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Early
America
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 1.
Pennsylvania Gazette – October
17, 1754. 10” x 15” front and back,
number 1347, “Containing the Freshest
Advices, Foreign and Domestic.” The
Gazette was printed by Benjamin
Franklin. The reverse side is devoted to
advertisements which includes some with
slavery content: “To be SOLD, A
Negroe man and woman, with a male
child…” and “To be SOLD, A likely
Barbadian fellow, about 25 years of age;
he has had the small-pox, and is fit for
any business; likewise 3 Negroe girls….”
Uniformly age browned.
$250
to $500
 2.
Francis Bernard (1712-1779) Colonial
governor of Massachusetts. Bernard
was responsible for
enforcing unpopular laws and taxes. His
difficulties started when he issued
Writs of Assistance in 1760 to custom’s
tax collectors. They continued through
other tax measures, including the Stamp
Act. By November of 1768 he was burned
in effigy by a mob in New York City.
Finally, the turbulence increased to the
point where the colonial assembly
petitioned the crown that “he might
be forever removed from the Government
of the Province.” 16” x 13”
partially printed document signed,
“Fra. Bernard,” July 2, 1762. The
document is an appointment of Aaron
Warren as “…Ensign of a military
Company of Foot in ye Town of Upton….”
The seal is intact. Breaks in the
folds, some paper loss affecting several
words of text, fair condition but a
clear dark signature.
$500 to
$900
 3.
Benjamin Jacobs
Patriot.
Jacobs was a
Revolutionary era patriot and merchant
in Philadelphia.
3 ¾” x 3” four
dollar Continental Currency note, signed
“Ben Jacobs,” printed in
Philadelphia, May 9, 1776. “…This
Bill entitles the Bearer to receive Four
Spanish milled Dollars, or the Value
thereof in Gold or Silver….”
This note is also signed by
Israel Whelan whose signature is
faded. The serial number is also faded.
$300 to
$500
 4.
Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804)
Statesman.
Hamilton served as an aide to Washington
during the Revolution. He was later a
delegate to the Constitutional
Convention and co-wrote the Federalist
papers. As the first Secretary of the
Treasury, he
stabilized the nation’s finances. He
died in
 a
duel with political foe Aaron
Burr. 7” x 8” autograph letter signed in
the third person, no place, September 9,
1794, to Commissary-General, Samuel
Hodgson. In full: “Mr. Hamilton
requests Mr. Hodgson to furnish him
immediately with a return of whatever
accoutrements & arms for Cavalry may be
in the public store. Specify also such
as have been lately sent forward”.
Includes
the 5” x 3”, address panel
in Hamilton’s hand “Samuel Hodgson,
Esq, / To be carried immediately to Mr.
Hodgson”. Also included is a 3” x 3”
hand colored engraving.
 Toned
from a previous framing. In late summer
of 1794 farmers in western Pennsylvania
rebelled against paying a tax on their
locally distilled whiskey and attacked
federal revenue collectors. After 500
armed men burned the home of the
regional tax inspector, President George
Washington ordered 13,000 Federal troops
to the area. The rebellion quickly
dissolved without further violence. The
event established the authority of
Federal law within the states and
strengthened support for the
Federalists’ advocacy of a strong
central government. This letter is
requesting information on available arms
in preparation of the suppression of the
Whiskey Rebellion.
$6,000 to
$10,000
 5.
Aaron Burr (1756-1836) Burr served
as the third Vice President of the
United States under Thomas Jefferson. He
is remembered more for his duel with
Alexander Hamilton, which resulted in
the latter's death, and for his schemes
of empire, which resulted in his trial
and acquittal on charges of treason. 8”
x 10 ¼” letter signed, New York,
February 24, 1828, to Mrs. Broadstreet.
“…the finale of the Farce of T & C
which really appeared to me so trifling
and so unimportant to yourself and to
Wm. T. that I did not perceive how I
could answer your letter with sufficient
gravity & expressions of sympathy – Now
that the excitement is past, I
 may
hope to be pardoned for this levity….”
Double matted with a printed image
and a descriptive plaque to 16 ¼” x 13
½”
$500 to
$900
 6. Patrick
Henry (1736-1799) Statesman, orator.
