WHALE OIL & SPERM CANDLES EXPORTS by GARDNER FAMILY, SALEM, MASS. - 1841 LETTER For Sale

We are offering a letter, dated June 1st, 1841, from J. Gardner of J. C. Coleman & Co., Rio de Janeiro, to Henry Gardner, Salem, Massachusetts. We believe that Henry Gardner was a descendant of the Gardner family of early Colonial Salem/Nantucket, Massachusetts. According to the letter, apparently the family was deeply involved in the export business, with some importing. The letter is written as a report on goods exported from America and other countries to Rio de Janeiro, including the quantities of each, prices realized, stability of markets, supply and demand, etc. J. Gardner writes "The arrivals [of ships] in May were 9 from the United States, 2 from Montevideo, 1 from Africa, and 3 whalers.
The report is broken down into exports of Flour, Whale Oil, Sperm Candles (made from oil that came from sperm whales), and Domestic Goods, including among other things Lumber, Tobacco, and Sun-Dried Raisins. Under "DOMESTICS" - J. Gardner writes "Imports from England and the expectations for the United States have paralyzed the market. The long and open credits upon which English goods are sold are very injurious to Americans". Under "SPERM CANDLES" - he writes "The European Composition candles have arrived in large quantities. They are well-liked and will interfere very much with the American Sperms. **CONDITION** - letter is in Very Good condition, especially considering it is 162 years old. There is a tear where the wax seal had been broken that occurred when the letter was opened. We can also see the letter was mailed to Henry Gardner in New York, but then the address was crossed out and it was forwarded to Salem, Massachusetts.

---