|
"This ancient ham came to England in 1892 from Cudahay & Co of Chicago and was retained as a curiosity by its importer Mr Arthur M Barrett, a wholesale provision merchant of Call Lane, Leeds, and hung in his office until 1958 when the business closed down. The secret of the ham's longevity is due to the borax in which it was cured, and is possibly still edible although not guaranteed. The charm remains for no fly rests on the world's oldest ham. In 1940 Cudahay & Co. claimed it had the oldest ham in the world. It was insured for $5,000 and was kept under lock and key and could be seen by appointment only. When the company heard from Mr Barrett that his ham was fifteen years older it invited the ham to tour America under a guarantee covering calamity insurance, all expenses paid and safe return, but Mr. Barrett declined. Since 1958 until Michael Feller bought the ham at Christie's Auction House in 1993, it had been tenderly cared for by Miss D.M. Barrett, the daughter of the man who imported it well over a century ago."
|
