1848 Stampless. Interesting Quaker letter. See details below

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

1827

Stamp Type

General Issue

Condition

Cover (Postal History)

Stamp Format

Single

Year of Issue

1980

Item Description

Lengthy, 2 pg. letter, approx. 7-3/4" x 9-3/4", dated at WEST BRADFORD, PA., AUG. 22, 1848, from Anna Mary Hoopes to her friend and school mate, Lydia Ann Ring, at Chadds Ford, Delaware County, Pa.

Folded letter was privately carried outside of the mail, and has no postmarks (West Bradford is only about 13 miles from Chadds Ford).

A well-written letter from this young Quaker lady, written in the Quaker style, with "thee", "thy", etc., with GREAT CONTENT, including remembering "such a time about some ANTI-SLAVERY pamphlets we found one first day after we came home from meeting on Quaker Hill". She also writes of a visit to Phoenixville, and walking through the tunnel there - a reference to the BLACK ROCK TUNNEL, cut through a hill in PHOENIXVILLE, Pa., and opened in 1838 for the old Reading Railroad. It was the 3rd rail tunnel constructed in the U.S., and is still in use. More good content, including a verse of poetry, some gossip, etc.

Includes:

"Dear Lydia,
It is with pleasure that i now take my pen to address thee, hoping these few lines may find thee in a perfect state of health, as i am at present, which i consider is one of the greatest temporal blessings we can enjoy, for which we cannot be too thankful. I have been looking for a letter from thee this some time till looking was in vain. Indeed i may say frequently; with anxious look my wandering eye, stays far away from home, then with a deep and heartfelt sigh, says why, why don't it come?

So i thought i would write a few lines to let thee know that i am still a living. I often think of the fine times we had last winter and wish that we could be together this summer. I expect thee has not forgotten the time that thee, m.A. Martin and myself has such a time about some anti slavery pamphlets we found one first day after we came home from meeting on quaker hill. I was at west chester the 4th of july and saw s. Haddock, h.M. Steele, and h. Harvey. J. Ingram was gallanting harriet about, but i did not see anything of alban. Has thee given out the notion of taking the boarding school that is now occupied by mrs. Edmonds?, as i believe there was some such talk last winter. L, thee must not be offended at some of the nonsense that i have written here.

I must tell thee that i was at phoenixville on seventh day last to see the tunnel and had a very pleasant time. I expect thee has often heard of the tunnel. It is a road under ground, cut through rocks, and the cars passes through it. It was a great curiosity to me. There was several of us in company and we all walked through it. It is 645 yards in length.

I expect thee is going to school this summer. I have not been teaching since harvest and i expect to stay at home now. I want thee to be sure and come and see soon, for i want to see thee very bad. Write a great long letter and tell me how thee has been getting along this summer and whether m.A. Martin is married to s.M. Or not, and how she is coming on, and tell her when thee sees her to write to me and also come and see me, and give my love to her and keep a large share for thyself.

Please excuse the writing, as i am in a great hurry, for i expect company this afternoon. So now i must conclude for the present. So farewell,

From Thy Sincere and Affectionate Schoolmate,

Anna Mary Hoopes.

'Long Shall Memory Dwell With Me,

on Happy Hours Spent With Thee'.
a.M.H."
I have hundreds of stampless to upload. If you find them as fascinating as I do, be sure to come back often as I will upload as fast as I can. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Seller Information

Seller

BarryT (9813)

Registered Since

01/17/2008

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Ontario, Canada

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