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Thomas W. House Cotton Archive. COTTON TRADE. Ar Thomas W. House Cotton Archive. [I]Cotton Trade

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Thomas W. House Cotton Archive. COTTON TRADE. Ar Thomas W. House Cotton Archive. [I]Cotton Trade
<B>Thomas W. House Cotton Archive. <I>Cotton Trade</B></I></B></I> Archive of 168 letters to Texas entrepreneur Thomas W. House, written by his Liverpool cotton brokers to him in Houston. Over 200 pp., 4to Liverpool, 1865-1870. Very fine and legible. Primary research material on the Texas cotton trade and exchange in the international market in the immediate post-Civil War era. Cotton was King, and Thomas House was its leading merchant. House (1814-1880), a native of England but of Dutch origin, migrated to Texas around 1838, commencing his meteoric career by producing and selling the first ice-cream in Houston. "In 1853, House bought out the large jobbing business of James H. Stevens and Company, dealers in dry goods and groceries. The $40,000 he paid for it was the largest sum of money to change hands in Houston up to that time...The firm was then the largest wholesaler in the state; it accepted cotton in payment for goods and set up cotton factoring as a separate department...[House's] great private bank grew out of cotton factoring" - <I>New Handbook of Texas.</B></I> The present archive gives the inside business history that led to House's great success and also reveals the inner workings of the cotton trade in Texas. <I>Courtesy of Dorothy Sloan, Austin.</B></I> <BR><BR><b>This 2006 March Texas State Historical Association Charity Auction is being held in Austin, TX on February 12 - March 4, 2006. This is a charity auction. All proceeds from donated lots in the auction, commissions from consigned lots, and the buyer's premium go solely to the Texas State Historical Association. The floor auction session is by invitation only. Online bidding ends March 3, 2006 at 10:00PM CT. Your secret maximum bid will compete for you during the floor auction, and it is possible that you may be outbid on the floor after internet bidding closes. The applicable buyer's premium for this auction is an amount equal to 15% (minimum $9 per lot) of the successful bid on ebay. State law requires lots consigned (not donated) to THSA collect full sales tax on items that sell for a total of $5,000 or more. </b>
<BR><b>Important Information Notice</b> Texas State Historical Association 'TSHA' presents this Charity Auction in cooperation with Heritage Auctions, Inc. that has provided its production facilities, personnel, and internet, fax, and phone bidding services to support the auction. The auction is conducted under Heritage's standard auction terms and conditions printed in this catalog; however, TSHA is included within the definition of 'Auctioneer,' and the buyer's premium is 15% on ebay, and all items are sold 'AS IS' and without return. This catalog is available for view and bidding on the Heritage website. Heritage disclaims any liability for any act or omission pertaining to its provided services. Successful bidders shall pay Sales Tax on consigned lots of $5000 or more. Consigned lots may be designated in the catalog.