Handwritten note in period ink to the Sharps Manufacturing Company that reads:

DAWSONS STATION MARCH 5^TH

SHARPS MANUFACTORING CO.

PLEASE SEND ME PRICE LIST OF YOUR SPORTING RIFLES TRADE PRICE LIST. INCLOSED PLEASE FIND CARD WITH ADDRESS.

YOURS TRULY

JOHN CODER

Letter has some period notions in pencil in the margins. Reverse of letter has period ink marking: “5780 JOHN CODER, DAWSON STATION, MAR. 5 / 77. ANS. 10^TH.”

Attached to the letter by a pin is a business card done on orange stock with darkened borders. Card advertises Coder as a gunsmith and firearms dealer in Fayette County, Pennsylvania which is located southeast of Pittsburgh along the West Virginia border.

Not much is known about John Coder. He was born in Pennsylvania about 1837 to parents who came from Wales. In addition to his gunsmith business he also advertised as a blacksmith. He moved around from Pennsylvania to Maryland to Indiana. [ad]

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