'SWITZERLAND 1845 'STRAW GOODS TRADE' STAMPLESS COVER WOHLEN TO LEIPZIG GERMANYW/ CONTENTS
1845 (October 2), stampless commercial folded letter sent from Wohlen, Switzerland, to Leipzig, Germany, displaying a complex array of multi-jurisdictional postal rate markings. The face of the cover features a prominent, crisp teal-blue oval merchant cachet at the lower left reading "JAQUES ISLER & COMPie / WOHLEN EN SUISSE", a bright red circular origin postmark from WOHLEN, and is addressed in an elegant German cursive hand to Herrn Nicod. Akermann aus Wohlen, p. Adresse Herrn Heintze & Klausner, Leipzig. The front is dominated by extensive red and black manuscript tax and accounting notations tracking the multi-state journey, including a bold, large weight or credit mark alongside transit fees of "15" and "56", while the reverse shows a clear black circular Leipzig arrival postmark.
This exceptional pre-stamp letter includes its full original manuscript text, offering an incredible window into the logistics of the 19th-century Swiss luxury export trade. Datelined inside "Wohlen 2 October 1845" and addressed to representative J. Akermann, the text provides a meticulous mercantile invoice detailing a commercial shipment of one bale split into two cartons ("in 2 Cartons"), noting weights, specific packaging counts, and a declared insurance value of 300 francs ("declariert Werth f 300"). The sender, Jaques Isler & Co., was a highly prominent straw goods and hat manufacturing firm whose international trade network drove significant economic connections between the Swiss Cantons and central German markets. The combination of an uncommonly crisp corporate handstamp, the complex network of cross-border currency markings, and pristine internal transaction text creates a magnificent exhibition piece.
Please examine lot scan carefully and please send any questions at least 48 hours before the auction closes. Please note that cover condition usually includes normal wear and tear to cover edges, opening tears and some creases and wrinkles. Only exceptional or extreme condition issues will be mentioned.
Legend:
PS - Postal Stationery
FL - Folded Letter
SFL - Stampless Folded Letter
RPO - Railway Post Office
CDS - Circular Date Stamp
DPO - Dead Post Office
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