1862 Hartford & New Haven RR / O. D. Munn Scientific American Letterhead
$ 23.76
Description
1862 Hartford & New Haven RR / O. D. Munn Scientific American Letterhead. 🕰️ Historical Context 1. The publication was a leading voice for scientific progress, industrial invention, and patent information. That aligns perfectly with the date of the letter, May 24, 1862. Transcription Front page: Office of the Scientific American, No. 37 Park Row. New-York, May 24, 1862 W. Bement Esq. Treasurer Dear Sir, Please deliver to Mr. Wales my dividend check and oblige. Respectfully yours, O. D. Munn (in pencil below) New York New Haven R.R. Reverse side: O. D. Munn 13 🧾 Document Type This is a dividend payment authorization letter, written from the Office of the Scientific American in New York City on May 24, 1862, by Orson Desaix Munn, one of the publishers and proprietors of the influential magazine Scientific American. Munn authorizes William Bement, Treasurer of the New York & New Haven Railroad Company, to deliver his dividend check to a third party, Mr. Wales. 🕰️ Historical Context 1. The Scientific American Office (37 Park Row) At the time of this letter, Scientific American—founded in 1845—was published at 37 Park Row, in the heart of New York’s publishing district near City Hall Park. The publication was a leading voice for scientific progress, industrial invention, and patent information. The letterhead itself, printed in Gothic type, is a fine example of mid-19th-century commercial stationery, reflecting the prestige of the publication. 2. O. D. Munn (Orson Desaix Munn, 1824–1907) Munn was the senior partner in Munn & Company, which published Scientific American and managed the patent agency of the same name. Beyond publishing, Munn was a well-known railroad and industrial investor, with holdings in several northeastern railroads—including the New York & New Haven Railroad. This letter confirms his ownership of company stock and his receipt of regular dividends—routine among well-to-do New York businessmen of the era. 3. W. Bement, Treasurer William Bement, Treasurer of the New York & New Haven Railroad, oversaw shareholder transactions, including dividend payments. Many extant letters from shareholders like Munn and others (e.g., John C. Green, C. H. Delafield, etc.) were directed to him around this period, demonstrating his role as the company’s fiscal contact for investors. 4. Mr. Wales (likely associate or clerk) The letter instructs that Munn’s dividend check be handed to Mr. Wales, likely a clerk, messenger, or perhaps a representative from the bank or firm managing Munn’s affairs. This kind of authorization was typical before the widespread use of mailed dividend checks—many shareholders delegated collection to trusted agents. 5. Dividend Number “13” The number written on the back—“13”—corresponds to the 13th semiannual dividend of the New York & New Haven Railroad, issued in May 1862. That aligns perfectly with the date of the letter, May 24, 1862. This dividend would have been for the first half of 1862, typically paid at about 4½%–5% on $100 par shares. It measures approx. 5" x 8" **Shipped securely inside a poly sleeve sandwiched in cardboard, inside a rigid mailer via USPS Ground Advantage service w/ tracking** Click HERE to see postcards I have available. Click HERE to see transit and trade tokens I have available. Click HERE to see billheads I have available. Click HERE to see letterheads I have available. For U.S. based orders, the shipping cost for the first purchase is $4.00 and no extra cost for additional similar items such as billheads, letterheads, tickets, patches, post cards, trade cards, stock certificates that can safely be shipped in the same package. I have over 58,000 unique items here on eBay - Click HERE to visit my store & save with combined shipping for multiple buys. For U.S. orders on a PC, use the "add to cart" feature to select multiple items before paying. If the cart does not combine shipping costs, I will refund excess fees as I pack your order the following morning. I have enjoyed buying and selling vintage collectibles for over 40 years. Unless noted otherwise, all items I offer are original and not reproductions. Please review photos for condition issues (if any) as they are part of the description, and contact me with questions before bidding or buying. All items are securely packed and shipped via USPS. Please rely on my 25+ yr. 10,000+ 99.9% feedback rating as a guide to your buying decision. I hope all is well with you and your family — thanks for stopping by! – Jerry
