Subject: Spice trade

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.

This trade card advertises the business of A. D. Gittelson, jobbers of Russian and Turkish cigarettes and tobacco. Gittelson also sold teas, coffees, and spices. The card provides two addresses for the business: 384 Perry Street and 588 Woodland Avenue. The card also includes the phone number C.3080.R. The card is printed in black ink on white paper. There are no images on the card, which appears to be a simple text-based trade card.

This trade card advertises Griggs, Zabriskie & Lovell, importers and dealers in teas, coffees, and spices. The front of the card displays elegant lettering announcing the business name and the goods they offered. The address is clearly printed as "252 Washington Street, between Murray and Robinson Sts." The card is printed on shiny stock. Handwriting on the back of the card indicates a date, suggesting it may have been kept as a personal record. The back of the card is not fully visible in the provided image.