Name/Title
LetterEntry/Object ID
2004.001Description
Letter written by a "P.E. Hoffman" in Alexandria, VA to "P.R. Fendall Esq" in Washington (District of Columbia) on November 12, 1838. The letter is comprised of a single sheet of paper that has been folded in half, so that the outside face of the paper serves as the envelope and the body of the letter is written on the interior face of the paper. There is also what appears to be a return address in the upper right hand corner, also in the same pen and ink. The address is mostly illegible: "[?] B-- Alexandria [?] PEH[?]" What appears to be a large upper case cursive "C" has been written over the return address. The letter has no postage on it, but there is a circular postal stamp in the upper left corner in a brownish-red ink. Most of the stamp is illegible, except that in the center the date "Nov 12" appears. In addition a stamp in the same color of ink appears just below the return address and reads "Paid." Also appearing on the front of the letter is a modern handwritten notation in pencil along the bottom center edge. Another pencil notation near the lower left corner reads "1838." The back side of the envelope shows another return address in pen and ink that reads "Hoffman, P.E. Alexa. 12 Nov. 1838" There are also the remnants of a personal sealing stamp in bright orange wax below the return address. On the folding flap, there is evidence that the sealing stamp has been cut out.
The letter concerns the transfer of property from a Mr. Washington to Mr. Hoffman, which is being handled by Mr. Fendall.