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Early American Handwritten Documents E1-304. Early American Document, before 1830. [singlesheet, oblong 16mo to 8vo size, [New Hampshire]] This group consists of promissory notes, receipts, bills, and similar financial records, all from an early New Hampshire archive. Each is completely handwritten, dated, and signed by the principals. These humble, once everyday items speak of lives so far removed from the luxury and convenience that we take for granted in the 21st century. Their small size bears witness to the high cost of handmade paper and how frugal Yankees might make a sigle sheet into half a dozen monetary documents. All date between 1800 and 1829. See my scan for their general appearance. Condition is very fine, price each. . . 4.00 Enter your order quantity here:  E1-305. AS #304 ABOVE, BUT TEN DIFFERENT pre-1830 documents for . . . 30.00   Fine Early Political Ephemera E1-340. [HANDBILL] A FACT., n.p., n.d., 1808. [Singlesheet, 4½" x 5½" size, published at Salem Mass, at the press of the Essex Gazette] This early imprint from the ancient seafaring town is an attack on one "Dr. Kilham", who had the audacity to publicly claim that maritime commerce and fisheries were of no economic value to the Commonwealth's economy. In fact these were the lifeblood of old Salem, and President Jefferson's tremendously controversial embargo of trade with Britain, invoked in 1808 in the wake of the infamous Chesapeake incident, was seen as crippling to the wealthy men of the town. (Salem is also the Yankee city that was pre-eminent in the slave trade, which was also abolished in 1808 by Congress.) This bill is signed by B(enjamin) Goodhue and Rich(ar) d Manning, under the MS notation "We are ready to testify to the above Nov. 5th 1808". Goodhue (1748-1814) was a Federalist member of both state House of Reps. and Senate, and was elected to the first three sessions of the U.S. House. He helped draft the Mass. Constitution and was appointed a U.S. Senator in 1796. Manning has the modest distinction of being Nathaniel Hawthorn's uncle. Of the beleaguered Kilham, alas, I find no record. Not in NUC, possibly unique, quite a good memento of the heated political passions of the early republic. Condition of this handbill is quite fine, unbtrimmed, problem-free, MS notations bold and legible . . . 95.00 Wisdom from the Past: John Quincy Adams on True Liberty E1-707. [SINGLE ISSUE]. THE COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, July 21, 1821. [Complete issue of 4 pages, folio size, published at Boston, Mass.] Filling all of Page One and completed within is Secretary of State Adams powerful Independence Day speech given in Washington. He speaks of the true meaning of freedom and has a warning our leaders would do well to heed today, for "She [the United States] goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy...She well knows that by once enlisting under other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of extrication, in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy, and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the standard of freedom." Powerful message of what being America means, that should be required reading. Much more. . Condition is nice clean VF. . . . SOLD Of "Ye" and the "S" that looks like an "F" New collectors are sometimes confounded by the unfamiliar ways some words are found printed in old newspapers and documents. Foremost among these is the mistaken idea that the letter "f" was used where we today use an "s". In the old Anglo-Saxon alphabet, from which the English alphabet is derived, the lower case "s" was written in two forms: one is the "long s" that resembles my modern letter "f" (but note, it does not have the center bar), which is used when the "s" is the first letter of the word, or in any other position within a word other than the final letter; the other is the familiar shaped "s" which appears at the end of words. In capital letters the common "S" is always used. This usage is cognate to the two forms of "s" in the Greek alphabet. What appear to be printed, for example, as "fuccefs", in old newspapers, is in reality nothing more exotic than "success". In capital letters this word would be printed as "SUCCESS", as it is today. English printer John Bell first phased out the use of the long "s" in his books at the end of the 1700's, and by 1810 or so the new practice was universal in printed material. Interestingly, though, the use of the old long "s" continued in handwritten documents for many years, through the 1870's. This innovation must have saved