The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware  19735

Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Creator:         Koenig, E. G. (Erdman G.), 1848-1886

Title:               Bills

Dates:             1872-1898, bulk dates 1875-1890

Call No.:         Col. 577

Acc. No.:        99x7

Quantity:        62 items (1 folder)

Location:        34 J 4

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

E.G. (Erdman G.) Koenig and his wife Rosa lived in Newark, New Jersey, where they ran a sporting goods and cutlery store.   Mr. Koenig was born in Zella, a small town in Saxe Coburg Gotha, Germany, in 1848.  (The town was a center for gunsmithing and engraving., activities in which members of the Koenig family had long been active.)  E.G. Koenig was christened Gustav Erdmann Koenig, but later he altered his name to Erdman G. Koenig, and mostly used the initials E.G.  His family came to the United States in 1854, arriving in Baltimore, later moving to New York City, and still later to Hartford, Connecticut, where father Samuel Koenig worked for the Colt factory.  Erdman also worked for the company as an engraver of pistols. 

 

E.G. Koenig served in the Civil War (as a substitute for someone who had been drafted) and then moved to Newark, where he continued to engrave pistols and also started to sell guns and cutlery.  Later, the business expanded to sell all kinds of sporting goods, and it became the leading sporting goods store in Newark.  For a time in the late 1870s, Koenig had a branch store on Courtland Street in New York City.

 

Koenig married Rosa Tuebler (1852-1913) on October 19, 1870 in Newark.  They had six children, two of whom died young.  Erdman Koenig died in 1886, but his business continued with his name after that date, first run by his widow and then by his eldest son Albert Samuel Koenig.  Eventually, the business name was changed to E.G. Koenig’s Sons.  The store was sold in the 1920s and shortly thereafter went out of business.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

Collection of bills, all but four of which were sent to E.G. Koenig or to Mrs. Koenig.  The Koenigs shopped in both New York City and Newark and bought a variety of goods: coal, targets, scissors, a watch, silver flatware, wooden and shell reels, a lawn tennis set, photographs, frames, a locket, a number of walking canes, corkscrews, stationery, bags, plate holders, drinking cups, fish stringers, a basket, puzzle whistles, plumbing pipes, etc.  The Koenigs purchased some goods, such as the walking canes and corkscrews, in large quantities, suggesting that they were buying for their own store.  As well, there is a bill from a doctor and a bill from a carpenter, detailing repairs done to a building.  Unfortunately, a number of the bills are just for merchandise, without specifying the goods.

 

Three of the bills not sent to the Koenigs were addressed to A. Olds and Lizzie M. Olds of Hartford, Conn.; the fourth was addressed to A.K. Hofner, Belfast, Pa.  Mr. and Mrs. Olds bought a suit of clothes, a sewing machine, and veal, and Mr. Hofner bought flour.  It is not known how these bills came to be mixed in with those to the Koenigs.  Although the billheads in this collection are printed, none are illustrated.

 

           

ORGANIZATION

 

The bills are in accession number order, which mostly follows chronological order.  The four non-Koenig bills are filed at the end.

 

Extra information learned about Koenig has been placed in the folder with the bills.

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The materials are in English.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

Collection is open to the public.  Copyright restrictions may apply.

           

 

PROVENANCE

 

Purchased from Donald M. Broas.

 

 

RELATED MATERIALS

 

Sam Koenig of Fort Smith, Arkansas, self-published a book about this family titled E.G. Koenig’s Sons: A Historic Newark Sports Emporium: Its Story and Proprietors.

           

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

Topics:

            E.G. Koenig (firm : Newark, N.J.)

            Clothing and dress - Prices - 19th century.

Dwellings - Maintenance and repair - New Jersey - Newark.

Retail trade - New Jersey - Newark.

            Retail trade - Connecticut - Hartford.

            Retail trade - Pennsylvania - Belfast.

            Sewing machines - Prices.

Silverware - Prices.

            Staffs (Sticks, canes, etc.) - Prices.

Newark (N.J.) - Commerce.

Bills.

Billheads.

           

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 34 J 4

 

 

All accession numbers begin with 99x7.

All bill are addressed to E.G. Koenig, unless otherwise noted.  After his death, bills continued to be addressed to E.G. Koenig, which remained the name of his business, as it was being continued on by his wife.

 

 

Folder 1 of 1:

 

.1         receipted bill from F.P. Jaques, Newark, Aug. 1875: for coal;

                        Printed billhead: dealer in coal and wood; successor to J.D. Mitchell & Co.

 

.2         receipted bill from Stationery Department, Newark News Company, Newark, July 31, 1875: for merchandise;

                        Printed billhead

 

.3         receipted bill from E.B. Hotchkiss, Newark, Aug. 2, 1875: for targets;

                        Printed billhead: manufacturer of plain & fancy paper boxes

 

.4         bill from Tatham & Brothers, New York, Aug. 16, 1875: bags of something;

                        Printed billhead: manufacturers of lead pipe, sheet lead, shot, &c.

