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Offered here is an original 1799 transatlantic bill of exchange with notarial protest, linking Philadelphia and Hamburg, and documenting a failed international financial transaction during the early years of the United States.
This large 12 1/2 x 15 1/2 folio manuscript records a bill drawn in Philadelphia (July 19, 1799) for the substantial sum of 18,709 Marks Banco, payable in Hamburg. Upon presentation, payment was refused, and a formal protest for non-payment was issued in November 1799—preserved here in full.
The document is signed by Clement offerdle (1740–1814), a prominent Philadelphia merchant and notary public, adding significant historical importance and collector appeal.
Key Features:
Dated 1799 (with endorsements into 1800)
Transatlantic trade: Philadelphia ↔ Hamburg
Amount: 18,709 Marks Banco
Complete protest for non-payment
Multiple merchant endorsements on verso
Original embossed notarial seal intact
Signed by Clement offerdle
Historical Significance:
Bills of exchange were the backbone of 18th-century global commerce. This example provides a rare, complete record of a dishonored international transaction and the legal process that followed.
