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Original June 23, 1834 handwritten merchant correspondence from Salem, Massachusetts, signed by Robert Brookhouse (1779–1866), a prominent Salem merchant associated with maritime commerce and the West African cowhide trade.
This early 19th-century business letter discusses commercial trading conditions, market prices, the arrival of goods from Africa, cash sales, and the availability of merchandise. Brookhouse comments on withholding goods from the market in anticipation of higher prices and discusses transactions involving quantities and prices of approximately 25–27 cents.
Robert Brookhouse was an established Massachusetts merchant whose business interests included the importation and sale of West African cowhides. His surviving business papers, shipping records, and correspondence are preserved in the collections of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, under the Robert Brookhouse Papers (MSS 152).
Dated June 23, 1834, this correspondence provides a firsthand record of American merchant activity, international trade, commodity pricing, and commercial practices during the Jacksonian era.
The original document is handwritten in brown ink on folded period paper, with the Brookhouse signature at the conclusion and additional handwriting on the exterior folded panel.
Details:
* Date: June 23, 1834
* Origin: Salem, Massachusetts
* Signed: R. Brookhouse (Robert Brookhouse)
* Document type: Original handwritten merchant business letter
* Historical subjects: American maritime commerce, African trade, merchant correspondence, 19th-century business history
* Approximate dimensions: 8 × 10 inches when unfolded
Condition:
Original 1834 document showing age-related toning, staining, fold creases, and a noticeable area of paper loss affecting portions of the handwritten text. Additional edge wear and discoloration are present. The signature, date, and substantial portions of the correspondence remain legible.
An original piece of early American commercial history with a documented connection to one of Salem’s established 19th-century maritime merchants.
Please examine all photographs for the handwriting, historical content, paper loss, and overall condition. The document pictured is the exact original being offered.
