1834 - Letter discussing the effect of the Cholera epidemic that had raged in New York City for over a year
by Edward P Hill
- Used
- very good
- Condition
- Very good
- Seller
-
Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
This stampless folded family letter measures 15½" x 12½". It was sent by Edward P Hill from New York City to Miss Rebecca H. Hill in Mason, New Hampshire. It was written in two parts, the first on August 26, 1834, and the second a few days later on September 4, the same day the letter was postmarked.
It begins with a brief description of a trip from Mason to New York City that included travel by stagecoach and steamboat and then continues with a discussion of the epidemic. On August 26, Hill reported
"At present the City is quite sickly the Choler5a appears rather on the increase but we hope it will soon subside the greatest number of deaths of Cholera in a day yet is 26. I saw Mr Wilran to day and he says that as soon as the Cholera subsides they are agoing to start for Mason. Mrs Wilson will not go & leave while the Cholera rages. . .."
And, nine days later on September 4, he continued
"The Cholera has somewhat abated. The inhabitants generally don't appear to mind it so much. It is principally confined to the filthy parts of the City. It has had a good effect on business. . .."
. After beginning in Asia, a devastating Cholera epidemic reached England in 1831 and by the summer of 1831 had passed through Canada and begun to afflict Manhattan. As there had been adequate information regarding its progress, many wealthy New Yorkers had already relocated to the countryside to avoid infection. The poor, who were concentrated in lower Manhattan below 14th Street, had no choice but to await its onslaught. Approximately 3,500 of them died over the next three years.(For more information, see "Disasters: New York City (NYC) Cholera Epidemic of 1832" at the NYCdata website and Ferris's "A treatise on epidemic cholera: as observed in the Duane-street Cholera Hospital. . .." at the National Library of Medicine website.)
Fairly scarce. At the time of listing, there are no similar letters for sale in the trade. The Rare Book Hub shows original source letters and diaries related to the 1830s outbreak periodically appear at auction, and OCLC shows several institutions hold similar material.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 010197
- Title
- 1834 - Letter discussing the effect of the Cholera epidemic that had raged in New York City for over a year
- Author
- Edward P Hill
- Book Condition
- Used - Very good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Place of Publication
- New York Cit
- Date Published
- 1834
- Bookseller catalogs
- Philately;
Terms of Sale
Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
Sales tax of 6% required for books shipped to addresses in Virginia. Standard domestic shipping is free, however additional fees may be required for heavy, oversized, or unusually-shaped items.
Returns accepted for any reason for a full refund (less shipping) if we receive the return within 14 days of shipment and items are received in the same condition as sent. Advance notice of any return would be appreciated.
About the Seller
Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
About Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
We also have a nice selection of unusual ephemera and postal history items in stock as well.
Member: Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America, Ephemera Society, Manuscript Society, American Stamp Dealers Association, American Philatelic Society, U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, Military Postal History Society
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Poor
- A book with significant wear and faults. A poor condition book is still a reading copy with the full text still readable. Any...