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Up for sale is an authentic, original handwritten letter dated June 11, 1857, from Philadelphia to Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Written by Benjamin Milnes, this piece offers a rare, primary-source look into the logistics of the mid-19th-century anthracite coal trade.
Historical Significance:
Correspondent: Written by Benjamin Milnes to Richard Lee in Pottsville, PA.
Topics: Details the coal transportation network, operations at the Pine Forest Colliery, and the difficult logistics of managing inventory between "egg" and "stove" coal sizes.
Industrial Context: Highlights the high-stakes, day-to-day pressures of the industry, including labor management and payment challenges in pre-Civil War Pennsylvania.
Condition:
This is an authentic, age-worn document. It shows expected signs of handling consistent with its 1857 origins, including original horizontal and vertical mailing fold lines, overall paper toning/browning, and minor edge wear. The handwriting remains fully legible. Please review the high-resolution photos for full detail on the paper's condition.
This is a prime candidate for collectors of Pennsylvania history, industrial ephemera, or coal mining memorabilia. Please reach out if you have any questions.
