Traditional Muzzleloading Association

The Center of Camp => People of the Times => Topic started by: Minnesota Mike on November 17, 2009, 05:02:21 PM

Title: American Fur Company Seal
Post by: Minnesota Mike on November 17, 2009, 05:02:21 PM: Looking to track down what the American Fur Company seal might have looked like - type of seal used for sealing wax on correspondence.

Any insight or assistance greatly appreciated.

r/
MM
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Post by: Sir Michael on December 28, 2009, 03:04:36 AM: Have you tried contacting the Mackinac State Historic Parks? There is an AFC store/company headquarters at Mackinac.
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Post by: Minnesota Mike on January 08, 2010, 01:55:23 PM: yup - got no answer back.

But got answer back from Wisc and Mich historical with no joy.

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MM
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Post by: Sir Michael on January 08, 2010, 05:25:04 PM: :shake
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Post by: sse on January 08, 2010, 09:46:14 PM: There has to be one somewhere, but perhaps it hasn't made it to the world wide web yet.
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Post by: Minnesota Mike on January 14, 2010, 03:09:08 PM: Got a very nice response back from Director of the Musuem of the Fur Trade - a few suggestions, but essentially they did not have anything there either. Essentially the answer was . . .

"You are asking one of those questions that falls into the category of "material culture research." It is very, very hard to discover those tiny details that you are looking for. Institutions such as Williamsburg, Monticello, Mount Vernon are always looking for the minute details that will make their interpretations superb.

I don't think that the American Fur Company letters would be sealed any different from other correspondence of the time period. How the letter was sent probably had more to do with where it was going and how it was sent.

. . . Look for a numismatic collection to see envelopes, stamps, etc. . . .

Most archival collections that I have worked in do not usually keep letters inside the original envelope. In the 1950s and early 60s, some institutions did not think it necessary to keep envelopes, thus all you have are the letters."

Like I said, very polite with some pointers and a bit of education.

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MM
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Post by: BEAVERMAN on January 14, 2010, 03:18:04 PM: Mike, sounds like your hitting a brick wall so far, wish I could help ya, good luck, hope you find the grail!
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Post by: Uncle Russ on January 14, 2010, 06:18:22 PM: Me too, Beaverman

Since I first read this, I have looked, or tried to look, in several places where I though I might find something, and I have found absolutely nothing.

Still yet, for some reason, I "think" I have seen something, some where...it may have been a book, but I'm just not sure. Still yet, I have that nagging in the back of my mind so I will keep looking.

Uncle Russ...
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Post by: Shadow Hawk on January 14, 2010, 06:47:09 PM: I've got an idea don,t know if will help.
has any one tried to find a contract or bill of sale or the like. a commission, some official document on letterhead?
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Post by: Pichou on January 21, 2010, 02:27:13 PM: I only saw one seal, and it's not AMFCo, but there is some really cool stuff here:

http://www.stampauctionnetwork.com/F/F121.cfm (http://www.stampauctionnetwork.com/F/F121.cfm)

Download the images and descriptions... they might go away after the sale?

One signed by Astor:

(http://www.stampauctionnetwork.com/F/121/106a.jpg)

by Sublette and Robt. Campbell:

(http://www.stampauctionnetwork.com/F/121/118a.jpg)

a teaser for Mn. Mike:

(http://www.stampauctionnetwork.com/F/121/120.jpg)
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Post by: Minnesota Mike on March 03, 2010, 12:13:14 PM: you are so (sob) mean!!

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MM
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Post by: Pichou on March 17, 2010, 01:30:56 PM: I know! That one document is the cruelest thing I have ever seen.

BUT, I think it implies that these individuals used their own seals, not company seals.

I think we are off track because Ogden had a NWCo seal. His is the only one that shows up, BTW. I have seen McGillivray's seal on docs and it is his own seal, not the company, even tho he was "The Company."