Chocolatier (1817–1894) who in 1852 founded the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company in San Francisco. ADS, signed “D. Ghirardelli,” one page, 8.25 x 6, August 4, 1853. Customs document regarding the import of “Brasil wood” at a total cost of $22.03. In part: “Invoice of the following goods bought for my account at Mazatlan in May last and shipped on board the Mexn. Bg. Cornelia, NY master for San Francisco.” Boldly signed at the conclusion by Ghirardelli and approved by the appraiser’s office two days later. A docketing panel affixed below is stamped by the San Francisco Customs House as “Duty Paid.” In fine condition, with expected document wear and trivial paper loss to upper left corner.
Having found almost immediate success in the chocolate business, Ghirardelli imported 200 pounds of cocoa beans during 1852, the year he founded his company. As business expanded, Ghirardelli relocated within the city to the corner of Jackson and Mason streets in September 1853—the month following this document. Ghirardelli probably visited the San Francisco Custom House quite often, as his cocoa bean imports rose to 1,000 pounds a year by 1865—still minuscule compare to the 450,000 pounds the company would be importing by 1885. An excessively rare autograph—the first we have ever encountered—of the man who founded one of world's premier confectioners and the second-oldest chocolate company in the United States. RR Auction COA.
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