I am selling material that I do not want for my own collection and exhibits. 

Many of this material I have been playing around with AI and will enclose the printouts of transcriptions and geneological/historical interest (if any).  Info is below.

I am a member of the APS and a bunch of other philatelic societies (and if you, are not, suggest you check out the American Philatelic Society as they are great!)


I guarantee your satisfaction.  Completely.  If for any reason you are not completely and totally satisfied and happy that you made the purchase up to 60 days (or 90 if you want to send something to be expertized!) I will reimburse your entire price and shipping.  

 

I have been doing this for a while so please check my Ebay references.  I travel for work so while I usually get material out within a day or so of your payment, it can sometimes take 3 or 4 days to mail if I am away.

 

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.


US Andover, MA 05 JUN 1848 Boston 5c Circular postmark, manuscript "5" rate, stampless FL. Ballard Vale textile manufacturing business letter signed by agent John Marland to J. P. Bradlee regarding wool, flannel mills, looms production, and company partnership dissolution.

Item Summary

Date Sent: 05 JUN 1848 (Letter written 05 JUN 1848 at Ballard Vale)

Country of Origin: United States

Country of Destination: United States (Same as origin)

Town Sent From: Andover, Massachusetts (Ballard Vale)

Town Sent To: Boston, Massachusetts

Distance Between Towns: Approximately 23 miles

Philatelic Details: Black circular town postmark ANDOVER / JUN / 5 / Ms.. Black manuscript rating 5 indicating the 5-cent postal rate for single sheet letters sent under 300 miles under the U.S. Act of 1845. Docketed on address flap: "Ballard Vale June 5th / Recd June 5th 1848 / John Marland".

Names of Sender and Receiver:

Sender: John Marland, Agent (per Joseph A. Call) for Ballard Vale Manufacturing Company.

Receiver: J. P. Bradlee, Esq. (Josiah Putnam Bradlee), Boston, Massachusetts.

Sociological, Historical, & Genealogical Significance:

John Marland (1803–1865): Son of pioneer industrialist Abraham Marland. John Marland was a prominent Massachusetts textile manufacturer who co-founded the Ballard Vale Manufacturing Company in Andover in 1835, establishing early woolen and flannel mills along the Shawsheen River.

Josiah Putnam Bradlee (1810–1887): Prominent Boston merchant, industrialist, and financier who later acquired full ownership of the Ballard Vale Mills.

Historical Context: The letter offers primary economic and industrial documentation of 19th-century New England textile manufacturing. It details monthly production statistics across specific weaving mills ("Brick Flannel Mill", "Wooden W. Mill"), fabric varieties (Flannels, Merinos, Orleans, Plaids), shipments of wool to Hooksett, New Hampshire, and formal notice of the dissolution of the dyeing partnership with Edward Murgatroyd.

Transcription & Research Notes

Transcription

[Address Leaf / Outer Wrapper]

ANDOVER

JUN

5

Ms.

5

J. P. Bradlee Esqr

Boston,

Ms.

Docketing on fold:

Ballard Vale June 5th

Recd June 5th 1848

John Marland

[Letter Body]

B. Vale June 5th 1848–

J. P. Bradlee Esqr

Dr. Sir,–

Annexed please find Invoice 2 Bags Wool to Hooksett – This is all we have on hand suited for them. Also Invoice 10 Cases Worsted Goods to Stone House.

Mr. William F. Atkinson desires us to inform you of the dissolution of copartnership with Edward Murgatroyd, in the Dyeing business, from 1st Instant. Mr. Atkinson alone is responsible and carries on the work from that date.

We have about 4 or 5000 pounds of Fine Noils, which will send you tomorrow.

We checked as correct, the weight per hundredweight, which we pay for, in the Sagamon bill Warps, but we had not time to examine the extension, of total pounds and so forth.

We have taken from the Looms last month – viz–

3216 pieces Flannels } Brick Flannel Mill

96 " 3/4 Merinos }

104 " 5/4 do }

116 " 6/4 do }

533 " 5/4 Orleans } Wooden W. Mill

618 " Merinos }

18 " 6/4 do }

20 " 5/4 Plaids }

Respectfully Yours

John Marland Agent

per Joseph A. Call

Historical, Social, & Genealogical Research Notes

Philatelic Significance: This stampless folded letter illustrates the United States postal rates set by the Act of July 1, 1845, which reduced domestic letter postage to 5 cents per single half-ounce sheet for distances up to 300 miles.

Industrial & Regional History: Ballard Vale (Ballardvale) was one of Andover’s major industrial mill villages powered by the Shawsheen River. Founded in 1835 by John Marland and associates, the Ballard Vale Manufacturing Company became nationally recognized for producing fine woolen textiles, worsted goods, and high-grade flannels.

Business Operations: The text highlights mid-19th-century textile production terminology:

Noils: Short fibers removed during the combing of wool, used for secondary woolen spinning.

Orleans & Merinos: Popular 19th-century dress fabrics woven from fine wool and cotton warps.

Mill Infrastructure: References to the distinct operational divisions within the complex, specifically the Brick Flannel Mill (built 1835) and the Wooden W. Mill (built by Marland in 1844).