Bill of lading containing an illustration comprised of a montage of scenes. In the left, a horse-drawn cart loaded with freight arrives at a train station at which several crates are piled by the tracks. In the right, a train travels through a town, past a church steeple. In the center, an American eagle perches, under a beacon of stars, on a safe box labeled "Security Speed." The privately-owned United States Express Company, operated 1854-1914, and served the northern states from New England west to Colorado. Ashbel H. and Danforth Barney founded the company., Completed in manuscript for "one box" shipping to F. Lamprecht, St. Paul, Minn., dated April 8, 1864, and signed (416) [D.M.L.?], Advertising text printed below image: General Express Forwarders and Collecting Agents to All Points throughout the West, North West, South West, Canada West, and on the Line of the New-York and Erie R.R. and its branches, under Charge of Special Messengers, on Passenger Express Trains., Liability terms printed on recto, including United States Express Company shall not be held liable for "any loss or damage by fire, the acts of God, or of the enemies of the Government, the restraint of Governments, mobs, riots, insurrections, pirates...nor upon frail fabrics....; nor upon any fabrics consisting of or contained in glass.", Manuscript note on verso: 1864 New York. April 8th. United States Express Co. Bill., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Gift of Helen Beitler and Estate of Helen Beitler.
Creator
Lossing & Barritt, engraver
Date
[ca. 1860]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Helen Beitler Graphic Ephemera Collection - Receipts [P.2011.10.147]
