Subject: Charleston, South Carolina

Autograph letter signed by Dr. Aaron Lopez of Charleston, South Carolina, dated December 10, 1839, reporting on the health of "the boy Samuel" to Colonel J. G. Moses at the Charleston Hotel. The letter discusses Samuel's health and lack of information regarding his parents, hinting at the possibility that Samuel was an enslaved individual whose health was being assessed for a potential buyer. The letter also mentions a deed held in the Secretary of State's office in Charleston, South Carolina.

Autograph letter signed by Asher D. Cohen, written in Charleston, South Carolina on February 11, 1879. The letter, measuring approximately 5 1/2 by 9 1/4 inches, pertains to legal matters. Cohen (1838- ), a Charleston native, served in the cavalry and on Sullivan's Island during the Civil War and later became a prominent member of the Charleston bar.

Bill of exchange for $444, written in Charleston, South Carolina on August 9, 1793, payable to Abraham Sasportas from Edmond Charles Genet, French Ambassador to the United States. The bill is endorsed on the verso by Abraham Sasportas. This document is a significant piece of Judaica Americana, highlighting the commercial activities of Abraham Sasportas, a prominent Jewish merchant in Charleston known for his trade with France and his later dealings with James Madison regarding British privateering.

Bill of sale documenting the sale of an enslaved Black girl named Emiley by J.S. Riggs of Charleston, South Carolina, on May 10, 1858. The sale price was $375, with deductions for commission, maintenance, and transportation totaling $20.38, resulting in a net price of $354.62. The document features Riggs's advertising 'store card' in the upper left corner, identifying him as a Broker and Auctioneer at 4 State Street, Charleston, S.C. The bill of sale measures 8" x 10".

Partially printed bill of sale, 8 x 13.25 inches, Charleston, South Carolina, March 4, 1847. Documents the sale of an enslaved woman named Chloe by Solomon Davis to Mary Kennedy for $430.00. The verso records the subsequent sale of Chloe by Kennedy to Henry Willis for $275.00 on September 1, 1847, with Thomas W. Mordecai witnessing the transaction as an officer of the court. This bill of sale highlights the involvement of Jewish slave traders in the American South.

Bill of sale for the purchase of an enslaved girl, Marie Frances, by Rebecca M. Canter from Jacob Hule, Jr. in Charleston, South Carolina on June 1, 1843. The document details the sale and transfer of ownership of the enslaved person for three hundred dollars.

A business card or billhead for A. C. Kaufman, a banker and broker, located at No. 25 Broad Street, Charleston, South Carolina. The card is dated July 28, 1871. The business card states that Kaufman is a dealer in stocks, bonds, coupons, and collections. The card is simple, featuring a plain header with the business name and address.

Billhead from Cohen & Triest, importers and dealers in dry and fancy goods, silks, laces, and embroideries, located at 248 King St., Charleston, S.C. Dated April 1, 1888. The bill lists the purchase of one buggy blanket for $7 by J. L. Capplerman. The billhead has a printed header, ornate lettering, and clear details of the business address and transaction.

Invoice from H. H. DeLeon, a broker, auctioneer, and commission agent located at No. 24 Broad Street, Charleston, South Carolina. Dated March 24, 1887. The billhead features a decorative border and a stylized company logo. The document likely represents the purchase of bonds or other securities by T. G. Summons, who is named at the top of the billhead, from H. H. DeLeon. The transaction value appears to be $100 for 478/32nds.

Billhead from Hirsch, Israel & Co., a retail clothing company located at No. 291 King Street, Charleston, South Carolina, advertising itself as “The Largest Retail Clothing House in the City.

Billhead from Hirsch, Israel & Co., a clothing store at 273 King Street, Charleston, South Carolina. The billhead lists a purchase of “2 doz. Gloves” and “4 Silk Handkerchiefs” for the amount of $2.20 on July 12, 1889. The billhead features an image of a building with a sign reading 'Clothing Palace' with ornate lettering. The style is consistent with other business billheads of the period.

This billhead belongs to J. L. David & Bro., a clothing, furnishings, and hatters business located at 301 and 303 King Street in Charleston, South Carolina. The billhead is dated July 2, 1885, and lists a purchase made by J. D. Cappleman. The item purchased is likely a coat. The billhead features a decorative banner with the name of the business, the address, and a list of services offered. The billhead is printed on light-colored paper with a ruled grid layout. It is filled in by hand with cursive script. The handwritten portion of the billhead is dated June 17, 1885, suggesting a period of time between purchase and payment. The billhead is a good example of a business document from the late 19th century. It provides details about the business, the transaction, and the buyer.

