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HISTORY IN A PACKETComplete 1886 Maritime Customs Ephemera Archive – Re-Importation of Cargo En Route from Marseilles, France to the Ports of Philadelphia & New YorkHistorical Description:
Offered here is a remarkably complete, 5-piece original 1886 Maritime Customs Entry Packet that documents the operational loop of late-19th-century transatlantic trade. This archive directly pairs with the Port of New York Certificate of Exportation from the same transaction.The paperwork tracks 433 empty grain bags owned by the historic New York firm D.W. Manwaring. The bags were shipped full of American grain to Marseilles, France, aboard the steamship S.S. Gladiolus, emptied overseas, and returned via the Port of Philadelphia.This historically rich packet contains:
• The Master\'s Certificate: Signed by Captain Wm. Sinclair.
• The Manufacturer\'s Oath: Declaring the items as duty-free US-manufactured goods.
• The Invoice Waiver Application: Signed by Port Collector John M. Comstock.
• The Appraisement Order: Featuring a bold red \"ENTERED FREE\" customs stamp.Featuring magnificent, dark fountain pen cursive, multiple official custom house signatures, internal office stamps, and pristine letterhead typography, this group provides an incredibly rare, step-by-step window into Gilded Age merchant shipping.Condition Notes:
• Crisp, authentic vintage condition with standard historical tri-fold creases.
• Minimal edge wear; no major tears, chips, or ink bleeding.
• Hand-written text remains completely sharp, bold, and readable.
• Natural light paper toning appropriate for 140-year-old rag paper documents.52/31
