William W. Wilbur is infamous for having been an auctioneer who owned and operated a mercantile during the pre-Civil War era of Charleston, South Carolina. Wilbur’s business activities were quite varied, and included auctions, retail, brokering, notary, and most notoriously, being an active agent in the slave trade.
Of the many token varieties listed in Wright, Miller, and Rulau, few are as difficult to attribute than the merchant token emissions of Nathan C. Folger. Collectors will find that this is not because the emissions consist of a vast number of obscure differences, but rather because the aforementioned authors did an incredibly confusing job of documenting the varieties.
History clearly records that the 1860 Presidential Race was a pivotal moment for the future of the United States. The movement for the abolition of slavery was not a quick phenomena, but rather one which took decades…
Of the earliest pioneers in the invention of practical photograpic arts, the Meade Brothers hold a prominent role with its introduction in the United States. In the early days of photography, the process was known as daguerreotyping…
Born in Appomattox Virginia in 1834, Charles John Raine arrived in Lynchburg Virginia sometime in the mid-1850s. Shortly after his arrival, he formed a partnership with Robert Henry Glass, and the two men opened a clothing store…
During the 19th century Philadelphia was the umbrella and parasol capital of the United States. Unlike the inexpensive contraptions we take for granted today, during the 19th century the manufacture of these devices required skilled labor capable of crafting intricate components …
The Bailey & Co began its existence as the Bailey & Kitchen Jewelry Company in 1830. Founded by Joseph Trowbridge Bailey and Andrew B. Kitchen, the firm was located at 136 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia. Joseph Bailey was an accomplished silversmith and jeweler, and along with his partner Andrew Kitchen,Continue Reading
A man of many talents and much ambition, Frederick M. Starr was born on May 1st 1799 in the dawning days of the United States. At the age of 20, Starr moved from his birthplace of Warren Connecticut to New York City, where he started work as a clerk atContinue Reading
The brainchild of a German immigrant, New York’s Crystal Palace was built in the early 1850s as an exhibition hall. Inspired by London’s famous Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, entrepreneur and promoter Christian E. Detmold had a dream to erect a similar venue in the United States, where
It wasn’t until the 1830s that carbonated beverages became popular by the American public. Until that time, manufacturing carbonated water was a very difficult and time consuming process. English Chemist Joseph Priestley in 1767 discovered a method for creating carbonated water by infusing plain water with carbon
Formed by Edwin P. Christy in about 1842, Wood’s Minstrels were a troupe of performers who traveled and provided musical and comedic entertainment. Sometime thereafter, the troupe settled down, and started performing regular shows
Born in Reutlingen in the Kingdom of Wurtemburg in 1809, John “Jacob” Seeger emigrated to the United States when he was about 22 years old. Raised by a father who was an accomplished silver-plater in what became part of the German Empire
