back to a port of discharge in the United States. Fine...plus; Agreement broadsheet for the 'Ship Shirley" of Salem, 1857, listing all of the crew many and their marks. Fine...plus; Agreement papers, 1857 for the Ship Shirley from Liverpool to Calcutta. Listing the entire crew with full description. VG. ...plus; Related clearance papers for the 'Ship Shirley", some quite rare....plus; Twenty-two (22) papers relating to Ship St. Paul in Manila, 1847-48. VG...plus; Two scarce documents from St. Helena, 1848, one with bill head depicting the Tomb of Napoleon...plus; Much More. A wonderful and large collection of manuscript material pertaining to shipping industry of the 2nd half of the 18th century.
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