THE EPHEMERA OF BUSINESS

An interesting advertisement or notification on billheads for the UK is that the royal warrant of appointment. Royal Warrants have been issued for centuries to those who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family, so lending prestige to the supplier. Competition for Royal favor was intense. So the monarch had the pick of the country’s most skilled and talented trades people. The first rewards for this loyal service were Royal Charters granted to the trade guilds, later known as livery companies. By the 15th century Royal tradesmen were recognized with a Royal Warrant of Appointment. In the late 18th century Royal tradesmen began displaying the Royal Arms on their premises and stationery. One of the most common endorsements during that time was for “Her Majesty.” Which while not specific, I can only infer that the firm is referring to Queen Victoria of G...

From wikipedia: The United States did not have professional firefighters in the sense of government-run fire departments until around the time of the American Civil War. Prior to this time, amateur fire brigades would compete with one another to be the first to respond to a fire because insurance companies paid brigades to save buildings. Underwriters also employed their own Salvage Corps in some cities. The first known female firefighter Molly Williams took her place with the men on the dragropes during the blizzard of 1818 and pulled the pumper to the fire through the deep snow. Interestingly, during the 1800s and early 1900s volunteer fire companies served not only as fire protection but as political machines. However, the first organized municipal fire brigade in the world was established in Edinburgh, Scotland, when the Edinburgh Fire Engine Establishment was formed in 1824, led by James Braidwood. London followed in 1832 with the London Fire Engine Establishment. On April 1, 1853...

Photo billheads tend toward the early 1900s and show an actual photo of the company. The few that I have seen on ebay show off the firm's business building. Takes away the ability for a shop to exaggerate their establishment. Not sure if these billheads were more expensive to produce or if the black and white photo was not appealing to firms who at that time wanted big bold colors.

Youle was a well-known family name in New York among founders and cutlers. I have been able to piece together a short family genealogy of the family. Unfortunately, I cannot 100% verify that the links I have made to family members are correct. If anyone has more info on the Youles I would be very interested in reading about it. While a lot of research states that John and James Jr were sons of James – there is some conflict about this. While James Jr certainly could be a son, I believe that John, George, James, and Joseph were all brothers with perhaps another John as a nephew. The Colonial Newsletter article is what is perplexing about the ties between the brothers/nephews/sons. The article states that James was killed in his shop and left behind a wife June (I believe her name was Jane) and that Jane died young and left three underage children: Timothy, Thomas and June (again possibly Jane). In sum, I believe James, Joseph, George and John were brothers – and there was a John...

The Youle billhead is particularly interesting in that what it itemizes. The purchaser was the Sloop Sea Gull dated December 18, 1822. Youle put one set of sleigh shoes on the sloop and also charged for cartage. The billhead is signed by Mr. George Youle, Jun. The Sea Gull was built as the river steamer built Enterprise by the Connecticut Steam Boat Company of Hartford CT. It was launched in November, 1818. In December, 1822 it was purchased by the US Navy for $16,000 for use as a shallow water operating against pirates along the coast of Cuba. It was renamed the Sea Gull, only the second steamship in the US Navy and the first to serve actively as a warship. The Sea Gull served as a dispatch boat in Commodore Porter’s “Mosquito Fleet,” employed in the West Indies for the suppression of piracy in 1823-1824. The Sea Gull served in the West Indies looking for pirates until 1825, when she was declared unfit for service and fitted out as a receiving ship in Philadelphia until she wa...