Description

Description: Martin Barringer received these four ball invitations between the years 1866 to 1868. The festivities included the eighth, ninth, and tenth annual “Old Fogy” balls  held at Melodeon Hall in Bellefontaine, Ohio, as well as the I.O.O.F. [Odd Fellows] Forty-Eighth Anniversary Ball which was held at Hall Logan Lodge, also in Bellefontaine.

Each invitation is printed with colored text (two of them on embossed paper) and Barringer’s name is filled in with ink. The I.O.O.F. invitation also has the program for the event on the interior of the folded piece of stationery. The smallest invite measures: 6 1/2″ x 4 1/4″. The largest measures: 7 3/8″ x 4 3/4″. Item #AM00400

The invitee, Martin Barringer, might be the Martin Barringer (1835-1916) who served in the 5th Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War, first as a Sergeant and ultimately a Captain.

Condition: One invitation’s text is faded, all have mailing fold lines, otherwise in very good condition.