1881 Albany NY Merchant Letter Martin Frost Egg Market Crash, Death, Cargo Theft For Sale

Measures 8.5x111881 handwritten business letter on the official printed letterhead of Martin & Frost, Commission Merchants of 375 Broadway, Albany, New York. Dated May 10, 1881, the letter is addressed to J. H. Hays, Esq., and signed by the firm. The text delivers a fascinating look into 19th-century trade, detail-rich updates on an unexpected collapse in the egg market, a report on cargo theft from opened transit crates, and news regarding the sudden death and burial of local merchant Mr. Hunter (of Martin & Hunter). The reverse side shows natural age toning and mirror-image letterhead bleed-through, remaining structurally blank.
Translated to the best of my ability:Office of MARTIN & FROST,
COMMISSION MERCHANTS,
AND WHOLESALE DEALERS IN
BUTTER, EGGS, CHEESE AND ALL KINDS OF
COUNTRY PRODUCE, 375 BROADWAY,GRAHAM MARTIN,
WILLIAM K. FROST. Albany, N. Y., May 10 1881J. H. Hays Esq
Dear Sir
Enclosed find check of
Martin & Hunter for $308.04 to balance
acct to date as per enclosed acct
sales, also find check of Martin &
Frost for $53.23 to balance the
14 Crates received by them.
Eggs took a sudden tumble and
got down to 12 to 12 1/2c but we
have not sold any of yours
at that price, we received
18 Crates today and got you
13c, which is the top of the market.
Ship us right along and we
will do our utmost to make
you quick and satisfactory
returns. Mr Hunter died Saturday
morning & was buried today.
The small loss on some of the lots,
was on acct of the crates being opened
and the eggs stolen, also a few brokenYours
M & FrostCondition Note: The paper displays natural handling wear consistent with its age, including crisp grid-pattern fold lines from its original mailing and minor light staining near the bottom edge. The fountain pen ink remains beautifully dark, fluid, and entirely legible. Please review the provided photographs carefully to assess the precise cosmetic condition.