Need Info : Boston Hotel

This is not US currency. It would be considered exunomia.

I think it would have been printed for the Boston Hotel to be used at that business only.

It's beautiful and I suppose it is quite old.

A close-up pic of the written areas might help. I see that the printer was in NY, and it would help to ascertain when that company was in business. Is there writing on the back? This appears to be a promissory note; perhaps, one that's listed among the works on obsolete currency.




Actually, this amount was common, given that prior to 1857, Spanish silver reals or "bits" (an eighth of a dollar) were legal tender. Consider that this note was printed so as to be worth that amount. The individual, "J. Worth" may have been a money broker or else he was perhaps in charge of the hotel? I did find one "John Worth" (no middle initial) listed in an 1855 Boston City Directory at the "seaman house, 437 Commercial."

This note poses many questions. Was the "Boston Hotel" the proper name, or was that written generically? If the latter is true, then John Worth of the "Seaman House" might have been the issuer. Was the "Boston House" located in Boston, Mass. or elsewhere? Was there a "Cherry St." located in early Boston? I did find a "206 Cherry" in a few, early NY City directories, but it was not a hotel at the time.

As to age, I'm guessing it's late 1830-s or 1840's, but it could be 1850's. Cool study piece of history ...

James Latham is listed in Longworth's 1837 NY City Directory as an engraver, located at 160 Greenwich. He is absent in the 1839 directory and those thereafter. He was not listed in 1827, I see. Note that only certain years are easily accessible online. Thus, given info about the printer, we can safely say your note dates to 1837, or a few years prior.

I could find no Boston Hotel listed in NY City in 1839, nor a 206 Cherry St. address. Perhaps, more of these notes will surface and provide a city or town ...

Marccollection ... Glad to help. A great many collectors of scrip like this tend to form their collections by location. So, if you can somehow locate the "Boston Hotel", that will enhance any bidding competition and ultimately, the value realized. I ran some searches on early newspapers, and there were many establishments named "Boston Hotel" in many cities, including NY City, but none located at "206 Cherry" that I could spot.

Good luck!