 

.5         bill from Dr. L. Dennis, Newark, Jan. 11, 1876: for services rendered;

                        Printed form

 

.6         bill from National Toy Co., New York, Dec. 23, 187-: for merchandise;

                        Printed billhead

 

.7         receipted bill from Conroy, Bissett & Malleson, New York, Oct. 1, 1880: for merchandise;

                        Printed billhead

 

.8         receipted bill from T. Brown, Newark, Oct. 15, 1880: for scheiben[?];

                        Printed billhead: manufacturer of paper boxes

 

.9         bill from Newark Nickel Plating Co., Newark, Oct. 28, 1880: for one pair scissors;

                        Printed billhead: nickel plating of every description

 

.10       receipted bill from Cornelius La Forge, Jr., New York, July 23, 1881: for a watch and chain;

                        Printed billhead

 

.11       receipted bill from M.W. Robinson, New York, Oct. 1, 1881: for merchandise;

                        Printed billhead

 

.12       receipted bill from N.J. Freiezeitung, Newark, Nov. 1, 1881: for advertising;

                        Printed billhead

 

.13       receipted bill from Benjamin Mayo, Newark, Dec. 28, 1881: for sterling silver fork and spoon;

                        Printed billhead: manufacturing silversmith

 

.14       receipted bill from Gorham M’f’g Co. (Silversmiths), New York, Jan. 15, 1883: for electro tea, dessert, and table spoons, rings, peppers (large quantities of all)l

                        Printed billhead

 

.15       credit statement from Raymold & Whitlock, New York, Feb. 27, 1883: for foils, plastrons, gloves;

                        Printed billhead

 

.16       receipted bill from Hermann Boker & Co., New York, March 1, 1883: for merchandise;

                        Printed billhead;

 

.17       receipted bill from W.T. Mersereau & Co., New York, April 17, 1883: for merchandise;

                        Printed billhead

 

.18       receipted bill from Hodgman & Co., New York, May 1, 1883: for merchandise;

                        Printed billhead: Standard Rubber Works

 

.19-.20             bills from Charles Rich, Newark, May 18, 1883: for wooden reels, shell reels, baywood and maple something;

                        Printed billhead: manufacturer of improved cigar makers’ tools; on bright yellow paper

 

.21       receipted bill from Peck & Snyder, New York, July 2, 1883: for merchandise;

                        Printed billhead

 

.22       credit statement from J. Curley & Bro., New York, June 26, 1883: tapes[?];

                        Printed form

 

.23       receipted bill from H.. Osborne, Newark, Feb. 27, 1886: for 3 pair of something;

                        Printed billhead: manufacturer of saddle and harness makers’ tools, [etc.]

 

.24       receipted bill from Jacob Hey, Newark, Feb. 1886, for merchandise;

                        Printed billhead: cabinet manufacturer

 

.25       bill from P. Adolphe Normandeau, April 1, 1886: for merchandise; with a note about the bill and merchandise (some of which was gilded);

                        Printed billhead

 

.26       receipted bill from Hodgman & Co., New York, May 1, 1886: for merchandise;

                        Printed billhead: Standard Rubber Works

 

.27       bill from Chas. J. Hauck & Son, Brooklyn, May 31, 1886: for merchandise;

                        Printed billhead

 

.28-.29             statements from Meriden Britannia Company, Meriden, Conn., June 1 and July 1, 1886: for merchandise;

                        Printed forms

 

.30       bill to Mrs. Koenig from Thos. J. Connelly, New York, July 31, 1886: for merchandise;

                        Printed billhead: importer of French, English and German fancy goods

 

.31       bill from Wilson Brothers Wooden Ware & Toy Co., New York, Aug. 11, 1886: lawn tennis set;

                        Printed billhead: manufacturers and dealers in base balls, toy whips, toy reins, etc., game and home amusements, novelties in domestic toys

 

.32       receipted bill to Mrs. Koenig from Ludwig Schill, Newark, Sept. 1, 1886; for photographs, mats, frame, locket;

                        Printed billhead: photographer

 

.33       bill from Chas. J. Hauck & Son, Brooklyn, Sept. 30, 1886: for merchandise;

                        Printed billhead

 

.34       receipted bill from Schoverling, Daly & Gales, New York, Oct. 13, 1886: for merchandise;

                        Printed billhead

 

.35       receipted bill to Mrs. Koenig from Ludwig Schill, Newark, Nov. 8, 1886; for frame;

                        Printed billhead: photographer

 

.36-.38             receipted bills to Mrs. Koenig from Peter Schneider & Co., New York, Dec. 13, Dec.[?] 22, and Dec. 29, 1886: for various kinds of canes;

                        Printed billheads: importers and manufacturers of walking canes

 

.39       receipted bill to Mrs. Koenig from Ludwig Schill, Newark, May 1, 1887; for photos;

                        Printed billhead: photographer

 

.40       bill from G.M. Thurnauer, New York, June 13, 1887: for corkscrews;

                        Printed billhead: commission, import, export

 

.41       receipted bill to Mrs. Koenig from Ribbans & Co., Newark, July 12, 1887: for paper;

                        Printed billhead: wholesale paper and twine warehouse; … flour sacks and paper bags, butter dishes, shipping tags, envelopes, [etc.]; on orange-ish paper.

