Western Union Telegraph Company Telegram dated March 1914

This physical item is a vintage paper telegram document originating from the Western Union Telegraph Company, measuring approximately standard telegram paper size of the early 20th century. The paper stock is a thin, cream or light tan toned archival grade paper, typical of business correspondence and wire communications from the period. The text is rendered in dark typewriter font, displaying distinct mechanical typing impressions on the surface. At the very top, the company header is printed in bold dark ink, reading 'WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY INCORPORATED' along with corporate details mentioning 'THEO. N. VAIL, PRESIDENT' and 'BELVIDERE BROOKS, GENERAL MANAGER'. The typed message body is dated 'Bridgeport, Conn March 21-1914' and is addressed to 'J G Robertson, Firestone Tire & Rubber Co,'. The message text reads: 'Have located all parties one family at Syracuse and one at HudsonFalls Ny others at Bridgeport Ny City and NewJersey Believe will have no trouble in getting deeds will be at Ny Branch this afternoon and Akron Monday unless advised Wolcott'. Additional handwritten or stamped notations include a purple rubber stamp rotated vertically in the lower right quadrant reading 'OK FOR FILE' with initials or a code 'J.O.R.'. The physical condition shows moderate wear consistent with age and storage, including edge tearing at the top margin, creasing from folding, light discoloration, and general toning of the paper. The owner has provided context that this document is from a Firestone tire and rubber company archive, a user-supplied attribution that remains unverified. The identification rests primarily on the clearly legible printed header and typed text visible directly on the face of the document.

Based on what I can see in the provided image, this Western Union telegram dated March 1914 displays period-appropriate typography, header details, and paper stock consistent with early 20th-century wire communications. The owner asserts that this document originates from a Firestone Tire & Rubber Company archive, referencing the addressee J.G. Robertson. However, I cannot verify from a photo alone whether this provenance is correct or if the document genuinely links to the historical Firestone archive. Based on the assumed identification connecting it to Firestone corporate history and the real estate or acquisition matters discussed in the message, comparable historical business ephemera and telegrams typically trade in the $75 to $150 range. The physical condition exhibits moderate wear, including edge tearing at the top margin, creasing from folding, and light toning, which moderately impacts the overall value. General market demand for early corporate telegrams is niche, largely driven by ephemera collectors and corporate archives. To confirm authenticity and the suggested archival origin, an in-person physical inspection by a paper conservation or ephemera specialist would be needed, alongside documentation establishing unbroken provenance. If the attribution to the Firestone archive cannot be substantiated, or if the piece turns out to be a modern reproduction or copy, the value would likely drop significantly to the $15 to $30 range, reflecting only its basic decorative or generic vintage paper value.