Billhead: Waybill for Transportation of Spices from New Orleans to Natchez, December 18, 1821

Billhead or waybill documenting the transportation of ten boxes of spices via steamboat "Alabama" from New Orleans to Natchez on December 18, 1821. The waybill was signed by Samuel Rogers (master) and George Evans. Printed by Benjamin Levy & Company, New Orleans, the billhead features a small vignette of ships at sea. William M. F. Saul shipped the spices to Gabriel Tichnor. This is considered one of the earliest examples of printing by Benjamin Levy & Company. Benjamin Levy (1786-1860) was the son of Simeon Levy, a Hebrew teacher at Shearith Israel in New York City. He was a prominent New Orleans publisher (1822-1841), and one of the first American Jews to combine printing, publishing, and selling books. His name first appeared on a title page in 1817 as B. Levy and Co., Booksellers, New Orleans. He announced his printing venture in 1821.

Associated People/Businesses

• LEVY, BENJAMIN (1786 NYC.1860 N.O.)

Geography

No geographic information available.

Subjects

• Shipping
• Spice trade
• Steamboats
• Billheads

Physical Location

Arc.MS.56, Box 2, Folder 10