A remarkable orator, Henry entered the
House of Burgesses, where he spoke
against the Stamp Act. His famous quote
“Give me liberty or give me death”
represented American resistance. He was
later elected Governor of Virginia,
where he opposed the Constitution
because it lacked a Bill of Rights. 15”
x 18 ¾” partially printed document
signed, “P. Henry”, as Governor,
June 1, 1785, Virginia. The document is
a land grant for eight hundred acres in
the County of Fayette to
Richard Spur in what is now in
the State of Kentucky. The parcel of
land granted to Spur is
 defined
as “…lying and being in the County of
Fayette on the waters of Howards upper
Creek….” Partial separations with
loss at folds have been expertly
repaired on verso, and do not affect
legibility or Patrick Henry’s large
signature.
$1,800 to
$3,000
 7. William
Williams (1731-1811) Connecticut
merchant, patriot. Williams was elected
to the Continental Congress to replace
Oliver Wolcott. Though he arrived at
Congress too late to vote for the
Declaration of Independence, he did sign
the formal copy as a representative of
Connecticut. 6 ½” x 3 ½” autograph
financial document signed, Lebanon,
April 30, 1782. “…To pay James
Thomas…& charge to acct. on your Rate
Bill…Wm. Williams….” There is a
small “X” through the signature and a
water stain in the center of the
document.
$200 to
$400
 8. William
Ellery (1727-1820) Rhode Island
political leader. Ellery replaced Samuel
Ward, who had died, in the Continental
Congress in 1776. He was the first
customs collector of the port of
Newport. Ellery was among the fifty-six
signers of the Declaration of
Independence. 7” x 4 ½” autograph
document signed, Port of Newport, August
19, 1797. “…I certify that One brass
field piece marked U S. Five boxes of
shot, and Ten barrels of powder have
been landed in this Port from on board
the Brig Little Sally James Taylor
master from Philadelphia. Wm Ellery
Collector.”
$500 to
$900
 9.
(John Hancock) (1737-1793) Patriot.
Hancock was
Signer
of the Declaration of Independence from
Massachusetts. 17 ½” x 25 ¼”
printed broadside, July 16, 1783, in
Latin with “Johnni Hancock, Armigero,
Gubernatori” at the top, printed in
Boston by Thomas Fleet for Harvard
University. The broadside details the
curriculum offered at the University.
Artemas Ward and Tobias Lear are among
the graduates of Harvard listed.
Some paper loss in the folds, archivally
silked on the reverse side.
$2,000 to
$4,000
 10.
Robert Morris (1734-1806) Patriot.
Morris was a Philadelphia merchant and
entrepreneur who procured significant
amounts of money and supplies for
Washington and his troops. He was a
Signer of the Declaration of
Independence. After the Revolution he
speculated wildly in land; ultimately he
was imprisoned for debt. He died in
Philadelphia in poverty and obscurity. 9
½” x 3 ¾” partially printed document
signed, Philadelphia, April 20, 1785.
The document is a Bill of Exchange
for
the sum of six hundred and three Dutch
guilders payable unto “Messrs Van
Rykevorsel & Ellenckhuysen”, directed to
Messrs. “Wilhelm & Jan Willink” at
Amsterdam. Wilhelm and Jan Willink were
Dutch merchants who were among several
mercantile houses that agreed to
loan funds the United States in 1784 at
the behest of John Adams amounting to
two million guilders. The pair would
also form two of the primary investors
in the Holland Land Company. Following
the end of the Revolutionary War,
into
which Robert Morris had invested and
lost much of his personal fortune.
$1,000 to $2,000
 11.
John Nicholson (1757-1800) Land
owner, politician. Nicholson together
with Robert Morris formed numerous land
speculation companies. Nicholson claimed
ownership to more than 3.7 million acres
covering parts of 39 counties. Due to
“unsettled accounts,” Nicholson's land
reverted to the state. In 1800,
Nicholson died in prison. 8” x 6”
partially printed document signed,
Philadelpha, May 22, 1784. David
Rittenhouse is directed to pay
“…James Campbell…of the Pernnsylvania
Line…three hundred twelve Shillings &
Seven pence….” Approved by James
Ewing (1736-1806), Ewing served in
the Pennsylvania General Assembly and
also as Vice-President of Pennsylvania.
These certificates were issued to pay
the interest on depreciation
certificates that had been previously
issued to compensate soldiers on unpaid
back pay and make up losses suffered by
the troops from having been paid in
depreciated currency. Boldly signed by
Nicholson in the upper left. Age toned
in the margins.
$300 to
$500
 12.
Daniel Carroll (1730-1795)
Statesman. Carroll was elected to the
Continental Congress from Maryland and
signed the Articles of Confederation.
