Subject: Weapons

Invoice from Morris Bros., dealers in Havana and domestic cigars, tobacco, pipes, notions, cutlery, ammunition, pistols, and other items, located at Main Street, Helena, Montana. The bill lists a purchase of cigars by Davis & Wallace, and includes an itemized list of the transaction. The business name is printed at the top of the page with a statement about the business below it. The billhead displays a plain format with clear details of the business address and transaction.

First edition of a report detailing the findings of a military commission, led by Major Alfred Mordecai, that investigated European artillery and small arms development in 1855-1856. Published in 1860, this report, commissioned by Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War, significantly influenced American weapon design and construction during the Civil War. The report is the culmination of two years of travel and study by Major Mordecai, a prominent ordnance expert and West Point graduate. The extensive description includes biographical information about Major Mordecai's life, career, and contributions to military science and technology, including his involvement in the Mexican War and his decision to resign his commission at the outset of the Civil War. The text also mentions his contributions to the development of interchangeable parts in weapons manufacturing.