On eBay Now...Rare 1838 Steamboat Bill of Lading – "Harry Bluff" Memphis / William Patton... For Sale
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Rare 1838 Steamboat Bill of Lading – "Harry Bluff" Memphis / William Patton...:
$145.00
Item Specifics:
Date of Creation: March 7, 1838
Subject: 19th-Century Steamboat Commerce, River Transport, Cotton Shipping
Vessel: Steamboat Harry Bluff
Destinations: Port of Memphis to Wm. Patton
Provenance & Estate: William Patton Plantation Archive
Document Date Range: The broader archival collection spans from the 1820s through 1978
Condition: Excellent crisp antique document with original fold lines, light age toning, and clean manuscript ink (see photos).
A Remarkable 1838 Steamboat Bill of Lading: Cotton Shipment via the Steamboat "Harry Bluff"
Up for sale is an exceptional and beautifully preserved original steamboat bill of lading dated March 7, 1838. Issued at "Rhea" and shipped aboard the steamboat "Harry Bluff" bound for the port of Memphis to Wm. Patton, this document details a historical shipment of cotton bales marked for the plantation.
Handwritten manuscript details note shipments including bales of cotton with specific markings, freight rates, and a strong clerk's signature (Edw. J. Parker). Steamboat ephemera from the 1830s relating to the Mississippi River trade network and early plantation logistics is increasingly scarce and heavily sought after by riverboat and postal/paper ephemera collectors.
Historic Provenance: The William Patton Plantation Archive
This document comes with rock-solid, direct provenance from the historic William Patton Plantation estate archives. Established in the early 19th century by pioneering figures of the era—including key members like William H. and Columbus R. Patton, who played prominent roles in local politics and the Texas Revolutionary period—the plantation's papers map out generations of Southern and American history, commerce, and river trade.
This piece is part of a magnificent, family-preserved archive containing letters, legal papers, business ledgers, and ephemera spanning continuously from the 1820s through 1978. Few estates offer such a comprehensive, multi-generational paper trail documenting life, trade, and agriculture across more than 150 years.
📦 Upcoming Listings & Estate Note
Collectors, take note! This is part of an ongoing release from this incredible archive. We will continue rolling out more rare documents, letters, cotton receipts, and historical ephemera from the William Patton Plantation estate in the coming weeks. Be sure to save our seller profile or check back regularly to build your collection with pieces from this exceptional multi-decade archive (1820s–1978).
Condition Details
The document is in remarkable condition for its age, featuring crisp paper stock, vivid brown iron-gall ink handwriting, and standard historical fold lines. Please review all high-resolution photos carefully to assess the exact condition.
Shipping: Shipped securely with rigid backing and tracking to ensure safe delivery to your collection.
Combined Shipping: Available for multiple purchases. Please check out our other listings!
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