[Mining] Stampless Letter with Rare Manuscript Postmark for Michigan City, Indiana

Stampless Letter with Rare Manuscript Postmark for Michigan City, Indiana, John Hutchinson. 12.5 x 7.75 inches. 2pp. Fragile lettersheet is folded multiple times and was written in a legible hand. The outer page of the letter (with only the address) has holes at mailing folds, a 1 inch tear from wax with no loss of content, and moderate toning and foxing. Good condition. The rare manuscript postmark reads "Mich City Ia, 24 Jan" with a 10 cent rate. The letter is addressed to "Mr. Julius Hutchinson, Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind." and the headline reads "M. City Jany 21st" but does not include the year. It was likely written in the mid-19th century. The letter was written by John Hutchinson, Julius Hutchinson's brother. He writes wanting his brother's advice on going into the salt business, entering in for a 40 acre lot of land to look for gold, and tells him that "what little money I earn I think of putting in land instead of dancing it out.".