1840 Arkansas stampless letter PLANTATION MURDER

Home > Worthopedia – Price Guide > Stamps >

1840 Arkansas stampless letter PLANTATION MURDER - WOW!

Terms and Conditions for using our site

1840 Arkansas stampless letter PLANTATION MURDER - WOW!

Sold For:

or Sign In to see what it's worth.

Sold Date: 02/13/2011
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Stamps

Postal History

Early Arkansas stampless folded letter that gives a detailed, first ahdn account of how tough it was to do business in the emerging south in 1840! This is a detailed 3 page letter written July 6, 1840 by J.D. Harris with a dateline of Litchfield, Arkansas and a manuscript town mark of Elizabeth, Arkansas. It was sent "Pr Mail" (sometimes meant steamer mail) to Messrs William Prince & Son in Flushing "11 miles North New York City" S.N.Y. (State of New York). Interesting address! I found a reference to Dr. J.D. Harris - an early settler in eastern Arkansas - see the attached: /white/vitals/Goodspeed_White_County.html William Prince was the proprietor of a noteworthy early tree nursery in Flushing - see attached early advertisement. /doc/33257576/1846-Prince-s-Lainnaen-Botanic-Garden-and-Nurseries-Flushing-Near-New-York The writer gives a great discourse about life in early Arkansas, how one young planter murdered his neighbor - Robert Crump - by putting a knife into his heart during a dispute. He describes the horrible pain suffered by the man, and how he left behind a wife and 11 children. He identifies the killer as "Bailey." He talks about how impossible it is to do large business transations because Arkansas banks, even in more established cities like Bateville, can't put together larger bank drafts to complete business deals. So investors are forced to try and get eastern banks in New York to help them. "You have not the smallest conception of the difficulties of doing business in this almost perfect grave land and wilderness of country in the present state of affairs. this part of Arkansas State is very much the State of Mississippi. It being now almost imposssible to collect a debt in any way of shape......" He goes on to give several examples, frequently referencing the last name Mitchell - I believe a client or business associate. This is really an extraordinary early Arkansas letter. I studied it several times and each time found new details. Hence, a complete research initiative should be well worth it. Postmark is an Elizabeth, Arkansas July 30 1840 town mark with a rate mark of 25 cents. Letter is fully intact with old and recent archival tape repairs. It should be handled with care. Terms $1.00 postage in the United States, and only $ 2.00 elsewhere. We combine postage for multiple purchases. Postal insurance and registration extra. We're members of the American Philatelic Society. We've been selling on eBay since July 1998 and - thanks to the support of customers like you - have a 100% feedback rating. !

I accept payments from anyone with a credit card at PayPal - always FREE!