1719 Colonial Portsmouth Letter Signed By Thomas Burke Boston Merchant

1719 Colonial Portsmouth Letter Signed by Thomas Burke to John Ford | Early American Merchant Manuscript | Boston Trade

An original colonial American autograph letter signed by Thomas Burke, written at Portsmouth on December 8, 1719, and addressed to John Ford.

Written more than half a century before the American Revolution, the letter concerns a business transaction and financial settlement. Burke explains that he has been disappointed in expected returns and encloses either one pound in money or an order payable in Boston to complete payment.

The reverse of the manuscript contains fascinating contemporary household memoranda dated 1790, recording the movements of a colt and calf, illustrating the common eighteenth-century practice of reusing valuable paper for farm records.

Highlights

Original autograph letter signed by Thomas Burke

Addressed to John Ford

Portsmouth, December 8, 1719

References payment through Boston

Original laid paper with iron gall ink

Reverse with 1790 livestock records

Outstanding example of early colonial American commerce

One-of-a-kind historical manuscript

Condition

Expected wear for a document over 300 years old, including folds, edge losses, small tears, and age toning. Writing remains largely legible, and the manuscript displays very well.

An exceptional addition to any collection of:

Colonial America

Early American commerce

New England history

Manuscript letters

Genealogy

Revolutionary-era antecedents

Historic Americana

Guaranteed original.