JS, “Inventory of Property,” [, Hancock Co., IL, ca. 14–16 Apr. 1842]. Featured version copied [ca. 3–5 Aug. 1844] in Illinois District Court, , Sangamon Co., IL, to [on behalf of ], , Hancock Co., IL, 7 Aug. 1844; handwriting of Stanislaus Lalumière; three pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address, postal stamp, postal notation, and endorsement.
Bifolium measuring 12½ × 8 inches (32 × 20 cm). The paper is ruled with thirty-three blue horizontal lines. The papermaker’s embossment in the upper left corner of the recto of each leaf reads “P.S&Co.”. The text on the verso of the first page is upside down in relation to the text on the rectos. The bifolium was trifolded twice in letter style, addressed, sealed with adhesive wafers, and postmarked. When the document was opened, two wafers tore two holes on the bifolium’s central fold; wafer residue appears on both sides of the second leaf. The address is erroneously directed to “John W. Woods.”
The letter contains a graphite endorsement (“Recd Aug 14th 1844”) in the handwriting of , who served as JS’s scribe from December 1841 until JS’s death in June 1844 and served as church historian from December 1842 until his own death in March 1854. Wilford C. Wood purchased this inventory and other materials from Charles E. Bidamon, ’s stepson, on 10 July 1937. Within a few weeks of the purchase from Bidamon, Wood sold the document to the church. By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL).
Charles E. Bidamon, Statement of Sale, 10 July 1937, microfilm, reel 16; Wilford C. Wood, Statement, 10 July 1937, microfilm, reel 16; David O. McKay to Arthur Winter, 21 July 1937, microfilm, reel 16, Wilford C. Wood Collection of Church Historical Materials, CHL; “Documents Obtained by Wilford Wood,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 21 July 1937, 13.
Wilford C. Wood Collection of Church Historical Materials. Microfilm. CHL. MS 8617.