typesetters much labor! The second common misunderstanding is the idea that "ye" (as in "ye olde") is pronounced "ye". It is not and never was! Again, what appears to be the modern letter "y" in this usage is in fact the diphthong from the old Anglo-Saxon alphabet called thang, which is pronounced "th", and which was used as a form of shorthand, being easier to set one letter than two. Affordable Ephemera from 175 Years Ago! E2-213. [Ephemera]. Ledger Sheet, 1826. [Boston]. These attractive early documents, fully handwritten and dated at the top of each, list a Yankee dry goods merchant's transactions, naming customers, articles purchased, etc. Nice clean condition for display or resale. 6½" x 16½", just . . . . 4.00    Select here to view a full color detail (about 6" by 11") of a typical ledger sheet. My Order quantity:  Independence Day Celebrated - From the Library of Thomas Jefferson E3-200. [SINGLE ISSUE] THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER [Semi-Weekly Edition], July 9, 1815. [Complete issue of 4 pages, folio size, published at Washington, D.C., by Gales & Seaton] This issue of the great Washington newspaper was delivered to former President Thomas Jefferson at Monticello. His name, inked at the nameplate by a subscription clerk, is prominent and fully legible on Page One, as seen in my scan, to the right. Among the memorable content of the issue is the celebration of Independence Day, with the full speech of Richard Henry Lee before reading the Declaration, which of course Jefferson had penned 39 years earlier. What thoughts may Jefferson have had as he held this issue and read of the celebration of the republic he was so instrumental in creating? Frontpage article on "The Last Victory" of a U.S. warship, the brig Tom Bowline over a Royal Navy adversary. Splendid editorial on the lessons of the late war with England. Long backpage feature on steamboat inventor Robert Fulton. More. Jefferson, the passionate champion of press liberty had become so disillusioned and embittered by the ceaseless attacks on his administration and character that after leaving office he canceled all his newspaper subscriptions, save to the Intelligencer and his local paper, the Lynchburg Press. PROVENANCE: at his death, Jefferson's books and papers were willed to the University of Virginia. In 1899 there was a great fire at the library, "the Rotunda Fire", after which these papers were sold to the University of Louisiana Law Library (and presumably replaced by issues in better condition.) The library deacquisitioned them in the 1980's. To my knowledge no other newspapers of Thomas Jefferson have ever appeared on the public market. Supplied with my written provenance and certificate of authenticity. RARE OPPORTUNITY to own a memento of one of the greatest Americans.. Condition of this issue is heavily but evenly browned with some waterspotting the edges, from the 1899 fire. Several small splits and one 1/4" hole on page one. The paper is somewhat fragile and should be handled with special care and is eminently worthy of archival restoration . . . SOLD Concord Gazette Subscription Bill and Receipt E3-205. [DOCUMENT] Newspaper Subscription Receipt , March, 1816. [singlesheet, oblong 8vo size, from [Concord, New Hampshire]] James Drake of Pittsfield, N.H., here pays in advance $1.50 on a $3 two-year subscription to the "Concord Gazette." Entirely handwritten and bearing the autograph of Joseph C. Spear, who printed the paper with his brother William for editor Tuttle, and would become sole owner in 1819. Nice early journalism ephemera. Condition is very fine . . . 15.00 Portsmouth Oracle Subscription Bill E3-206. [DOCUMENT] Newspaper Subscription Receipt , February 05, 1818. [singlesheet, oblong 8vo size, from Pittsfield, New Hampshire] The newspaper's traveling agent Noah Herman here receives $1.25 from James Drake for a one year subscription to the fine old Federalist weekly, in print since 1793. Entirely handwritten, fine early American Journalism history. Condition is very fine . . . 15.00 Human Beings as Commodities E3-207. THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, 1831 to 1838. [Washington, D.C., complete issue of 4 pages, large folio]. One of the great early newspapers, founded in 1801 as the de facto public relations organ of the Jefferson administration. The issues offered here are selected for their highly collectible advertisements, at least one per issue, offering slaves for sale or hire, committed to jail on suspicion of being runaways, or offering rewards for the return of runaways to their masters, making this powerful first-hand documentation of the reality of slavery in America. The frequent appearance of runaway ads demolishes the slaveholders' propaganda of the docile, contented "servant", which is the euphemism often used. The ads also bring to mind the admission by great human rights activist Fred Douglass that he was a criminal in the eyes of the law - guilty of the "crime" of stealing his own body from his "master"! Condition is fine, with full news of the day, opinion and ads of every kind. Price per issue . . . . 