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Title: Adams & Co's express. Eastern, Western, and Northern package express, for the conveyance of merchandise, specie, baggage, &c, &c, and insurance effected, whenever required on any package, to its full amount of value
Description: Bill of lading for the Philadelphia branch (est. circa 1843) of the rail express service company started by Alvin Adams of Boston in 1840. Contains vignette showing an "Adams & Co. Express" train crossing over a stone bridge under which a horse-drawn wagon travels. In the background, a ship sails and in the foreground, two men watch the train from a valley., Name of proprietors (Alvin Adams, W.B. Dinsmore, E. S. Sanford, E. S. Shoemaker) and office locations (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, and Richmond) printed below and to side of image., Contains N.B. explicating that Adams & Co. are "alone responsible for the loss or injury of any article or property of any description entrusted to their care...", Completed in manuscript for J. S. Myers shipping one tin box to Wm. Gadsby, Washington, DC., dated March 17, 1852, signed: For the Proprietors, [D Nussing?]., Numeric calculations inscribed on verso., 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., Small section of bottom edge torn off.
Date: [ca. 1850]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Helen Beitler Graphic Ephemera Collection - Receipts [P.2011.10.116]

Title: United States Express Company, principal office, 82 Broadway, branch offices, 291 (corner Reade) and 416 Broadway. New York D.N. Barney, prest. T.B. Marsh, treas. C.A. Dewitt, genl. supt. East. Henry Kip, genl. supt. West
Description: 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]

Title: Adams & Co.'s American Express General agency, forwarding & commission house
Description: Advertisement for the Philadelphia branch (est. circa 1843) of the rail express service company started by Alvin Adams of Boston in 1840. Shows a line of freight cars being pulled by a fireball and lightning across train tracks on a stone culvert in a wilderness setting. The cars are marked with the city and name of its recipients, including Boston & New York, Adams & Co.; Philada. & Baltimore, Adams & Co.; Baltimore, Washington & Richmond, Rogers & Co.; Baltimore & Wheeling, Green & Co. A creek with rocky banks flows through the culvert. Also includes an American eagle standing on a rocky ledge rising about the freight cars. The express service incorporated in 1854 served as the Union Army paymaster., Not in Wainwright., Philadelphia on Stone, POSP 5, Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Bb 67 A 211, Trimmed.
Creator: Weaver, Matthias S., 1815 or 16-1847, artist
Date: [ca. 1843]
Location: Historical Society of Pennsylvania HSP Bb 67 A 211

Title: Adam & Co.'s express "polka" Composed expressly for Adams & Co., and respectfully dedicated to E. S. Sanford Esq. by Francis Weiland
Description: Sheet music cover containing an exterior view of the Philadelphia-branch office situated next to Carpenter's Hall court at 116, i.e., 320 Chestnut Street. Signage listing the name and services of the company, and manager Edward S. Sanford, adorns the five-story building. Shows laborers loading an "Adams & Co" horse-drawn express wagon as in the street a dog runs between it and a departing "California Express" wagon hauling crates. A man holding a valise sits on the crates. Two men, including possibly Sanford, watch the scene from the building doorway. Pedestrians bear witness from the sidewalk. Company clerks are visible in the second floor windows of the building. Also contains partial views of the neighboring storefronts, including shadowy display windows of merchandise. Shows perfumer Edward Roussel (114, i.e., 318) and Montgomery Hart & Co. paper hangings (118, i.e., 322). A bear adorns the building of Roussel. The express service company established by Alvin Adams of Boston in 1840, began a Philadelphia branch circa 1843, and was incorporated in 1854., Copyrighted by J. Paul Diver., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 10, Atwater Kent Museum: 53.32.2. Includes music., Francis Weiland was a Philadelphia music teacher.
Date: [c1852]
Location: Atwater Kent Museum | Print Department AKM AKM 53.32.2

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