Two quarto bifolium ca. 25,2x20 cm (10 x 7 ¾ in). Brown ink on yellowish wove paper. Fold marks, but overall a very good collection of interesting letters, written in a legible hand.

Historically interesting collection of two original autograph letters, regarding land acquisition and early investment opportunities in California and Oregon.

The author, Saul Marks (ca. 1832–1902) was a Jewish emigrant from Dobryń, Poland. He moved to the United States in 1852, settling in San Francisco, while his brothers William and Asher relocated to Oregon. In 1857, he founded “Marks & Weintraub,” a business dealing in hand-sewn grain bags, flour, ore, and other goods, operating on Clay St. until the late 1860s. He passed away on March 2, 1902, in Portland, Oregon, at the age of 70, and was buried in Beth Israel Cemetery and Mausoleum.

In the letters, the author updates his brothers on business matters and enthusiastically discusses a $90,000 homestead land purchase near San Francisco. He calculates the investment’s potential, lists 13 shareholders (including pioneer California entrepreneurs Dr. Cohen and C. Myer), and urgently requests financial support to secure his full share. (According to an article in the San Francisco Examiner from April 30, 1869, Saul, as part of the Mission Street Extension Homestead Association, did indeed secure his share in "the finest tract of land” known as Bauer's & Bepler's Land. An online search for the land's future fate revealed no further mentions, and it appears the Association was disbanded in 1874). In the rest of the text, Saul talks about the Coos Bay Wagon Road Company’s congressional grant, speculates about investment opportunities in government lands near Coos Bay, and warns about the potential delays in the Carmen Island salt shipment.

Overall, historically interesting collection of two original autograph letters, regarding land acquisition and early investment opportunities in California and Oregon.

The text of the first letter:

Yours of the 13 inst with additional order is on hand and will be atended to in time. Still hope that you will not think hard for Telegraphing to you about the Salt. My object was, that I know that Carmen{?} Island Salt will not be in the Market till May and probably not then as I have only there work for it, and I feard that you may have the Meat laying on hand and waiting for the Salt, and feard that the Meat may get spoiled, so you will see that I done it, out of good faith. I noticed in the Morning Alta taking out of the Roseburg paper that a Bill past in Congress Granting so much land to the Company{Coos Bay Wagon Road Company} to build a Road to Coose Bay {Coos Bay Oregon}. Me not being up in Oregon and have no knowledge of the country so I can say but little but my opinion is, that had I been up there and have a title the in side of that Company I should have an interest in that, not so much that I think the will pay, but the land which the Company gets will be of a great Value. I Mearly give you these Hints that you should look in to this matter and facts yourself. I can assure you that I had no Idea that there was or will be such a Company in excistance, and still you will have by this time a letter in possetion of me in which you will find that I had an Idea that such a thing will be done in the future, hoping to hear from you soon. There is good farming Government Land near Coose Bay it will become valuable.

The text of the second letter:

Dear Brother Asher If the title is found good, I shall be a share holder in a track of Land which was purchased yesterday out side of the City with the intention to lay out the same out in home steads; the Land will cost about $90,000 divided in to 14 shareholders; each share will have to pay down about $2400.00 the balance a Mortgage on the Land with 10 per c Annum; the calculation is the Capital will more than double itself when the Land is sold; the share holders are as follow

1. Myer 2 shares, Prag 1 do, Dr. Cohen 1, His Father 1, Son in Law 1, Bro in Law 1, Regensberger 1, His Wife 1, John Apple 1, K. Myer 1, Helbing 1, Myself 1, Ryan 1

This makes the 14 shares

Now I want 2400.00 to invest for my share Knowing however that you have not got it ride away, and as I shall be obliged to have that with in this Month, I propose to you to give me the permission to take that amount of R Cohn an advance on the wool; and I Know no other way to to get hold of that money and I am very anxious to hold the hole share; and I am positive that can make a good thing out of it and only of 2400.00 out lay; should you not consent to my request which I hope that you will; I shall be obliged to go to some one and give him a half of my share to advance me half on my share; and that I would not like to do as I would make a big sacrifice; the Land is to be 70 Acers; please answer me immediately; by Telegraph, I would prefer;