When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
1833 Original Legal Letter: Debt Negotiation & Bond Case (Thomas L. Shields, Esq.)
Capture an authentic, primary-source window into 1830s legal and financial practice. This original, handwritten letter, dated February 21, 1833, was sent from Philadelphia to the noted attorney Thomas Leet Shields (1809–1879) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The correspondence details a high-stakes negotiation regarding a debtor named Gregg Alger. The author seeks Mr. Shields' professional legal counsel on whether to relinquish bail, how to structure a bond payable by installments, and strategies to secure repayment. Thomas L. Shields was a well-known attorney of the era, and this letter offers a rare, tangible example of the intersection between early American commerce and the professional legal strategies of the 19th century.
### Why This Piece is Exceptional
Historical Provenance: Addressed to Thomas Leet Shields (1809–1879), a prominent figure from a family deeply influential in the history of Western Pennsylvania.
Detailed Legal Subject Matter: Discusses debt obligations, bail relinquishment, installment bonds, and collateral security—providing a snapshot of real legal negotiation in the 1830s.
Authentic Period Features: The original folded letter includes an addressed panel and remnants of the red wax seal used to secure the document during transit.
Display Appeal: Written in elegant, clear period-appropriate script that remains fully legible and visually striking.
Physical & Historical Details
Date: February 21, 1833
Sender: Thomas Shewell (signed)
Recipient: Thomas L. Shields, Attorney at Law, Pittsburgh, Pa
Condition: Consistent with its age, the letter exhibits expected fold lines and light toning. There is a small tear from original opening near the wax seal area, which serves as authentic evidence of its age and historical use.
Perfect For:
Collectors of early American legal manuscripts, 19th-century financial and banking history, and Pennsylvania ephemera. This letter is a valuable addition for anyone researching the professional life of Thomas L. Shields.
Please refer to image_5.png, image_6.png, image_7.png, image_8.png, image_9.png, image_10.png, image_11.png, and image_12.png for detailed views of the manuscript, signature, and postal markings.