 

.42       statement from A.G. Spalding & Bros., New York, Aug. 2, 1887: for merchandise;

                        Printed billhead

 

.43       receipted bill from Ribbans & Co., Newark, Aug. 23, 1887: for envelopes and paper;

                        Printed billhead: wholesale paper and twine warehouse; … flour sacks and paper bags, butter dishes, shipping tags, envelopes, [etc.]; on orange-ish paper.

 

.44       receipted bill from Metropolitan Hardware Co., Sept. 2, 1887: for rules[?];

                        Printed billhead

 

.45-.46             receipted bills to Mrs. Koenig from Ribbans & Co., Newark, Sept. 9 and Oct. 22, 1887: for paper, pounds of cotton, bags;

                        Printed billhead: wholesale paper and twine warehouse; … flour sacks and paper bags, butter dishes, shipping tags, envelopes, [etc.]; on orange-ish paper.

 

.47       receipted bill to Mrs. Koenig from Peck & Snyder, New York, March 7, 1888: for plate holders;

                        Printed billhead: The New York City Base Ball, Skate and Sportsman’s Emporium; manufacturers & jobbers of base ball players’ supplies, cricket, archery, skates, military & firemen’s goods, etc., [and publishers of several books]

 

.48       receipted statement: Mrs. Koenig paid J.H. Lau & Co., New York, April 1, 1888: for merchandise;

                        Printed billhead

 

.49       receipted statement from Medford Fancy Goods Co., New York, April 1, 1888: for merchandise;

                        Printed billhead: manufacturers of dog collars and furnishings

 

.50       receipted bill to Mrs. Koenig from R. Loepsinger & Co., Newark, April 1888: for antique frames;

                        Printed billhead: manufacturers of mouldings for rooms, looking glasses and picture frames, gilding and regilding

 

.51       statement from A.G. Spalding & Bros., New York, July 2, 1888: for merchandise;

                        Printed billhead

 

.52       receipted bill from Harman & Strauss Specialty Co., New York, June 1, 1889: drinking cups, fish stringers, jack pots(?), with show card added gratis;

                        Printed billhead: manufacturers of and dealers in patented novelties

 

.53       receipted bill to Mrs. Koenig from H.C. Strobell, July 1, 1889: for a basket [of flowers?];

                        Printed billhead: florist, special attention to weddings, parties, &c.

 

.54       receipted bill from G. Webster Peck, New York, Sept. 5, 1889: for puzzle whistles and other goods;

                        Printed form with stamped address: manufacturers’ agent

 

.55       receipted bill from Peter E. Ninnis, Newark, Nov. 23,1889: for cleaning water closet, putting tar on roof, taking up and putting down carpet, new bolts and a window catch, and weather stripping;

                        Printed billhead: carpenter and builder

 

.56       receipted bill from Charles H. Edwards, Newark, Oct. 21, 1880[?]: for joints, pipe, elbows;

                        Printed billhead: tine & sheet iron work, plumbing & gas-fitting, clothes wringers repaired dealer in parlor stoves, ranges, hot air furnaces, tin & hollow ware

 

.57       receipted bill from New Jersey Nickel Plating Co., Newark, Jan. 2, 1890: for merchandise or work;

                        Printed billhead: electro plating in silver, gold, nickel & copper, buffing & polishing

 

.58       receipted bill from J.B. Hellenberg, Coldwater, Mich., Jan. 6, 1890: for balance due;

                        Printed billhead: wood turning of all kinds

 

 

These are not addressed to the Koenigs:

 

.59       receipted bill to Mr. A. H.[?] Olds from James Clarke & Co., Hartford, Conn., Oct. 5, 1872: for a suit;

                        Printed billhead: merchant tailors and clothiers

 

.60       receipted bill to Mrs. Lizzie M. Olds from The Howe Machine Co., Hartford, Conn., Oct. 1, 1875: for A.B. Howe Machine, drop leaf [sewing machine];

                        Printed billhead, with picture of trade mark of the company (medallion showing Elias Howe, Jr., inventor & maker)

                        [A woman named Lizzie Maria Whipple Olds lived in Hartford at this time; she was married to Alfred Allen Olds; he was listed as a bookkeeper in the 1875 Hartford directory.]

 

.61       receipted bill to Mr. A. Olds from S.M. Bronson, Hartford, Conn., Oct. 1, 1877: for veal;

                        Printed billhead: commission merchant and wholesale dealer in produce, flour, provisions, … fruits, poultry, game, baled hay, … salt and salt fish

 

.62       receipted bill to Mr. A. K. Hofner from E.H. Clewell, Belfast, Penn., May 2, 1898: for mixed chop and flour;

                        Printed billhead: dealer in … grain, flour, feed, &c, and manufacturers of all kinds of chop