The Writing

November 2, 1817, 12-year old Marilla Hall of Greenville, New York wrote a letter to her friend Polly Hickock in the same town, inviting her to visit. She used red ink, and decorated the address leaf as if it were embroidered around its edges, drawing simulations of wax seals (while using a real one) and drawing a postal marking of 12 1/2 (while indicating “twelve centes” in the address), which would have carried to New York City and a likely model for Marilla’s concoction.