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Dimensions: approx 8x10
Original Rare 1848-1849 Pre-Civil War Notarial Protest & Affixed Promissory Note - Richmond, Virginia Financial History
Up for sale is an incredibly rare, museum-grade piece of antebellum American banking, legal, and Southern commercial history. This authentic legal assembly consists of an official 1849 partially printed and manuscript "Notarial Protest" document issued in the City of Richmond, Virginia, which still features the original 1848 handwritten 250.00 dollar promissory note physically affixed to the top margin via its original 19th-century mercantile glue attachment.
In early American banking law, when a substantial commercial note was defaulted on or "dishonored," a Notary Public would formally present the note at the bank. If payment was refused, the notary would physically attach the original check or note to a protest certificate as immutable courtroom evidence. Finding these multi-document banking assemblies completely intact and unaltered after 175+ years is an exceptional rarity.
Elite Historical Provenance & Signatures:This legal document features a highly significant chain of prominent antebellum financial tycoons, merchants, and institutions:- The Notary: Boldly hand-signed with an elaborate cursive paraph at the conclusion by James B. Macmurdo (James Brown Macmurdo), a highly influential civic figure, insurance director, and prominent Freemason leader in pre-war Richmond.- The Note Maker: Hand-signed by prominent merchant John Lewis on November 2, 1848, promising to pay four months after date.- The Endorsee Chain: Documenting the exact flow of high-finance commerce, the note is hand-endorsed on the face and reverse by Saxton Armstrong & Co. (Richmond tobacco jobbers), Bache & Peck, H. T. Pairo, Esq. (Horace T. Pairo, a legendary Richmond private banker and stockbroker), and the iconic Wall Street merchant banking firm of E. W. Clark, Dodge & Co.- The Bank: The text details the presentation and subsequent default of the note at the historic Farmers Bank of Virginia in Richmond on March 5, 1849.
The reverse side of the legal sheet contains the full clerk-written filing panel, an official blind-stamped notary seal, and the final audited protest cost calculations totaling 252.25 dollars.
Item Specifications:- Era/Years: 1848 (Note Execution) - 1849 (Notarial Protest)- Location: City of Richmond, Virginia- Legal Signatory: Notary Public James B. Macmurdo- Banking Institution: Farmers Bank of Virginia- Key Financial Names: H. T. Pairo, John Lewis, E.W. Clark Dodge & Co.- Format: Multi-Page Legal Assembly with Affixed Original Promissory Note & Blind Seal
Condition Report:considering age, Excellent historical condition. Both the legal protest sheet and the affixed promissory note exhibit beautiful, light, age-appropriate paper toning. The original horizontal and vertical fold lines from 1849 filing are present. Some tears present at ends of teh seam. The printed typography, extensive cursive ink handwriting, and James B. Macmurdo's signature remain incredibly dark, bold, sharp, and 100% legible. The original adhesive bond holding the note to the document remains structurally firm and entirely intact. Free of modern tape, repairs, or major splits. A premier centerpiece for an advanced collection of Scripophily, Southern legal history, or antebellum financial ephemera. Please review all high-resolution photos closely to independently confirm condition specifics before purchasing.
Item will be handled with museum-grade archival care, packed completely flat between heavy protective materials, and shipped securely in a rigid container. Please reach out with any questions.
