19th Century Global Commerce Under Sail: Volume 1

19th Century Multi-Tasking & Global Commerce is a three-volume transcription of John M. Mayo & Co. business letter books (1848-1856) {archived at The Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA} including extensive research into sailing nomenclature, business practices and other terms, events and locations of historic interest.

The 19th century merchant was challenged by what today would be considered slow communications, transportation, unstable banking and finicky insurance institutions and though we like to consider ourselves living in a complex and hectic business world, I am not sure we are that much different today. These business letters illustrate the real-world complexities faced by the shipping merchants and how creative, thrifty and resourceful these businessman were. Over thirty ships were owned or partially owned by John M. Mayo & Company during these years. In less than 9 business years this vertically-integrated shipping business communicated with over a hundred vessel masters and almost a thousand business contacts. All this information was derived from 1300 business letters, laboriously transcribed from cursive, and many times with terminology obsolete to current business vernacular.