San Francisco Second of Exchange, made out to Joseph D. Evans.
San Francisco: August 9, 1850. San Francisco Gold Rush item, a bank note engraved promissory note for $325 (second of exchange) issued to Joseph D. Evans, to be drawn on Howland & Aspinwall of New York.
Paid from New York, possibly to a successful gold miner returning to New York. Howland & Aspinwall was a major New York city merchant trading firm, founded in 1832, noted for its China trade, and its major financing of clipper ships such as the American made "Rainbow" (the first extreme clipper, sacrificing cargo space to increase speed). In the 1840s at the time of the California gold rush, the firm turned its focus to California and founded (with other New York firms) the Pacific Mail Steamship Co.
Bank note engraving by Rawdon Wright Hatch & Edison, New York, with engraved head piece featuring allegorical female figure with gold coins in foreground, and waterfront scene with railroad and steamships in the distance; a steam ship & sailing ship at upper left, and steam locomotive at lower left corner. Number 55 in ink at upper right. Signed Robinson [Bissel?] in ink.
8 3/4 x 5". Period folds flattened. Slight stain at top edge center fold; slight toning at left side. Good + overall. Item #25903
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