Description:

A "FISH STORY" IN ANTEBELLUM CHARLESTON
A good antebellum Southern travel letter, 8pp. 4to., by a Mrs. Turner, "Sullivan's Island, next door to Fort Moultrie, Sept. 7, 1856" to Comm. George W. Storer concerning her stay on Sullivan's Island during the summer of 1856: "…We find most agreeable neighbors in Col. & Mrs. [John H.] Winder [future CSA general] and their daughter…it is comfortable to be so near the fort in case of the severe gales…we can seek protection there…the steamers ply between this & the city almost every day and the cars pass directly by our gate. 'The Moultrie house', it is a fine hotel…we have very pleasant rides on the beach almost every day...Charleston is about a half hours journey in a steamer from this Island. The Yellow fever is still here …". Also included in the letter is Mrs. Turner's account of a case of fish she and her children found in the surf one day. The decision to keep the fish greatly upset her young teenage daughter who piously declared that they shouldn't keep the fish because it belonged to someone else. Needless to say, they keep the fish and eat it much to her daughter's dismay and to play a joke on her daughter she concocts a story that the owner of the fish, a local black woman named Jane Horlback, had sent the girl a letter asking for money for the lost fish. That letter is also included in the lot and comically reads, in part: "Miss Kate Turner, I seed you, and a nudder bad boy tek my husbons case ob fish off de beach…I think you otter be ashamed ob yourself, to tek a poor cullered persons fish in dat way, and drag it long de beach in brod da lite. De can hab it…was wort 5 dollers. I hear you is lib with Old Mr. Gilliland and and so I'is send dis note to his house to ax you for de money for de fish…". Also included is the original stamped transmittal cover, Near fine.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Shipment is sent USPS priority, USPS International Express (for most overseas) or UPS Ground at the auctioneer's option, signature required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling, shipping and insurance charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyers should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. NOTE: Large, heavy or bulky items are not shipped by the auctioneer - arrangements for shipping of these items via a third-party shipper may be arrange through the auction house. Please see "Bidding Procedures" for contact information of recommended shippers. Customers who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee.

September 27, 2012 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 22.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 + $1,000