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[DIMENSIONS]: 6\" x 8\"
Up for sale is an exceptionally rare, original antique 1898 commercial billhead invoice from Hannaford Bros., Commission Merchants, wholesale dealers in Foreign and Domestic Fruits and Produce based in Portland, Maine.
Dated June 14, 1898, this historic document stems from the foundational decades of the business, which was founded in 1883 and later grew into the iconic New England grocery empire known today as Hannaford Supermarkets. The top margin prominently prints the names of the company founders: H. C. Hannaford and E. W. Hannaford, listing their waterfront operations at 164, 166 & 168 Commercial Street.
The invoice is made out to local merchant Charles Barber and records a wholesale trade for \"6 B. Bananas\" (6 bunches of bananas) totaling $6.00. The center of the sheet features a striking, bold green corporate hand-stamp confirming payment on June 14, 1898.
Rarity Notes: This is a premier artifact of American retail and grocery corporation history. While generic 1890s merchant bills are standard ephemera, primary business documents from the early docks of Hannaford Bros. are vanishingly rare. It holds immense crossover appeal for collectors of Maine local history, Portland waterfront commerce, and historic supermarket brand history.
Condition: Complete single-sheet invoice document. Retains exceptional ink clarity with a highly vivid green corporate paid stamp and clean handwriting. Shows original vertical filing creases and standard light edge wear/toning consistent with its 125+ year age. Reverse side is blank. Please inspect the high-resolution scans closely to evaluate condition details. Sold as-is.
