Description
The F. Barreda and Brother records (SAFR 14316, HDC 61) collection consists of ten folders containing various charter agreements,
receipts, bills of lading, invoices, and lists of vessels that together comprise the business records of F. Barreda and Brother,
a firm that acted as agents of the Government of Peru for the shipment of guano from the Chincha Islands to the United States
in the 1850s. Charter agreements were executed in Lima, Valparaiso, Baltimore, and New York City. Most of the other documents
were executed in Lima. The dates range from 1851 to 1863. Some of the bills of lading and the invoices are in Spanish. This
collection has been processed to the collection level and is open for use without restriction.
Background
Felipe and Frederico Barreda were awarded the contract to act as consignee for the sale of guano in the United States by the
Government of Peru in the 1850s. The export of guano form the Cincha Islands for use as fertilizer was a prime source of income
for the Peruvian government between 1840 and 1867. In fact, during those years it was unnecessary to levy any taxes.