Diamond Merchant and Importer / Purchaser of Real Estate / Large Stock of Diamonds, Rough and Polished, also Precious Stones in every variety, always on hand…”

The first letter complains about “procrastination” in a land sale. “…you all would see how foolishly and unbusiness like you acted. No brotherly love a family dispute, none willing to forget and forgive. To Err is human, forgive…let me hear you are the Nobleman of the family…”

The second letter is about probate of his father’s will, making an offer on property “provided your brothers and nephew would consent…call at my place any morning except Saturday…” Second with pencil reply on verso by Parker.

Notable is Marcus’ overt identification as a devout Jew on his business stationery: The Hebrew dating (A.M., for Anno Mundi, “year of the world”, replacing the Christian A.D.]; the header, “Jerusalem (Holy City) the Glory of all Lands”, and the printed notation: “No business will be transacted or interviews had on the Jewish Sabbath, from one hour before sunset on Friday until one hour after sunset on Saturday, or on the Jewish Festivals, and no letters will be opened on these days.”

Marcus was leader of the Boston “Sephardim” – Orthodox Jews from North Africa who had their own synagogue, of which he was the sole financial support. Fondly known as “Marcus the African”, he had come to America after the Civil War from South Africa, where he had been born to English parents; his brother was still the largest wool merchant in the colony. He was so devout that he installed one of the first telephones in Boston at his Synagogue, merely so that his daughter at home could say a memorial prayer for her dead mother. Revered for “innumerable deeds of charity”, he was once numbered among the wealthiest Bostonians, but after both his children died, he lost his fortune, and when he himself died a pauper in 1903, money had to be publicly raised for his burial and tombstone.