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Pottier & Stymus Bedroom Furniture Receipt

Pottier and StymusReceiptRensselaer

Pottier & Stymus Bedroom Furniture Receipt
Pottier & Stymus Bedroom Furniture Receipt

Pottier & Stymus Bedroom Furniture Receipt
Here's another interesting find from the files of the Rensselaer County Historical Society in Troy, NY. This is an 1861 receipt to Richard P. Hart, Jr. for bedroom furniture provided by the firm of Pottier & Stymus, dated April 3rd, 1861.  The writing on the rear appears to record the completion of payments totaling $193.75.

There are five line items in the bill:  a round corner bedstead, a bureau with plate glass, a marble top wash stand, a marble top commode and 7 cases & packaging for shipping.  I can't make out the initial abbreviations that repeat on each line which probably describe the type of wood used in the manufacture of the items.

Notice the reference to "Late B. E. Rochefort" who was a partner in the firm preceding P&S, Rochefort and Skarren, which was taken over by Pottier & Stymus after Rochefort's death in May 1859.  The receipt is dated almost 2 years after.  The 623 Broadway address refers to their showroom while their workshop was at 115 Wooster.

4 comments

  1. R. Joseph Wiessinger
    ON the P & S receipt, it looks like the word Walnut at the beginning of the first line. See how he has made a "W" and then the end is a "t" with a small slash to the upper right to indicate the crossing. Also, the ditto marks for the amount probably indicate no cents. Just some thougths. JOE
  2. R. Joseph Wiessinger
    Further, the "W" in the firstline matches exactly the "W" in the third line for Wash stand.
  3. John Werry
    That makes sense. I had not figured on "W Nut" as an abbreviation but I guess that was the case. I'll have to look for some with "R wood"....
  4. jr
    Its always interesting to see how previous generations handwriting differs from current. I have a sales "receipt" for a number of furniture items written on the back of a drawer from a butlers secretary from 1800 (the secretary cost $18) that has generated quite a few hours of discussion amongst my friends. Its delightful.

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