Bill from Kohn, Furchgott & Benedict, importers and dealers in Foreign and Domestic Dry Goods, Cloaks, Shawls, Hosiery, Notions, and Ribbons, located at No. 275 King Street, Charleston, South Carolina. The billhead lists items purchased by J. D. Appleman, including 21 1/2 blankets and 29 1/2 matting. The billhead also indicates that the company has additional locations in Jacksonville, Florida and New York City. The date of the transaction is December 31, 1885. The billhead has decorative elements including a border around the company name.

Billhead from Kohn, Furchgott & Co., importers and dealers in foreign and domestic dry goods, carpets, cloaks, shawls, hosiery, notions, ribbons, and ladies and gentlemen's furnishing goods. The business is located at No. 259 King Street, Charleston, South Carolina. The billhead is dated January 28, 1889. The buyer is J. Charleston S. C. Jauey. The billhead features an image of a corset, ornate Victorian-style lettering, and a list of branches for the business in Jacksonville, Florida and New York City.

Invoice from L. Weiskopf, an importer and dealer of paints, colors, oils, varnishes, glues, brushes, and window, picture, and carriage glass. The bill is for two quarts of ‘Bosh Lamp oil’ (a likely misspelling of ‘Bohemian Lamp oil’) and is dated September 22, 1876. The billhead features a logo of a barrel with a stylized “L. WEISKOPF, PURE LINSEED OIL” printed on it. The billhead lists a variety of other items for sale including French Glass Shades, Gold and Metal Leaf, Bronze Powders, and Udell Patent Excelsior Stepladders. The printed header has bold, decorative lettering and the business address is located in the bottom left corner.

Invoice from Lewis Elias, dealer in boots, shoes, and trunks, located at 368 King Street, corner of George, Charleston, South Carolina. Dated January 20, 1885. The billhead includes a drawing of a boot. The buyer appears to be J. H. Dautzler. The bill lists a total amount of $6.42.

Billhead from Louis Cohen & Co., dealers in Foreign & Domestic Dry Goods, Notions, and Fancy Goods. The business was located at 248 King Street, Charleston, South Carolina. The billhead is dated May 1, 1886, and contains a transaction record that is not completely visible. The billhead features two women in corsets, and the logo “Regal” is prominently displayed. Ornate lettering and stylized text are used throughout the billhead.

Billhead from Louis Cohen & Co., dealers in foreign and domestic dry goods, notions, and fancy goods, with a specialty in ladies' underwear. The business was located at 248 King Street, Charleston, South Carolina. The billhead is dated October 2, 1884. The bill includes an itemized list of transactions, likely for cloth or fabric. The bill is paid by the News and Courier Co. and annotated with a payment for 'cover for new press'. The billhead is adorned with an elegant illustration of a woman in a corset and includes the caption 'The Perfect Contour Corset' underneath the image. The billhead has a simple design with a basic header and ornate lettering.

Invoice from McDuff Cohen, a dealer in tinware, stoves, grates, house furnishing goods, and other items located at 130 Meeting Street, opposite Pavilion Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina. Dated January 1, 1869. The invoice is for “3 1/2 lbs Sheet Iron,” “Repairs to Stove” and “Setting up panner” purchased by Col. Nichols. The invoice is handwritten, and the billhead has a printed header featuring a drawing of a stove, a company address and details, ornate lettering, and a line of decorative dots under the business information.

Billhead from Mrs. M. J. Zernow, located at No. 315 King Street, Charleston, South Carolina. The business is described as a ‘Fashionable Millinery and Fancy Goods Establishment’ and advertises “A Full Line of Modern Styles of Corsets at the Lowest Prices, Always on Hand.” The bill, dated September 30, 1890, lists a purchase by Carrie Marks. The billhead is printed with an ornate Victorian-style design.

Statement of account from Simons Brothers, a business in Charleston, South Carolina, for J. B. Waring. Dated January 1, 1855. The statement lists a variety of items purchased by Dr. Waring, including flour, vinegar, molasses, soap, bitters, Rio coffee, lard, segars, lobsters, pickles, butter, raisins, figs, cheese, beef, and more. The total amount owed is $374.53. The billhead is written in cursive script, and is approximately 7 by 17 inches.

Billhead for The Charleston Dental Depot, located at No. 263 King Street, Opposite Hasel Street, Charleston, S.C. Dated January 1, 1874. The billhead is for a purchase made by Alexander & Bland, and indicates that they bought dental plaster for the sum of $0.00. The billhead notes that gold foil scraps and old gold plates will be taken in payment for materials, at the best price. It also includes information on ordering goods and how to send payment, including the option of paying by mail, express, or in person. The billhead also notes that the dental depot offers a variety of services and goods, including dental chairs, cabinets, and instruments. The billhead is printed on a plain white paper with black ink. The layout is simple and clear, with a border around the edges and a centered title at the top.

