Interesting Letter for the Weekend
RKKay
Posts: 3,017 ✭✭✭
From Robert Coulton Davis to James Ross Snowden, dated 6-24-1858. Don't forget to read the op-ed.
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RKKay
Posts: 3,017 ✭✭✭
Comments
Nice! Although not much love for the flying eagle cent.
Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association
The flying eagle never struck up as well as they hoped. It does seem like it didn’t get some love until after it was replaced.
While sometimes hard to read, you have to admire the penmanship of the people of that time. Such care and attention to style that we’ve all but lost today.
isn't "abominable abortion" ban worthy here?
Thursday A.M.June 24/58(?)Col.(?) J. Ross SnowdenDear Sir;I enclose to you an article clipped from the "Daily News" of yesterday, thinking you may not have seen it. The issues from the Mint, reflect great credit upon your Directorship, and that you may ? ? in this responsible position now honored by yourself, is the ? ? of.Very TrulyYours ?Robt Coulton DavisThe signature flourish at the end is quite impressive.
The obituary of the author (1823-1888):
65y
Married
Pharmacist
1538 Vine Street, 10th Ward
Philadelphia Inquirer, August 25, 1888
"DEATH OF ROBERT C. DAVIS
The Celebrated Coin and Autograph Collector Expires of Consumption
Mr. Robert Coulton Davis, the druggist and numismatist, died yesterday afternoon shortly after 2 o'clock, at his residence, Sixteenth and Vine streets.
Mr. Davis was celebrated as the possessor of the most complete collection of American coins and autographs of historical personages in this city. No expense of time or money was too great to deter him from securing rare autographs and coins, and as he pursued this fancy for the 50m years of his active life, he had a most remarkable collection.
He was born in 1823, at Second and Poplar streets, in this city, was educated at the Moravian School at Nazareth, and soon after completing his education commenced studying the drug business with Charles Ellis who kept a store on Chestnut street, above second. In 1845 he,located at Sixteenth and Vine streets, where he remained until his death. He was believed to be the oldest druggist in the city. His wife and three sons survive him.
Mr. Davis' collection embraced a complete set of United States coins and nearly all those coined in the Colonial days. It is a far better collection than the one on exhibition at the Mint, which lacks a great many pieces. His collection of autographs is, it is believed, superior to any other in the country. Among his valued possessions are autograph letters from every signer of the Declaration of Independence, with steel engravings of the signers, which is believed to be the only perfect set in existence.
He also owned autograph letters from, the signers of the Articles of Confederation, autographs of the Presidents of the United States and their wives from Washington down, autograph letters of every Cabinet officer from the foundation of the government, autographs of Washington and his generals and of many Revolutionary worthies, He had a curious collection of portraits and engravings of Washington numbering several hundred and many letters written by him, including one of four pages, foolscap size, in a wonderful state of preservation. His treasures are arranged in cabinets, and hundreds of visitors from this and other states called to view them.
Mr. Davis was an authority on local history, and Thomson Westcott, who compiled the standard history of this city, regarded him as the best posted man in local affairs in his acquaintance. He was a member of many societies, including the American Philosophical Society, the Pennsylvania Historical Society, the Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons, the Indian Rights Association, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society, the Union League, and the Masonic Order. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, having joined that society when the church building was located on Second street."
1880 US Census, Philadelphia
DAVIS, Robert Coulton, 56, born PA, apothecary
DAVIS, Jennie E., 56y, born NJ, wife
DAVIS, Samuel B., 26y, born PA, son, apothecary
DAVIS, Rembrandt P., 24y, born PA, son, jeweler
DAVIS, Frank C., 20y, born PA, son, apothecary
BAKER, Catherine A., 68y, born NJ, sister-in-law
McGlensy, Rosa, 23y born Ireland, servant
DOWNEY, Kate, 30y, born Ireland, servant
Philadelphia Inquirer, January 2, 1891
Orphans Court Auditing notices
1. DAVIS - 1st and final account of Rembrandt P. Davis, et al, Administrators of Robert C. Davis, dec'd.
I really like the flying eagle cent. If the people then were alive today, abominable abortion might be nice compared to what they would say about zincolns.
I wonder what the intent of the letter was?? On the surface, it looks like Snowden is being buttered up for a request of some sort??
Shield reverse Indian Cent , no less. Must have been the wide, fancy shield.
Choice and wish is a bit of a guess.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
Interesting article... even more so - to many - is the penmanship. Since cursive is no longer taught (in most schools), it certainly can be categorized as a lost art... actually the 'art' part was long ago lost for most people. Hand written letters were still an important part of personal communication when I was a young man. Now, some finger taps and emoji's seem to be the means. I believe we, as a culture, have lost something. Cheers, RickO
Does anyone know what 'expires of consumption' means?
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That letter is collectible for the handwriting alone.
I would think death from alcohol.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
"long continue" / "desire fondest"?
Yeah, that was the term that was used for a long time for tuberculosis.
My OmniCoin Collection
My BankNoteBank Collection
Tom, formerly in Albuquerque, NM.
Thanks - I queried my wife about this (well versed in healthcare) - she agreed it was almost surely a reference to lung problem.
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