c1870 Maj Alfred Little Musician 3¢ Postal Cover Palmer Bachelder Boston #1498

Offered here is a fascinating 19th-century United States postal history cover addressed to Major Alfred Little, a noted New Hampshire musician and traveling performer. The cover bears a 3-cent pink/red Washington embossed United States postage indicium and has a printed return address for Palmer, Bachelder & Co., 162 Washington St., Boston, Massachusetts, a prominent Boston jewelry, watch and silverware firm. The front is addressed in period handwriting to “Maj. Alfred Little” and displays multiple circular postal markings along with numerous handwritten forwarding and address notations. Several destinations appear to have been crossed out or changed, suggesting the letter followed Little as attempts were made to locate or deliver it. This extensive forwarding history gives the cover considerable visual character and postal-history interest. Major Alfred Little (1823–1880) was associated with Boscawen, New Hampshire, and became known as a musician and melodeon performer who traveled extensively during the 19th century. The combination of an identifiable historical recipient, Boston merchant return address, embossed 3-cent postal stationery and multiple forwarding markings makes this an especially interesting piece for collectors of New Hampshire history, Boston history, musicians, postal history and 19th-century Americana. Based on the postal stationery and documented period of the Palmer, Bachelder & Co. address, this cover appears to date from approximately the late 1860s to early 1870s, although an exact mailing year has not been confirmed. Condition: Original antique condition with age toning, staining, edge/corner wear, fading, ink marks, cancellations, crossed-out addresses and other handling consistent with its age and extensive postal use. The embossed 3¢ indicium has heavy black cancellation/ink markings. Please examine all photographs carefully, as they are an important part of the condition description. A distinctive approximately 150-year-old forwarded postal-history cover with an identifiable historical recipient and excellent research potential. Guaranteed original period item — not a reproduction.