Bond dated January 10, 1860, for a loan of $6,500 (equivalent to $188,000 in 2019) to Sarah (Hertz) Nathans, Executrix of the Estate of Nathan Nathans, from George W. Airmar and Charles P. Airmar, pharmacists and doctors in Charleston, South Carolina. The loan was to be repaid in five equal annual installments of $1,300 plus interest, beginning January 10, 1861, and concluding March 15, 1866. The bond bears the signatures of Sarah Nathans and S. S. Solomons, and includes a U.S. revenue stamp. Nathan Nathans was a prominent Charleston merchant and a founding member and trustee of Shearith Israel Synagogue.

A business letter written by C. Litschgi to Goodman & Myers on May 16, 1877. The letter was sent from Charleston, South Carolina, and references tobacco and cigar factories in Richmond, Virginia, and New York City. The envelope features advertisements for these factories.

Stock transfer receipt for shares of the capital stock of the Charleston Gas Light Company, signed by Joshua Lazarus on October 22, 1858. The receipt shows a transfer of shares and indicates that Lazarus was president of the company. Each share of stock was valued at $25.00. The receipt is in excellent condition as it was kept in the original certificate of shares book.

This newspaper clipping from the Charleston Mercury, published April 6, 1855, in Charleston, South Carolina, features a prominent advertisement for D.J. & G.J. Levy's Southern Clothing Emporium and a notice of Marx Cohen's sale of thirty enslaved people, along with his plantation and brickyard. The Levy advertisement includes a lithographic illustration of their store at 288 King Street.

This handwritten court document, dated March 28, 1871, from Charleston County, South Carolina, is a "Notice of Appeal" submitted by John Phillips on behalf of the legal firm Simons & Simons. It pertains to a lawsuit filed by Theodore M. Cater against Gustavus Poznanski concerning a dispute over lease terms. The document outlines two main grounds for appeal: first, that there was insufficient evidence for the plaintiff's claim of one thousand dollars in damages, and second, that the case was poorly prepared, arguing that the defendant (Poznanski) should pay an annual lease. The document is written on lined paper and shows signs of age, including fold marks and water stains.

Handwritten deed detailing the sale of land from the estate of Mordecai Cohen, deceased, in Charleston, South Carolina. Dated January 14, 1852. The deed is signed by executors Marx Edwin Cohen and Benjamin Dores Lazarus. The three-page document provides detailed information about the property transaction.

Legal document detailing a land transaction where David Daniel Cohen sold land from his plantation, Soldiers Retreat, in Charleston, South Carolina on January 1, 1855. The document includes information about the buyer, David W. Lamb, and specifics of the property.

Envelope addressed to Tobias Hendricks in Charleston, South Carolina, postmarked June 10, 1860. The envelope features a red handstamp advertisement for Mordecai & Co., steamship agents in Baltimore and Charleston. The envelope contains no internal contents.

A financial record from H. H. DeLeon, Broker, in Charleston, South Carolina, dated April 3, 1883. The document includes a letter to a client and a receipt. DeLeon's business involved bonds, stocks, coupons, and real estate. A note indicates the business was "CLOSED ON SATURDAY."

Legal document pertaining to a mortgage dispute between Nathan A. Cohen and Richard Bohun Baker, signed by James Simons on September 22, 1855. The document details the legal proceedings related to the dispute. This document is located in Charleston, South Carolina.

A stampless business letter dated February 13, 1845, from Abraham Tobias in Charleston, South Carolina, to T. I. Tobias in New York, New York. The letter discusses business matters, including a reference to a $500 check and mentions a delay in mail delivery. Abraham Tobias was a prominent Charleston merchant and civic leader.

A letter dated October 3, 1899, written by Ansley D. Cohen to his wife in Maine. The letter, written on Cohen & Wells Ship Brokers and Commission Merchants letterhead, discusses the writer's inability to leave port due to inclement weather. The accompanying envelope also bears the Cohen & Wells letterhead. Cohen inherited the firm from his father, Joseph Cohen. Records indicate the firm's existence as far back as 1872, possibly dating to the Civil War era. The letter details the purchase of six ships. Ansley D. Cohen married Carrie Moise on May 28, 1880.

One-page letter written on December 27, 1867, by Charles Henry Moise to the law firm of Simons & Simons in Charleston, South Carolina. Moise requests information to aid in preparing his application to Union General Canby.

A three-page letter written on February 9, 1818, by Dr. Elias Marks of Charleston, South Carolina, to Cornelius E. De Puy of New York, New York. The letter discusses the recent yellow fever epidemic in Charleston and various theories regarding its causes.

