This E. M. Priest Lawyer Chicago correspondence lot is an as-found group of early 20th century letters, envelopes, postal pieces, and a Western Union telegram dating at least from 1916 to 1920.
The group has been left together as it was found rather than sorted or searched. It is a good fit for a collector of American correspondence, Chicago history, Michigan postal history, handwritten letters, or early 1900s paper ephemera.
Details
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Item: Personal correspondence and postal ephemera lot AS FOUND
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Item Type: Handwritten letters, mailed envelopes, postal ephemera, and Western Union telegram
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Era: 1910s to 1920s based on visible dated material
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Materials: Paper, envelopes, postage stamps, handwritten correspondence
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Color: Aged cream, tan, brown, red, green, and black
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Maker and Mark: Correspondence addressed to or associated with E. M. Priest, Lawyer, 745 E. 75th St., Chicago, Illinois. Western Union appears on one visible telegram.
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Pattern or Model: Not applicable
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Style: Early 20th century personal and business correspondence ephemera
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Dimensions: Box approximately 9 5/8 x 5 3/4 x 2 inches. Envelopes containing letters approximately 6 x 3 1/4 inches.
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Special Features: Assorted handwritten letters and envelopes, visible U.S. postage stamps, Corunna, Michigan postmarks, Chicago addresses, and Western Union telegram. Visible dates include 1916 and 1920. Complete contents have not been searched or inventoried.
Condition Grade: Fair
Positives
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Graded Fair: This is an intact as-found archive with substantial age and handling wear, but many pieces remain readable and historically interesting.
- The correspondence remains grouped together rather than separated into individual pieces.
- Several envelopes retain postage stamps, cancellations, names, addresses, and dated postmarks.
- Handwritten letters and a Western Union telegram are visibly present.
Issues / Wear
- Paper is fragile and brittle from age.
- Envelopes show heavy toning, tears, missing sections, split edges, creasing, folds, and handling wear.
- Some paper edges are chipped, broken, or crumbling.
- The cardboard storage box has age wear, bent and damaged corners, edge wear, and interior discoloration.
- The exact number of letters, envelopes, stamps, telegrams, and other papers has not been counted.
- Contents have not been fully read, sorted, researched, or checked for completeness.
Sold as-found at an estate sale in an antique holiday box. Paper is fragile and brittle due to age; unsearched for historical content.
Condition Grade Key
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Near Fine: Almost perfect. Very minor signs of age only.
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Very Good: Shows light use. Sound and attractive with minor flaws.
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Good: Complete and intact. Noticeable wear consistent with age and use.
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Fair: Shows significant wear. Readable or usable but clearly used.
Collector's Notes
- Personal correspondence like this preserves the ordinary names, addresses, handwriting, postal marks, and communication methods that formal records often leave out.
- This group may appeal especially to collectors of Chicago history, Michigan postal history, handwritten correspondence, genealogy material, or early American ephemera.
- The strongest feature of this group is that the papers remain together as an unsearched archive rather than having been divided and sold piece by piece.
- I have handled the brittle papers as little as possible and will keep the group together for its next owner.
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Disclaimer
All items are vintage and may show signs of age, wear, or use consistent with their history. Photos show the exact condition of each piece, please review them carefully, as they are part of the description.
Care and Handling:
Handle with clean, dry hands. Store upright, out of direct sunlight, at about 68°F and 40 to 50% relative humidity. Avoid damp areas and extreme temperature swings.
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