The June 2-5, 2002, Pre-Long Beach Sale, Sale 14
Lot 1842
The American Museum, or
Repository of Ancient and Modern Fugitive Pieces, Etc. Philadelphia:
Mathew Carey, September 1787, volume. II, no. III, 312 pages, octavo. Rebound.
Foxing throughout, paper is slightly buckled. In fair to good condition
overall.
With its frontispiece featuring an image of John Adams, this
volume of the important American monthly includes an article written by
Benjamin Franklin and several pieces regarding issues of the new nation
specifically related to Pennsylvania.
Estimated Value $350-450.
Lot 1843
Journal of the Third
Session of the Senate of the United States of America.... Philadelphia:
John Fenno, 1790, 203 pages, 8 x 12". Rebound. With a former owner's
handwritten inscription. Spots throughout with minor dampstaining throughout.
Fine.
With daily accountings of Senate activity, this journal includes
the act for the admission of the states of Vermont and Kentucky into the Union,
an act to establish a Land Grant office, an act to establish the temporary and
permanent seat of the government, as well as the voting habits of each Senator
on these issues.
Estimated Value $200-300.
Lot 1844
The Rehearsal, 1706.
London: by London and Westminster, 1706, no. 97, 1 page, 8 x 13½".
Natural toning and light foxing. In good condition overall.
Published by
the controversial printer Charles Leslie for only 6 years, this edition of
The Rehearsal includes an academic article defending the honor of
The Rehearsal in light of accusations brought about by rival journals.
Estimated Value $100-250.
Lot 1845
1734 Connecticut Will.
Manuscript Document Signed ("Thomas Bennit", "Tho Towley").
One page, 7¾ x 11¼", Connecticut, April 18, 1733. In brown ink.
With partial wax seal. Two horizontal folds and three vertical folds. Soiling
along folds, yellowing from age. In fine condition.
An early Connecticut
citizen named Thomas Bennit, Sr., bequeaths his land in Newton, Connecticut to
his son. The document is also signed by Justice of the Peace, Thomas Towley.
Colonial-era wills and testaments, signed under the auspices of the crown's
officials, have become increasingly popular as interest in the
pre-Revolutionary era deepens.
Estimated Value $150-250.
Lot 1846
20th Century Landmark
Events. Seven pieces. Offering a range of noteworthy newspapers, this
collection of historical periodicals spans the twentieth century -- covering
events from November 7, 1900 through August 9, 1974. Featuring sections of
The New York Times, The Boston Herald, The Daily Sketch, the Wall Street
Journal, and the Tampa Tribune. Highlights include two editions
reporting on the assassination of John F. Kennedy (with a stock market report
from the New York Times on that date), two portions of the Tampa
Tribune dated Moonday [sic], July 21, 1969, and two newspapers on the
Resignation of President Richard Nixon. Sizes vary and conditions range from
fair to very good.
Estimated Value $100-UP.
Lot 1847
The Columbian Magazine.
Philadelphia: William Spotswood, April 1788, pages 175-234, 5 x 8".
Unbound. Aging with a few stains. In good condition.
Beginning on page
198, this issue of The Columbian Magazine outlines a plan for the
establishment of a mint, specifically proposing which coins to be minted, their
weight, as well as the value of denominations, and which metals should be used.
Estimated Value $200-300.
Lot 1848
Deed to Thomas and Richard
Penn. Document Signed ("James Hamilton"). As Governor. One page,
elephant folio, Philadelphia, June 10, 1760. On a land grant to Thomas and
Richard Penn. In brown ink. With original, decorative wax Pennsylvania
State Seal affixed to the bottom. Seal features an encircled tri-bladed
symbol with botanical accents and a chevroned edge attached by a blue ribbon.
Handsomely matted and framed to an overall size of 35 x 31½". With two
horizontal and two vertical folds, splitting along folds, a walnut sized loss
of paper at left edge, staining. Seal has slight losses, but remains almost
whole. In fair to good condition overall.
After inheriting a substantial
amount of land from their father (William Penn), the brothers John, Thomas, and
Richard served as Proprietors of Pennsylvania until 1746. Thereafter, it seems
the brothers began to disperse their holdings. In this land grant, Thomas and
Richard Penn agree to sell a large plot of land to one Samuel Herr. Lieutenant
Governor Hamilton signs the document, attaching the large State Seal of
Pennsylvania.
Estimated Value $600-1,000.
Lot 1849
Early Massachusetts Bay
Document. Document Signed ("H. Gardner"?). As Treasurer. Partially
printed accomplished in manuscript. One page, quarto, Massachusetts, December
1777. On a printed financial note. In black ink. Three horizontal folds and two
vertical folds, time staining, left edge is trimmed. In good condition
overall.
Signed by the Treasurer of the State of Massachusetts-Bay, this
war bond, which features the sword in hand vignette -- based on designs
by Paul Revere --grants one William Gowen six percent interest.
Estimated
Value $400-600.
Lot 1850
The Freeman's Journal - A
Thanksgiving Proclamation. The Freeman's Journal or The North-American
Intelligencer. Philadelphia: by Francis Bailey, November 5, 1783, volume
III, 4 pages, 10½ x 16¾". Natural aging, with one stain at the
upper left margin. Still in fine condition.
During the American
Revolution, the Continental Congress suggested that all states celebrate a Day
of Thanksgiving to the Lord. This edition of the Freeman's Journal
decrees: "The United States Congress assembled do recommend to the
several states to set apart the SECOND THURSDAY IN DECEMBER next as a day of
PUBLIC THANKSGIVING".
Estimated Value $150-250.
Lot 1851
The Salem Gazette.
Nine editions of The Salem Gazette dating between February 14, 1782
and November 29, 1782. Each four page periodical features the news of the day,
and includes articles on the events at the House of Commons, an account on the
siege of Gibraltar, an eye witness account of a recent volcanic eruption at
Vesuvius, the story of a local child who fell into a well and drowned, and a
recent influenza outbreak in London and Westminster. Conditions range from fair
to good.
Estimated Value $450-650.
Lot 1852
British Indentures (Lot of
3). Three indentures, ink on vellum, dating from 1769, 1826 and 1831. An
interesting collection of documents made up of two land transfers and a debt
settlement. Both land transfers offered here (1769 and 1826) feature women as
the lessees and in each case they are referred to as "spinster". The 1769
indenture measures 29 x 21½" and the 1826, 29 x 16". Our debt settlement
(22 x 28¼") involves two wine merchants and their many creditors. All
three pieces are docketed on verso, marked with the appropriate stamps and
seals and show the expected wear, folds, toning and soil. Conditions range from
good to very good.
The tops of all three pieces show the wavy edge which
gives this type of document its name -- as a measure to prevent counterfeiting,
all copies of a legal agreement were placed together and the top margins were
cut in an irregular "indented" pattern, uniquely authenticating each copy. With
their handsome seals and elegant script, all three pieces would make beautiful
display items.
Estimated Value $100-125.
Lot 1853
Chance Silver Mining
Company Certificate. Elaborate trefoil motif surrounds the text of the
great silver mining share certificate. Certificate number 674, offered here,
has an elaborately illustrated "C" featuring the silver miners at work and
typically elaborate typefaces. Established in San Francisco in February of
1874. The Chance Silver Mine was one of hundreds of mining companies formed to
take advantage of the strikes in Nevada. Many of those companies failed and, as
we can't find current records of the Chance, it likely shared the same fate.
Minor toning to top edge, else fine. A great piece of history.
Estimated
Value $100-150.