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

[Shapiro, Fred]

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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