12.95 A 1974 study documented only about 8,400 runaway notices published in American newspapers between 1790 and 1860, although there were an estimated 50,000 runaways each year. Ads were not generally purchased until the fugitives were missing for at least a month. Most runaways fled to protest unusually harsh labor conditions and remained in the vicinity of their home plantations until their grievances could be addressed. Almost none attempted the virtually impossible trek to freedom in Canada, and there never were any concerted rescue attempts from the northern states, despite slaveholders' obsessive delusions of great Yankee conspiracies against them and their human "property rights." The appearance of runaway ads in this nationally-circulated paper, emanating from the capital of the only nation on earth that promised "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" as the purpose of its government, was so controversial that the editors discontinued accepting them by the early 1840's. Bills proposing the outlawing of slavery in the District of Columbia itself were the only abolitionist petitions seriously considered the Federal Congress, until slaveholding interests imposed a "gag rule" forbidding Congress to even discuss these popular petitions. It was this attack on the democratic process itself, rather than a humanitarian concern for the rights of the slaves, which aroused Northerners into recognizing slavery as an intolerable threat to the liberties of all Americans, and which ultimately provided the spark that would light the holocaust of civil war.   View Scan of a typical ad My order quantity:  Benjamin Franklin Spoofs the Bible: A Rare British Newspaper Printing E5-001. [SINGLE ISSUE] St. JAMES CHRONICLE, or THE BRITISH EVENING-POST, April 21, 1764. [Complete issue of 4 pages, folio size, published at London, England, by Henry Baldwin] Benjamin Franklin's famed homily, the "The Parable of Persecution", is here printed in full in its original form, cast as Chapter 27 of the Book of Genesis, beginning, "And it came to pass after these things, that Abraham sat in the door of his tent, about the going down of the sun. And behold a man, bowed with age, came from the way of the wilderness, leaning on a staff... " It is introduced by a man signing himself W.S. as the work of "a Friend from North-America, as well known throughout Europe for his ingenious discoveries... his Sagacity, his Usefulness and Activity.. and his Acquaintance with Every Virtue.." ALMOST CERTAINLY the first appearance in print of Franklin's famous appeal for tolerance for all religious beliefs, cast as a "bagatelle" or satire, a literary form well-employed by Franklin. Like most Americans of the Enlightenment era, Franklin rejected revealed religion and embraced a moderate form of Deism. He maintained a lively interest in the world's faiths, being more attracted to their ethical precepts than interested in their dogmas. In his later years, he came to often quote the Presbyterian understanding of Christian faith, in which he had been raised. This tale was not printed until 1774 in book format, under the auspices of Lord Kames; click here for an online history of that edition, as recounted by Franklin. It was next seen in print in 1793, in Franklin's posthumous autobiography. An account of this remarkable tale, and its derivation from a Persian story, may be read online at American Thumbprints. Quite exceptional appearance in print of an important work of the most widely respected American of his generation. Crane & Kaye (no. 800) locate a single example of this newspaper in all the libraries in the U.S. Condition of this issue is very fine but closely trimmed at the top margin and some minor mended fold line wear, due to the very unusual circumstance of this issue having been bound sideways into a quarto volume . . . 