(Upper Louisiana) - Promissory Note from Louis Robitaille in Labor to Make Silver Spoons for Mr. Loisel for Payment Received St. Louis October 23, 1800. Fine. An early Missouri artisan's promissory note from St. Louis, hand accomplished and signed by Louis Robitaille, one of the earliest silversmiths in the area. The evidence provided by this 1800 St. Louis promissory note indicates that Robitaille worked in St. Louis five years before Antoine Danjen, once considered St. Louis' first silversmith. This note was illustrated in Norman Mack's book, Missouri's Silver Age, courtesy of Eric P. Newman. In French on laid paper, 20.0 cm by 10.5 cm. Docketed No. 2 on the back and initialed. This nicely accomplished document is relevant to the fur trade as the future recipient of the spoons, early Canadian trader Regis Loisel, was later part of Clamorgan, Loisel, and Company, a competitor of the Missouri Company. Mack's book explains that the spoons were a wedding gift for Loisel's bride. The Some surface soiling and wear are seen along the top. Sharply signed. This museum-worthy Newman piece was displayed at a 1989 exhibition at the Missouri Historical Society. Another important early Missouri document illustrative of commercial development in the pre-territorial period. French Transcription: Je Promis & moblige de faire a lordre de Mr. Loisel une Douzenne De Cuillere Dargent en me fournissent La matierre, & Cella pour payement Re?u de mon dit St. Louis, les quel Cuillaire je fer? a Son Go?t faitte & parfaite, St. Louis le 23 mois bre.1800 Louis Robitaille Translation : I promise and am obliged to make to the order of Mr. Loisel a dozen silver spoons and furnish the material, and this for payment received of my word given to Mr. Loisel, these spoons I will make to his taste, perfectly made [EPN note: \"to his taste complete and perfect\"], St. Louis on October 23, 1800. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society \n\n
From Newman VIII (Heritage Auctions, 11/2017), lot 28318, realized $680.4. Image and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions, https://ha.com.
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