Civil War Era Account Book and Letter Archive.

$975.00

Item Number: 116855

Rare Civil War era bookkeeper’s log and letter archive primarily documenting claims for Civil War risk premiums in the Court of Commissioners of Alabama Claims. Quarto, bound in three quarters morocco. Laid in are over two dozen letters of correspondence between the the office of Glidden and Williams postdated between 1854 and 1882 and insurance documents including several petitions filed with the Court of Alabama. In very good condition. With the stamp of Aaron R. Gay, Stationer of No. 130 State Street, Boston Massachusetts.

The earliest American life insurance policies date back to the late colonial period with the earliest companies to experience any success being the the Pennsylvania Company for Insurances on Lives and Granting Annuities (chartered in 1812), the Massachusetts Hospital Life Insurance Company (1818), and the New York Life Insurance and Trust Company (1830). Life insurance sales increased dramatically at the onset of the American Civil War when several major companies decided to ensure war risks for an additional premium rate of 2% to 5%. The New York Mutual Life Insurance Company divided assured persons in the Southern States into four classes: soldiers of the United States Army, secessionists, union partizans, and slaves. Policies contained the provision: "Provided that in case the said — — shall, without the consent of this company, engage in any extra hazardous occupation, or shall without such previous consent enter into any military service whatsoever (the militia not in active service excepted) or in case he shall die by the hands of justice or in the violation of any state, national or provincial law, this policy shall be null and void" (New York Commercial Advertiser, 1861).