Contract marking the beginning of the company's operations in Burma, with transcript.

Contract for the beginning of the company's operations in Burma bound in its present form by A.B.M. Dunn in 1939. The cover is signed and stamped by A. McGrath, Manager. The contract itself was drawn up in 1864 between Thomas Dunlop Findlay, James Cameron Todd and James Findlay, carrying on business as Todd Findlay and Co. of Rangoon. It was witnessed by the Secretary of State for India in Council represented by Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Purvis Phayre C.B. Chief Commissioner of British Burmah (sic). The company was contracted for 5 years to carry Government Mails, Military Stores and Military Passengers to and from stations on the Irrawaddy River. The transcript is in good condition and must have been written fairly recently (although it is undated), whereas the bound copy is in rather poor condition, as the paper has degraded badly.