Commercial letter from Henry Levy & Son, importers of fancy goods located at 122 & 124 Duane Street, New York, New York, to A. W. Eckel in Charleston, South Carolina, dated February 1, 1878. The letter contains commercial content.

A one-page letter dated July 10, 1849, from J. S. Cohen in Charleston, South Carolina, to Tobias Isaac Tobias in New York City. The letter discusses a shipment of wine arriving from Madeira aboard the brig Caroline and the necessary procedures for its delivery and forwarding. Cohen details communication with the charterer, Mr. Wm. Depew, and the importance of the bill of lading.

This three-quarter page letter, dated March 19, 1854, was written by Joshua Lazarus of Charleston, South Carolina, to Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia. Lazarus details his specifications for the binding of a Bible. The letter includes a postage stamp. Joshua Lazarus (1791-1861) was the president and founder of the Charleston Gas Light Co. and president of the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue. He was a prominent figure in Jewish affairs.

A four-page letter written by Rebecca (Catherine) Cohen Moise of Charleston, South Carolina, to Isaac Leeser on December 14, 1845. Moise discusses various topics, including mutual acquaintances from Philadelphia, her views on Leeser's work, the establishment of a Jewish Publication Society in America, and a poem enclosed with the letter. The letter also includes a postscript from Moise's daughter, Sarah Ann. The letter offers insights into the social and intellectual life of American Jews in the mid-19th century.

Two-page letter from Thomas Jefferson Tobias in Charleston, South Carolina to T. I. Tobias in New York City, dated August 11, 1851. The letter discusses a wine order, including cask specifications, and congratulates T. I. Tobias on a new grandchild. Family news and affections are also included. Thomas Jefferson Tobias (1830-1878) was married to a member of the Hendricks family, a family with connections to the Cohens and Levys of Charleston, who were also involved in the wine trade.

Printed broadside letter dated May 17, 1825, transmitting the Constitution of the Reformed Society of Israelites. The letter was sent from Jacob Cohen in Baltimore, Maryland to Charleston, South Carolina. It includes the printed signatures of Isaac Harby, D.M. Carvalho, Abraham Moise, E.P. Cohen, and Isaac N. Cardozo, as the Corresponding Committee. This is considered an important document in the early history of Reform Judaism in America.

Excerpt from the May 4, 1833, issue of the *Christian Register*, a periodical published in Boston, Massachusetts. The excerpt features an article from the *Portland Courier* about a visit to Charleston, South Carolina. The excerpt is presented in English.

Issue of Poulson's American Daily Advertiser newspaper published in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 17, 1807. This issue contains an article from Baltimore about the formation of a company of Hebrew volunteers raised in Charleston, South Carolina. Advertisements by S. Israel are also present.

Receipt signed by Capt. Morris Crossmont of the 56th New York State Volunteers for a captured Confederate soldier from the 3rd South Carolina Cavalry. Issued in Charleston, South Carolina on May 1, 1865.

An article from the North American Review, Vol. 23 (1826), reviewing Isaac Harby's "A Discourse delivered in Charleston, South Carolina on the 21st of Nov. 1825, before the Reformed Society of Israelites, for Promoting True Principles of Judaism according to its Purity and Spirit," and "The Constitution of the Reformed Society of Israelites." The review, written from a Christian perspective, offers insights into the early Reform Jewish movement in Charleston, South Carolina, and Harby's leadership within it. The review notes that Harby received correspondence regarding the Discourse from Thomas Jefferson.

Shipping record documenting the shipment of wine from T. I. Tobias in New York to A. Tobias in Charleston, South Carolina, on September 9, 1835. Printed by Solomon H. Jackson at 163 Chatham Street, New York.

Shipping record documenting the shipment of wine from T. I. Tobias in New York, New York to Charleston, South Carolina on October 13, 1835. Printed by Solomon H. Jackson at 163 Chatham Street, New York.

This trade card advertises Joseph Cohen & Son as "Sensali Marittimi" (maritime brokers/agents) with offices in Charleston, S.C., and Savannah, GA. The card indicates the business was "Casa Stabilita dal 1844" (Established since 1844). It features a colored depiction of the Kingdom of Italy flag, along with ornate Victorian-style lettering for the business name and locations. The card also notes a telegraphic address "'COHENSON'" and identifies Capt. ANT. CASTELLANO as the Director of the Italian and Austrian Department.

This undated letter, written by Nathan A. Cohen to Eliza M. Anderson, discusses a business proposal for Cohen's son. The letter was written from Charleston, South Carolina, and discusses business dealings in Washington, D.C. The letter is stampless and is dated November 10, 1850, based on internal evidence.