Seeking Info on this 1850 Cover

[AU24K]

Can anyone provide info on this stampless 1850 cover?
It appears to be a bill of some sort.
I'm having difficulty deciphering what is written.
Is it collectible and, if so, what would be the value?
Appreciate your replies.

Best Wishes,

Scott

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Agony and Death on a Gold Rush Steamer: The Disastrous Sinking of the Side-Wheeler Yankee Blade - Grab it through Amazon!

[robertk]

I can't read all of it, but I can read enough to believe it says "S Slater & Sons" of Webster, Mass (Massachusetts) -- a town which he apparently founded. There is plenty of info on him online, including a biography here. Maybe a bill or receipt? It concludes with "which we believe you will find correct. Yours respectfully" but I can't make out the name.

 

[Red-Coat]

In March 1845, Congress reduced and simplified postal rates to 5¢ per ½ oz. for a letter sent up to 300 miles (and 10¢ for a letter sent over 300 miles). Handstamps in ink were used until they began to be phased out after the first government issue of adhesive stamps on 1 July 1847 (although some post offices had already begun producing ‘provisional’ adhesives), becoming mandatory in 1855.

I don’t think there’s any particular value in the handstamped cover itself. Standard New York 5 cent red covers from this period seem to have asking prices of no more than about $20.

S. Slater & Sons was a textile business with several mills (the sons were made partners in 1829). Although Slater himself is famous as "Father of the American Industrial Revolution", this appears to be a mundane settlement of an outstanding account by one of Slater’s many customers.

I can’t read the detailed account statement, but one of items listed seems to be a bale of 12 yd. [yards?] of sheeting. The letter below the account seems to read “Enclosure(?). Please find check for balance of a/c as per statement above which we believe you will find correct.” I can’t read the customer name but since the letter refers to “we”, I think it’s generically signed on behalf of a company.

As such, I would think any additional premium for historical interest would be pretty minimal.