[A Lancashire slaver and his coach.] Two itemised manuscript receipts for work on a coach from the London coachmaker Thomas Thorpe to the Lancashire slave trader William Atherton of Prescot Hall, one signed by Thorpe.

An indication of how slavers spent the fruits of their slaves’ labours. With the advent of slavery studies William Atherton has been the subject of a deal of interest, reflected on his Wikipedia page. Thorpe and Lee are listed as coachmakers at 210 Holborn in 1791; in 1803 the firm is named as Thorpe and Co at the same address. The two items are written out in a secretarial hand, each on a long strip made by cutting a folio leaf in half vertically. Both in fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Each with slight damage from the breaking open of the wafer. ONE: Addressed on reverse, with 1801 postmark, to ‘William Atherton Esq / Prescot / Lancashire.’ Containing items dated from 1799 and 1801. Autograph Note Signed at foot: ‘Sir / Agreeable to Mrs. Athertons orders I have sent your bill and am / Sir / Your Obedt humble Servt / Thos. Thorpe / 6 July 1801’. A bill of 13 items totalling £59 9s 6d, 12 of them from 1799 and the other from 1801. Includes, on 7 October 1799, ‘To Cleang the plated work oiling the braces & Greasing the whole’, and on 21 October, ‘To repair of false belly bands plated buckles billet leathers and loops’.TWO: No date, but with all items dated to 1801. A bill of thirteen items, totalling £238 9s 6d. Addressed on reverse to ‘Wm. Atherton Esqr.’ Reverse also carries financial details (amounts and bank) of four payments made in 1801 to ‘Thos. Thorpe & Co. Coachmakers’. The main item, £140 on 10 October 1801, is ‘To a new post Chaise of the best materials [rums?] and Carved ornamented with plated beads round the leather and frame work silver embossed Crests for headplates and Outside Elbows lind [sic] 10” Daub Cloth F[irmd?] with blue and white figured lace place glasses to the fore end and Doors A perch Carriage Iron Axletrees served with Steel springs sham patent wheels a platform and Wing Irons at the fore part Colourg. the body Carriage and wheels fine full yellow painting the Arms within Ornamented Garters and Crests over them in front and Door rails the Carriage and wheels picked and blue and Clear Varnished’.