1864 Confederate Texas Tax Receipt - Tax on Livestock

Description

1864 Confederate Texas Tax Receipt - Tax on Livestock
Offered for your consideration is a small, partly-printed receipt for taxes paid to Texas in 1864. The document states that there was
“Received of
Elisha Allen
the sum of
One Hundred & Seventy & 50/100
Dollars, in Confederate Treasury Notes, being the full amount of Confederate Tax due him for the year 186
3
on his live stock
”
. It is
“Dated
April 12
th
1864
”
and signed at the conclusion by
“DeWitt C Booth”
in his capacity as
“Collector District No.
63
”
. Sadly, the county that corresponds to that district is not mentioned, though research indicates that Allen was living in Williamson County during the war. A thin decorative border can be seen above and below the text. The back of the document was originally blank, though there are now two manuscript notations reading
“Tax Receipts”
(one has been cut short). This piece is printed in black ink on blue paper, with the manuscript material being added in period ink. It is interesting to note that this receipt states that the tax would be paid in Confederate currency, which by this point in the war was becoming very unpopular and quickly losing its value. Note also the stipulation that the tax was for livestock, an important commodity to the Southern military economy. A great addition to any Texas or Civil War collection.
Cursory research indicates that Elisha Allen was born on December 16, 1813 in Louisiana, though he moved with his family to what is now Orange County, Texas in 1827. He fought at the Siege of Bexar, December 5-9, 1835, during the Texas Revolution. In 1838, Allen was part of a survey team that explored the Texas frontier. He apparently lived in Williamson County from 1850 through 1870, after which he settled on Indian Creek in Bell County. Elisha Allen died on March 6, 1893.
As expected, the presently offered specimen exhibits signs of period use and subsequent storage. Toning is present across the surface, much more noticeable on the back, probably due to the way it was stored. Several small foxing spots are noted, none of which significantly impact the overall eye appeal of the document. Several folds are present, though none appear to have seriously weakened the paper. The contrast is average, with some letters being light but legible. This piece was hand cut from a larger sheet causing several of the sides to be slightly uneven. Measuring approximately 2.95 x 4.25 inches, this piece would frame nicely with a period illustration of beef on the hoof.
A .95 charge will be added for postage and insurance.
If you have any questions concerning this document, please ask before purchasing.
Buy or Bid with Confidence – American Coins & Collectibles President Richie Self has worked 6 years as a paper money grader/authenticator. He has contributed to numerous reference books within the industry, as well as being a co-author of “The Comprehensive Catalog and History of Confederate Bonds, 2
nd
Edition” with Douglas B. Ball, Ph.D., Henry F. Simmons, M.D., Ph.D. and James R. Desabaye. Mr. Self is a life member of the American Numismatic Association, the Society of Paper Money Collectors, as well as numerous regional numismatic associations. He is an authorized submitter to NGC, PCGS, and PMG, a diamond founding member of Coin Dealers Helping Coin Dealers and a supporter of the Industry Council for Tangible Assets. American Coins and Collectibles can be found at many of the state and local coin shows.
American Coins and Collectibles
Shreveport, LA