395.00 Inspecting That Rascal Tom Jefferson E6-109. THE WEEKLY INSPECTOR, typical issue printed between 1806 and 1807. [Complete issue of 8 pages, octavo size, published at New York, by Thomas Fessenden]. Extremely uncommon little Federalist partisan weekly, edited by the great political satirist Thomas Green Fessenden (1771 - 1837). Considered the greatest verse satirist of his time, he gained fame as the author of a virulent epic ode against Jefferson called Democracy Unveiled the year before he began this venture. Here he continues his assaults on anything that smells of the Democratic-Republicanism of the chief executive. Fascinating glimpse into era politicking, which dominates its content . Condition of the issues is generally fine, never trimmed or bound, quite uncommon. Price, each issue, . . . 19.95 Please enter your order quantity here:  then press Edited by Washington Irving E6-162. THE ANALECTIC MAGAZINE, typical issue printed between 1813 and 1814. [Complete issue of 88 pages, octavo size, published at Philadelphia, Penna., by Moses Thomas]. For a brief period, less than 24 issues, this fine eclectic review was edited by the great American author Washington Irving (1783 -1859). He contributed a number of reviews of new books and wrote the "literary and scientific intelligence" in the news columns. He celebrated the great triumphs of the U.S. navy in action against King George's warships in articles he wrote covering the war's events and the heroes. Irving started with a salary of $125 a month, which he thought "handsome pay ... [for] an amusing occupation" but by the end of 1814 he had grown tired of the demands of active editorship of an ongoing periodical and quit, to be replaced in Feb. 1815 by Thomas Wharton. I offer complete issues dating to the months of the Irving editorship, unique mementos of the early career of one of the most celebrated authors of his century at a formative period of American letters . Condition of the issues is fine, minor light foxing, from a bound volume. Price, each issue, . . . 29.95 Please enter your order quantity here:  then press America's First Scientific Magazine E6-251. THE AMERICAN MECHANICS' MUSEUM, typical issue printed between 1825 and 1826. [Complete issue of 16 pages, octavo size, published at New York, printed by William van Norden]. Produced by Thomas P. Jones (1774 -1848), mechanics professor of the Franklin Institute, this title is the earliest American weekly devoted entirely to technological advancement. Modeled on the London Mechanics' Magazine, it survived barely a year before merging with the Franklin Institute's newly launched Journal and moving to Philadelphia. It is an amazing digest of mechanical and scientific progress printed at the dawn of the Industrial Era in America, and is supplied with illustrations, a great rarity in era publications. Quite uncommon and a significant addition to any collection. Condition of the issues is generally fine with some foxing. Price, each issue, . . . 24.95 Please enter your order quantity here:  then press A Reprise of a Famous Name, in the 50th Anniversary Year of American Freedom E6-258. THE BOSTON NEWS-LETTER AND CITY REGISTER, typical issue printed in 1826. [Complete issue of 16 pages, octavo size, published at Boston, Mass., by Munroe & Francis]. This uncommon weekly, which survived barely a year, reprised the name of the first American newspaper, which appeared 122 years earlier. Its content is primary miscellany of all sorts, from the doings of the Boston Board of Aldermen, to news briefs from across the nation, articles on the latest internal improvements and prominent personages of the day. As befits the title, several pieces on Boston's long history appear in each issue. The backpage is devoted to city statistics, births, deaths, marriages, ships entered and cleared the busy harbor, etc. In all a charming portrait of an America coming of age, in this year of the 50 year anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Condition of the issues is fine. Price, each issue, . . . 8.95 Please enter your order quantity here:  then press Related Website Catalog Links at Historicpages.com Please click here to go to my new pre-retirement catalog for the most recently catalogued early American newspapers of special historic importance. I hope you have enjoyed this catalog, and have found its contents useful and informative. Please feel free to e-mail your questions and comments to my address below. We look forward to hearing from you!         Navigate my Website: --Select A Catalog-- Early Leaf Catalog 19th Century Americana Civil War Newspapers Vellum Indentures Miscellany and Modern British Journalism Reference Books --Select a Web page-- Collectors Intro Website Index My Sale terms History of Newspapers My Home Page Preserving Old Paper About Indentures Glossary of Terms Contents ©:2024 Phil Barber.