Chicago Illinois 1880s Pierce Kenan Fruits Nuts Billhead 8.5 x 5

This 1880s Pierce & Kenan billhead from Chicago, Illinois documents a wholesale transaction in fruits and nuts, reflecting the city’s role as a central produce distribution hub.

Produce wholesalers in the late nineteenth century issued decorative billheads that combined ornate typography with detailed product listings to convey both variety and business identity. The layout presents a stylized header with product categories such as lemons, pineapples, bananas, figs, dates, and nuts, alongside the company name and South Water Street address.

The billhead features the printed name Pierce & Kenan with the designation wholesale dealers in foreign fruits and nuts, accompanied by handwritten entries listing items and pricing totals. Ornamental border elements frame the product list, while the lower portion contains cursive accounting notations and totals. Visible toning, light staining, and fold lines reflect typical handling of nineteenth-century commercial documents.

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