1741 Colonial Philadelphia Fur Trade Bill of Lading — Joseph Paschall, Ship Constantine, Bound for London

An early colonial American maritime document recording the shipment of a chest of furs and skins from Philadelphia to London, dated October 18, 1741.

This partly printed bill of lading, completed in period manuscript, names Joseph Paschall of Philadelphia as shipper and Edward Wright as master of the ship Constantine, then riding at anchor in the Delaware River. The cargo, described as “One Chest of Furrs & Skins,” was consigned to Lawrence Williams, merchant in London, for the shipper’s account and risk. Freight was specified at four pounds.

Signed at the foot by Captain Edward Wright, the document retains a distinctive manuscript cargo mark and “No. 1” in the broad left margin. It specifies that four corresponding bills of lading were issued, with fulfillment of one rendering the remaining three void.

The printed text preserves the language of eighteenth-century seafaring commerce, opening “Shipped by the Grace of God” and concluding with a prayer for the vessel’s safe arrival. Its cargo provides a tangible connection to the fur and skin trade linking colonial Pennsylvania with the London market more than three decades before American independence.

Condition: Light age toning, old folds, scattered spotting, and minor edge wear and irregularities. A pronounced vertical center fold is visible. Printed text and manuscript entries remain generally clear, with a bold captain’s signature. Please examine the photograph for condition details.

A compelling example of early Pennsylvania commerce, colonial shipping, and the Atlantic fur trade.