L.M. Hatch, Commission Merchant, and Insurance Agent ... Charleston, S.C. [drop-title from South Carolina trade catalog]

“Oil!! Oil!! Whale, Lard and Sperm…”

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Scarce antebellum South Carolina trade catalog by Lewis M. Hatch (1815-1887), an enterprising Charleston merchant.

Hatch’s firm offered whale, large and sperm oil and belting for machinists to use in paper and textiles mills. Remarkably, the majority of this catalog (pp7–32) is devoted to the selling of C. Rich and Company’s Improved Patent Salamander Safes (“Warranted free from Dampness, as well as Fire-proof”) begging the question: exactly how many safes was Hatch selling or hoped to sell? Sixteen pages of this section, alone, are devoted to double-column listings of satisfied customers —appearing first: South Carolinians, Georgians, Alabamians, Floridians and Louisianans—and elsewhere in America.

Hatch also self-advertised as the Charleston agent for the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. Finally, the rear wrap notes that Hatch sold “Francis’ Metallic Life Boats” at his address at 120 Meeting-Street, “two doors above the Charleston Hotel.”

Later, during the Civil War, Hatch commanded the the 23rd South Carolina Infantry and contributed to the state’s coastal defenses during the conflict. (See Capers, Confederate Military History, Vol. 5: p9)

Price: $250.00