I paid a good bit for this small bit of paper, but I thought--think--it's a perfect thing, and will be happy to keep it for myself. Early 19th century (seems to me it could well be 1803 along with the last name of its original owner, Mound, hand-written on the reverse), it would have functioned as a pass/permit for carrying "One Load of Stone" across the newly built Albany & Schenectady Turnpike, to be presented at a tollbooth I believe; a bit like an EZ Pass, 200+ years ago, wielded by the driver of a wagon. I love the whole vision of that, and also the perfectly succinct little letterpress paper permit itself, with cheery flower border (tulips at the ordinal coordinates, upside down and right side up) and declarative (almost Biblical feeling, really) nature of the phrase/pronouncement: One Load of STONE. This delights me a lot, on many levels, and quite a rare and concise little piece of New York (and roadway) history.
The Albany & Schenectady Turnpike was established in 1797, the first turnpike chartered in NY I believe, at the very early end of what would become a "turnpike craze". Private, chartered companies would construct the turnpikes, and upon completion collect tolls for their use.
2 1/4 x 1 11/16 and in very good condition.
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