{"product_id":"maine-portland-prince-ham-fancy-goods-phillips-1897-billhead-8-x-4-6","title":"Portland Maine 1897 Prince Ham Fancy Goods Billhead 8 x 4.5","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"163\" data-end=\"340\"\u003eThis May 27, 1897 Portland, Maine billhead documents a transaction with Prince, Ham \u0026amp; Co., a local jobbing firm dealing in fancy goods, small wares, and gentlemen’s furnishings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"342\" data-end=\"997\"\u003ePortland served as one of northern New England’s major commercial ports during the late nineteenth century, with Middle Street functioning as a busy retail and wholesale corridor in the city’s downtown business district. Firms specializing in “fancy goods” supplied merchants with a wide assortment of small retail items including accessories, collars, personal goods, and clothing-related wares that were sold through dry goods stores and men’s outfitters across the region. Wholesale billheads from such firms illustrate the everyday commercial networks that connected urban suppliers with smaller-town retailers throughout Maine and neighboring states.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"999\" data-end=\"1661\"\u003eThe printed heading reads Bought of Prince, Ham \u0026amp; Co., Jobbers of Fancy Goods, Small Wares and Gents Furnishings with the address listed as 255 Middle Street in Portland. The document is dated May 27, 1897 and addressed to M. Hinkley, Crayon \u0026amp; Friebel of Phillips, Maine. Handwritten entries record items including Bermuda collars and related goods, with prices noted in the right-hand accounting columns. The lower portion of the invoice includes a handwritten notation confirming the order and payment status, while the clean letterpress typography and ruled ledger columns reflect the typical design of late nineteenth-century wholesale commercial stationery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1663\" data-end=\"1952\"\u003eThe item shown in the listing is the exact item the collector will receive. We have tens of thousands of items to choose from. Shipping will always be combined (or refunded) to save you as much money as possible. Please contact us with any questions, or visit our store page for specifics.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Everything Ephemera","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52982727311544,"sku":"20250904op","price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0939\/8740\/6008\/files\/57_1a82cff2-40ab-4ecf-85e0-3e41ab4603c0.jpg?v=1773103772","url":"https:\/\/everythingephemera.com\/products\/maine-portland-prince-ham-fancy-goods-phillips-1897-billhead-8-x-4-6","provider":"Everything Ephemera","version":"1.0","type":"link"}