J Y Gossler & Co Lumber Invoice 1895 Philadelphia Millwork Hemlock Pine For Sale

This late 19th-century commercial invoice documents a lumber transaction between J. Y. Gossler & Co., prominent Philadelphia dealers in hemlock, white pine, and yellow pine lumber, and a customer identified as "M Hairmount Park Ammission" (likely a misspelled reference to Fairmount Park or a local estate). Dated December 5, 1895 (as indicated by the handwritten "189 V" and "Dec 5"), the item originates from the firm's location at Old York Road and Butler Street, with manager H. M. Tomlinson's separate address noted at 4311 N. Eighteenth Street. The printed letterhead features an ornamental border framing the company's specialty in millwork, including detailed product listings for flooring, fencing, shingles, and architectural elements like doors, sashes, and mantels—showcasing the breadth of Victorian-era building materials. The handwritten ledger entries record specific lumber quantities and dimensions in period trade terminology, including "16ft Shelog," "12 23 Shop Boards," and abbreviations like "Y.P." (yellow pine) and "4/4 C.P. Rd." (four-quarter clear pine random lengths). The document's "TERMS CASH" policy and disclaimer about claims within ten days reflect 1890s business practices, while the "Duplicate" notation suggests this was a customer copy. Printed on ruled paper with pink guidelines, the invoice exhibits typical age-related wear, including creases and folds not fully visible in images, along with edge tears consistent with ephemera of this era. As a tangible record of Philadelphia's late-Victorian building trade, it offers insight into regional lumber specifications, pre-standardization measurement conventions, and the operational details of a thriving millwork supplier during the city's industrial expansion.