1847 Alabama Wooden Hull Sidewheel Steamer Walter Scott Capt Geo Wise 5 cent Ltr

Description

Up for sale is this letter addressed to Mr. Walter Scott from Capt Geo. D. Wise regarding employment aboard the Alabama. Mr. Scott is to be paid per month for his work on the Alabama. This must be Alabama 1, a 676 ton sidewheel steamer that was built in Baltimore in 1838. The Naval History and Heritage Command records say that the Alabama was being used to transport soldiers during the Mexican War (1846-1848.) However, Ohio State University's Department of History reports different details. They say it was built in 1838 but in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, and that it entered Naval Service in 1849; however, it's poor condition caused them to decommission and sell it seven months later.
The letter is addressed to "Mr. Walter Scott, New York, 9th Avenue between 14th and 13th Street." The postman must have had to track down the precise address! Captain Wise was writing from Philadelphia and dated the letter May 20, 1847. It was postmarked from Philadelphia on May 21st with "5cts" on the postmark.
My scanner has a way of over-saturating things so the last two pictures are photographs that do a better job representing the color and spotting. The paper has a very faint blue tinge to it. Like all of the quality paper of that age, it is soft and pliable, not at all dry or brittle. The paper was cut pretty weird in order to form the envelope, as things were done those days. You can see the wax seal is still there. The paper is 10" by 8", not counting the envelope section. They did a good job making the envelope.
Please examine the scans and ask any questions. I am going to ship this folded down the way it has been stored.
Thanks for looking,
Kevin