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While I try to describe my items as accurately as possible, I am bound to make the occasional error though, so if for any reason you are not delighted with your purchase, I will provide a full refund if notified within 60 days.
I also have scanned many of these to get transcriptions and historical/geneological significance and will enclose the printout.
Date Letter Was Sent: Circa 1840s (Undated year, postmarked 12 AU / August 12)
Country of Origin: Great Britain (England)
Town Sent From: London, England
Town Sent To: Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England
Distance Between Towns: Approximately 35 miles
Significant Philatelic Details: Prepaid stampless folded letter. Features a prominent circular corporate cachet handstamp reading ARGUS LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY / Post PAID in black. Struck alongside a red London crown tombstone PAID / 12 AU receiving/dispatch dater. Sealed with a red wax impression bearing the seal of the Argus Life Assurance Company.
Names of Sender and Receiver:
Sender: Representative / Director of Argus Life Assurance Company, London
Receiver: W. Bentley, Esq., Hitchin
Sociological, Historical, & Genealogical Facts:
Sent from the Argus Life Assurance Company (established in 1833 at Throgmorton Street, London), one of the prominent 19th-century British joint-stock insurance firms.
Demonstrates corporate post-paying arrangements and early pre-printed or handstamped corporate post-paid cachets used by financial institutions during the early Uniform Penny Post era.
Transcription & Research
Transcription
[Page 1 — Main Text]
Sir
I was not aware
but that you had
been furnished with
every particular regarding
with respect to the
late Clerk's account
with Messrs. [Fitch?] & Co.
and I also understood
that last year expressed
yourself satisfied
[Text Cross-written / Flap Continuation:]
with the account rendered
you as Director
to which place all
the Bank Relations
due for [Clerks?] in 1839[?]
the Chairman &
Banker is £545. 14s. 3d.
for [pg...]
but if any further
acc. is required,
Director will furnish
it.
[Page 2 — Address Leaf & Postmarks]
[Address:]
W. Bentley Esq.
Hitchin
[Handstamps & Seals:]
Circular handstamp: ARGUS LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY / Post PAID
Crown Tombstone Dater: PAID / 12 AU
Red Embossed Wax Seal: Argus Life Assurance Company
Social, Historical & Genealogical Significance
Argus Life Assurance Company: Founded in London in 1833, the Argus Life Assurance Company was known for introducing flexible premium schedules and targeted commercial policyholders across Great Britain. Commercial letters mailed directly by corporate headquarters frequently used custom company handstamps to verify prepaid mailings.
Corporate Accounting Disputes: The letter highlights internal financial audit correspondence regarding bank accounts, clerk liabilities, and director oversight in 19th-century financial enterprises.