[Ads-l] Antedating of "F.O.B."

[Baker, John]

Here is a further antedating:

This memorandum was on a page of a book headed, "Boston, December 1856," and was in the following terms:

"9th. W. W. Goddard to T. B. Coddington & Co. 200,000 pounds Chili pig copper, 24 1/4 a 9 mos. From delivery, f. o. b. packet here for N. Y., seller paying freight, and buyer paying insurance to N. Y. To be 96 per cent. Pure copper, and paper satisfactory to seller."

Coddlington v. Goddard, 82 Mass. 436, 437 - 38 (Nov. Term 1860).

The 1860 November term would have extended well into 1861, so if you were not comfortable with the "December 1856" date on the book heading, the relevant date would be 1861.


John Baker


From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> On Behalf Of Shapiro, Fred
Sent: Friday, October 2, 2020 7:06 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Antedating of "F.O.B."

F.O.B. (OED 1890)



In the U.S. Supreme Court case Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway Co. v. Columbus Rolling-Mill Co., 119 U.s. 149 (1886), the court's opinion quotes a letter sent from the defendant to the plaintiff dated Dec. 5, 1879:

"... we will sell 2,000 to 5,000 tons of 50 lb. rails for fifty-four ($54.00) dollars per gross ton for spot chas, F.O.B. cars at our mill, March delivery." (119 U.S. 149, 149-50)

Fred Shapiro

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