1919 Bradstreet Company Credit Inquiry-Indiana, Pa, Original Envelope & Forms. April 2, 1919

Original 1919 correspondence from The Bradstreet Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the historic commercial credit-reporting agency that eventually became part of Dun & Bradstreet.

The lot includes the original Bradstreet mailing envelope and two Bradstreet credit-information inquiry forms, both bearing April 1919 date stamps.

The envelope is preprinted:

“FROM BRADSTREET’S – PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA”

and is addressed to Thomas H. Hill, Indiana, Pa. It retains its original U.S. postage stamp and a very clear Pittsburgh, PA, April 2, 1919, 5:30 PM machine cancellation.

The enclosed forms were sent by Bradstreet to obtain updated financial and credit information on businesses in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. These forms were part of the company’s early system of gathering confidential information used to establish commercial credit ratings.

The questionnaires ask about such matters as:

• Estimated net worth
• Capital and real estate
• Encumbrances and exemptions
• General character and credit
• Whether the business was successful
• Recent real-estate purchases or sales
• Mortgages on real or personal property
• Any changes that might strengthen or weaken the firm’s credit

Both forms retain handwritten period entries identifying the businesses/individuals being investigated and appear largely unanswered beyond Bradstreet’s initial information. One has an APR 2 1919 office stamp and the other appears APR 8 1919.

The envelope and forms show expected age-related toning, folds, handling wear and some opening damage to the envelope, but the paperwork remains remarkably clean and legible for being over 100 years old.

This is an interesting survivor from the early history of American commercial credit reporting, with additional appeal to collectors of Indiana County/Pittsburgh history, Pennsylvania ephemera, banking and financial history, postal history, and Dun & Bradstreet material.