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Exceptional Civil War-Era Boston Merchant Invoice

Homer, Caswell & Co. to William Pope & Sons

Boston, Massachusetts — May 11, 1861

Offered here is a large and visually striking original commercial invoice issued by the Boston firm Homer, Caswell & Co., dated May 11, 1861—just weeks after the outbreak of the American Civil War.

This document represents a beautifully preserved example of mid-19th century mercantile trade, combining an elegant printed letterhead with extensive handwritten accounting entries across a full folio format.

Key Details

Date: May 11, 1861
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Firm: Homer, Caswell & Co.
Customer: William Pope & Sons (noted “a/c” – account)
Format: Large folding invoice
Size: Approx. 7" x 16 7/8"
Total Amount: $85.15

Printed Letterhead (Highly Decorative)

“Bought of HOMER, CASWELL & CO.”
Wholesale and Retail Dealers in:

Crockery, China, and Glass Ware
Kerosene and Fluid Lamps
Table Cutlery
Silver-Plated, Britannia, and Japanned Ware

Also: Room papers

Business Locations:
52 & 54 Union Street
39 & 41 Friend Street
Boston, Massachusetts

Partners Listed:

William F. Homer
L. E. Caswell
William C. Nicholson

Manuscript Content (Extensive & Detailed)

The invoice contains a richly itemized list of goods, offering a vivid window into everyday commercial supply in 1861 America. Items include:

Tea sets (including “Athens Tea setts”)
Covered dishes and plates (multiple grades and quantities)
Pitchers (large, dipped, and assorted types)
Spittoons
Tea pots and bakers
Tumblers and tableware
Sugar bowls, creamers, and serving pieces
Kerosene lamps (including hanging and “star” lamps)
Chimneys (lamp glass)
Fluid wicks
Curtain rolls
Packaging and cartage charges

The breadth of goods strongly suggests wholesale supply to a general store or regional retailer.

Customer Identification (Important)

The invoice is clearly marked:

“Wm. Pope & Sons a/c”
(William Pope & Sons – account)

This indicates:

A formal wholesale credit relationship, not a one-off purchase
A family-operated business, typical of 19th-century American commerce
Participation in broader regional trade and distribution networks

Historical Context

Dated May 1861, this piece sits at a pivotal moment:

Just one month after Fort Sumter
Early phase of the Civil War, before major economic disruption
Demonstrates the continuity of Northern commerce at the outbreak of war

Additionally, the inventory highlights the rapid adoption of:

Kerosene lighting, replacing whale oil
Industrially produced household goods distributed through urban hubs like Boston

This document is a tangible artifact of Northern economic infrastructure at the dawn of the Civil War.

Verso & Additional Notations

The reverse and folds retain:

Repeated firm identification
Period handling marks and accounting notations
Evidence of use within active commercial recordkeeping

Condition

Original folds as issued
Light toning and scattered age staining
Minor edge wear consistent with handling
Strong ink and excellent legibility throughout
Attractive, displayable letterhead

Overall: Very good condition for a large-format 1861 business document

Why This Example Stands Out

Early Civil War date (May 1861)
Large, display-friendly format
Elegant Boston merchant letterhead
Extensive, content-rich itemization
Named firm + named customer (William Pope & Sons)
Strong crossover appeal:
- Civil War collectors
- Early American commerce
- Lighting / kerosene history
- Decorative ephemera collectors

Collector Appeal

This is not just a bill—it is a snapshot of a working supply chain, capturing:

What Americans used in their homes
How goods moved through Boston’s commercial networks
How family-run businesses operated on credit accounts

Pieces like this bridge the gap between history, economics, and daily life, making them highly desirable in advanced ephemera collections.

Final Notes

A highly displayable and historically grounded example of Civil War-era Boston commerce, with strong visual presence and research potential.