THE EPHEMERA OF BUSINESS

A very popular subject that sells well on ebay. 1828 billhead top London - Taylor fishing tackle maker 1831 billhead top London - AR Jacobs  1868 billhead C. Bradburn & Co. Cleveland OH  1874 billhead Moore & Son Ellenville NY 1875 billhead Barton & Co. New York NY 1881 billhead Bradford & Anthony Boston MA 1881 billhead Gilbert Bailey Portland ME 1881 letterhead George A. Graves Springfield MA 1885 billhead Andrew Hendryx New Haven CT 1895 billhead Tracey, Wells & Co. Columbus OH 1899 billhead Sidney R. Baxter & Co. Boston MA 1899 billhead JW Tuttle & Co. Plattsburgh NY 1899 letterhead Miller, Sloss & Scott San Francisco CA 1903 billhead JC Schmidt & Son Memphis TN 1903 letterhead Marshall Wells Hardware Co. Duluth MN 1904 billhead Dame, Stoddard & Co.  Boston MA 1904 billhead Abbey & Imbrie New York NY 1905 billhead Wm Frank Hardware C...

Of all industries, that of manufacturing the pelts of animals into articles for the use of mankind is the most ancient, and hardly a country exists in which, to some extent, the skins of different beasts are not so used at the present time. The manufacturing of skins into articles of apparel and luxury is an industry apart from all others, and one requiring great knowledge and experience, as the stability as well as the appearance of most furs depends much upon the mode of curing, drying, and making up. The Canadian provinces owe their first start on the road to prosperity to the fur trade. The French pioneers discovered that as the Native Indians were ignorant of the value of the furs which they accumulated, an enormous profit was possible to the successful trader in those articles. In the infancy of the industry there was absolutely no limit to the percentage of profit, as the Native Indians would exchange the most valuable of pelts for European trinkets that were worth nothing...

A receipt is an acknowledgment of monies received. Receipts can be in manuscript format (handwritten) or in printed format. The printed receipt first appeared due to the levying of taxes with later adoption by charities, universities and other commercial enterprises. Soon security devices were added to the receipts to counteract counterfeiting. Rickards states that the earliest British receipts are those for lighthouse dues papers in use in the 17th century and later port dues in use in the 18th century. The 19th century started a proliferation of receipts in all manner of life. Some of the most coveted American receipts includes those involved in whaling and slavery. It is also among the most commonly encountered ephemera. One thing to note about receipts is the utilitarian form. Receipts are not highly decorated, nor do they tend to carry stylized printing. The receipt was a means of putting in writing what one received. One area of receipt collecting to consider is that of...

I am also giddy with glee over an ebay auction I won this afternoon for 8 awesome 1830s and 1840s billheads. I thought for sure I was going to have to spend a bundle but $56 won the lot. I tried sniping manually for the first time and it worked really well. I haven't decided if I want to try a sniper program yet. Anyway, here are two billheads I bought separately on ebay UK. I will show off the others when I receive them.