| The monthly bourse will be this Saturday. |
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I hope to post the program at the library for this month soon. We are still looking for presenters. |
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Please note that Golden Valley has changed the date and time for this month's auction. It is now on Saturday the 18th and the soft close is at 1:00 PM. |
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Two weeks ago, I posted a cover that was a flour sample sent from Minneapolis overseas. One of our members did a lot better job researching the company than I did. Here is what he found. |
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Here is a result from a Google search I made this morning after receiving your newsletter. |
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W.L. Stevens |
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(William L. Stevens) was a prominent flour exporter based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during the city's era as the "Flour Milling Capital of the World." |
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Historical Overview |
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W.L. Stevens operated as a specialized merchant and exporter during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At this time, Minneapolis mills were producing vast quantities of flour that required dedicated exporters to reach international markets, particularly in Europe. |
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Role in Industry: Unlike the massive milling companies like Washburn-Crosby (which became General Mills) or Pillsbury, Stevens functioned as a high-volume exporter, bridge-building between local production and global demand. |
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Business Records: Historical records for "W.L. Stevens, Flour Exporter" are preserved in the Minnesota Historical Society's archives, appearing alongside other major industrial figures of the period. |
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Succession: Records from trade journals indicate that W.L. Stevens was active until the early 1910s; a 1913 Paper Trade Journalmention suggests his retirement around that time. |
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I would like to thank Brent for his contribution. We have a cover coming up in the Nooze soon that another member asked me to feature. I am looking forward to him sending a scan of the cover and his description of it. He told me that another member contributed to the research of the cover. As soon as I receive it and edit it to fit our format it will be featured. All I can tell you at this point is that it is a Minnesota cover from a city in Anoka County where I have lived nearly all my life that I have never been able to find an example of. I for one am looking forward to seeing it and reading about its history. |
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I have decided to feature something other than a cover this week. I call this a check, but I think technically it is promissory note. It is dated February 16, 1863. On the back it has four revenue stamps R36b. This is the part perforated variety, and it is two pairs. I started collecting U.S Revenue stamps as a young boy when my uncle would give me piles of documents that were meant for the trash. He was the Sherburn County Auditor at the time. I unfortunately soaked them off the documents for the stamps. This was over 50 years ago, and I have finally forgiven myself for such an offense. I still remember the thrill of finding an imperf or part perf example. I don't recall knowing about paper type varieties back then. These days I still collect revenues and I enjoy the collection I accumulated as a young boy. I now appreciate the documents as much or in some cases more than the stamps themselves. The printing, especially the engraved vignettes on documents as simple as a check or a promissory note can be something that I marvel at the artistry of. |
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To sign up for the Toozeday Nooze go to our website at NORPS.org, there you will find a link for the Toozeday Nooze and on the event page where you can sign up to receive the Nooze every week and keep up on events and programs at the library as well as happenings with the local stamp clubs and shows. I have been told this does not work with some phones but should be accessible from your computer. You do not need to be a member of the library to receive this, but I encourage you to do so. We are run and organized 100% by volunteers and your donations keep the doors open and the lights on. |
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If you have anything that you want shared let me know at pjflaherty58@gmail.com |
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