Certification of duty payment on a cask of rum April 9th, 1796
A partially printed sheet measuring 7 1/2 x 3 1/2" confirming payment of duty in the district of New York on a cask of rum containing one Hundred & twenty one Gallons of the 4th Proof. Signed by Nath Fish April 4th, 1796. Rum was immensely popular during colonial era. While the Caribbean colonies produced high quality and best tasting rum, the North American colonies would eventually take over the popular demand and by the late 17th century, New England began distilling rum. Ian Williams on p166 in his "Rum A social and sociable history of the real spirit of 1776" writes that by "Per capital consumption of rum had reached horrendous heights - an annual 3.7 gallons per head by the time of the revolution". Even the British were fighting hard on the rum front, continues Williams p175, "When Cornwallis began his unsuccessful last offensive in the Carolinas, the most demoralizing event for the troops was when he shed the baggage train to speed up his chase of rebels and despite throwing his own baggage on the bonfire, the troops were horrified when he also torched the rum supplies". Circumstances changed by the 1790 when whiskey came out of nowhere and accounted for about 1/3 of the alcohol consumption. Going into the 19th century, whiskey would eventually become even more popular in terms of consumption. A fresh clean document with a seal stamped in blind. Scarce.
Less. Item #10353
Price: $350.00