Oregon & California Packet Line Abernethy, Clark & Co., San Francisco. Geo. Abernethy & Co. Oregon City.

With a Handsome Illustration of a Clipper Ship This document is a West Coast bill of lading from January 24, 1859, related to the Oregon and California Packet Line, operated by Abernethy, Clark & Co., a prominen. Printed document on single sheet of blue paper, completed in manuscript. Signed by H. Clark. Old fold marks. Overall very good. Docketed on verso: "Abernethy, Clark & Co. / B of L Bark Saml Merritt / Sanfso. 24 Jany. 1849" With a Handsome Illustration of a Clipper Ship This document is a West Coast bill of lading from January 24, 1859, related to the Oregon and California Packet Line, operated by Abernethy, Clark & Co., a prominent Gold Rush era west coast shipping company during the mid-19th century. It records the shipment of goods from San Francisco to be delivered in Portland to one H. W. Corbett, Esq., reflecting the commercial ties between California and the Oregon Territory during this period. The left side features an illustrated logo of a clipper ship, a common symbol of speed and reliability in maritime commerce, with the heading Oregon & California Packet Line. Below it, the names of the agents, "Abernethy, Clark & Co., San Francisco" and "Geo. Abernethy & Co., Oregon City," are prominently displayed. This identifies the company as a key player in the transport of goods between the burgeoning settlements of the West Coast. The document appears to be signed by Hiram Clark ("H. Clark"), one of the partners in the firm of Abernethy, Clark, & Co. The cargo list follows: One (1) Cashman [perhaps a safe or locked box for valuables] Six (6) Scrupers One (1) Bdln. of Candles The goods were loaded aboard the clipper barque Samuel Merritt, under the command of Captain Joseph Williams, bound for Portland in the Oregon Territory. The ship was lying at the Port of San Francisco at the time of shipping. The freight charges are recorded at eight dollars per ton. The printing for this document was done by Towne & Bacon, a pioneering 19th-century San Francisco printing establishment and a cornerstone of the city s burgeoning publishing industry during the Gold Rush era and beyond. Renowned for their versatility, Towne & Bacon produced a wide range of printed materials, including newspapers, legal documents, business forms, books, and government publications. Their work played a vital role in supporting the rapid growth of commerce, law, and governance in San Francisco and the wider region, establishing the firm as a critical player in the development of California's print culture.…