The state of the market for colonial goods
Two-page autograph letter signed to Rotch & Co. of New Bedford, from Horatio Sprague
Gilbraltar: 15 June, 1826. 4to (approx. 9¾" x 7¾"), integral address leaf and docket on verso, Salem (Mass.) roundstamp dated August 8; old folds, paper a little toned; very good, written in a bold and legible hand. Together with: another two-page letter signed to Rotch & Co. of New Bedford, from Alex. Barclay & Co., Gothenburg [Sweden], 1st May, 1829. 4to (approx. 10¾" x 8½"), plus integral address leaf and docket on verso, Boston, Mass. roundstamp dated July 5; old folds, paper a little toned; very good, written in a bold and legible hand, and signed "Alex Barclay & Co." in a second hand, with a note regarding an unsuccessful attempt to contact the captain of one of Rotch's brigs "that we were ready to furnish him with Iron to fill up his vessel." In the first letter, Sprague "take[s] the liberty to continue my advices [sic] upon the State of the market." He provides current prices on several different grades of sugar, coffee, "Buenos Ayres hides," "New Orleans & Upland cotton," "Carolina fresh Rice," "Kentucky tobacco," cocoa, and other commodities. He is unable to get a good price for pepper "owing to recent Sales of the article in England" at a low price. William R. Rotch (died 1828) originally made a fortune from whaling out of Nantucket. "[T]he Rotches were an early example of a vertically integrated corporation. From 1770s forward, the family owned and built whaling vessels, built and operated coastwise trading vessels that supplied naval stores and lumber to its own shipbuilding enterprise, transported whale oil and other goods, outfitted whaling vessels, operated its own store, made candles, owned wharves and storehouses in New Bedford and Nantucket, sold oil and bone on both national and international markets and more" (from the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum website). Willam Rotch Jr. built the handsome Greek Revival mansion that houses the museum on County St. in New Bedford in 1834. For his part, Horatio Sprague served as U.S. Consul in Gibraltar from 1832 until his death in 1848. The second letter accompanies an enclosure (not present) containing "our annual Lists of exports of Iron and imports of American & Colonial produce ... during the past year." Item #57290
Price: $225.00