He
attended the Constitutional Convention
and signed the Constitution. His farm
land is the present site of the city of
Washington. His cousin, Charles was a
signer of the Declaration of
Independence. 7 12” x 12” partially
printed document signed “Dan.
Carroll,” Montgomery County,
Maryland, July 2, 1787. The
document is a
loan
agreement. “... I, Daniel Carroll of
Montgomery County in the state of
Maryland, am held firmly
bound unto Thomas Barnwell Hollingsworth
of Baltimore Town ... in the full and
just sum of two hundred & ninety six
pounds sixteen shillings Spence,
Maryland currency....”
$1,500 to
$2,500
 13. Robert
Yates (1738-1801) Politician and
jurist. Yates was well known for his
Anti-Federalist stances. Most scholars
believe that he was the author of a
series of sixteen articles written
against the ratification of the United
States Constitution under the pseudonym
“Brutus”. 7 ¼” x 4” document signed,
Rensslaerwyck Manor, February 2, 1776.
“…you are hereby commanded to summon
John Smith to appear before me…at my
dwelling house in the city of Albany to
answer Henry Chambers in an action of
trespass….” Age toned with three
vertical folds.
$250 to
$400
 14. Edward
Shippen (1728-1806) Jurist. Shippen
was a Tory during the Revolution but
later rose to the post of Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. He
was also the father-in-law of Benedict
Arnold. 12 ¼” x 4” partially printed
legal document signed, The Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, September 14, 1799. The
document is a writ to charge Allen
Gillespie. A steel engraving is
included.
$150 to
$300
 15. Moses
Cleaveland (1754-1806) Pioneer.
When the Connecticut Land Company
purchased land in the Western Reserve
region of Ohio, Cleaveland was chosen as
one of the directors and surveyors of
the company. In 1796 he led a party of
men to the mouth of the Cuyahoga River,
where he determined to develop the main
settlement. The surveyors named the site
Cleaveland, which name it bore until
1830, when it became Cleveland. 8” x 12
½” partially printed financial document
signed, October 17, 1779. The document
is a receipt for interest paid on
Continental Certificates by the State of
Connecticut. There are two other
receipts on this page, each of the three
being 8” x 4 ½”.
$600 to
$1,000
 16. James
Otis (1725-1782) Patriot, orator.
Otis’s reputation as a defender of
colonial rights in the quarrel with
Great Britain was unmatched during the
decade 1760-1770. While Samuel Adams
wrote inflammatory articles at the
popular level, Otis appealed to the law
and to the logic of English. 12 ½” x 7
¼” financial document signed. The
document is an invoice to from Otis upon
which he has written: “December 1759
Paid in full for the above James Otis.”
Irregularly torn on the right margin
with a ½” uneven toning to that margin.
$850 to
$1,500
 17. Nathaniel
Macon (1758-1837) Politician. Macon
served in the American Revolution and
later became a political figure in North
Carolina and an ardent champion of
states’rights. He opposed the U.S.
Constitution because he thought it gave
too much power to the federal
government. In the early years of the
republic he was a national figure,
serving as United States Representative
and speaker of the House, United States
Senator and President pro tempore of the
Senate. 10” x 8” envelope (folds to 6” x
3 ½”) addressed to “Mr. Roderick
Bigelow…” and free franked. Age
spotting, breaks in the folds.
$200 to
$500
 18. Robert
Treat Paine (1731–1841) Jurist.
Paine gained recognition as a
prosecuting attorney in the murder trial
of the British soldiers involved in the
Boston Massacre. He was a member of the
Continental Congress and a signer of the
Declaration of Independence. 3 ¾” x 6 ½”
receipt for legal expenses, August 1869,
signed “Paine.” Double matted and
framed with a brass identifying plaque
to 8” x 13”.
$250 to
$500
 19. Oliver
Ellsworth (1745-1807) Jurist.
Ellsworth was the second Chief Justice
of the U.S. Supreme Court. He also
served as a senator in the newly formed
Congress. Ellsworth is primarily
remembered for his contribution to the
formation of the Constitution and for
drafting the Judiciary Act of 1789,
which provided for a strong federal
judiciary system and created the United
States Supreme Court. 7 ½” x 4” document
signed, Hartford, Connecticut, January
15, 1777. The document directs payment
to “Dudley Humphrey. Thirty Shillings
for 3 days…in the Service of the United
States….” Humphrey’s endorsement
appears on the reverse.
$300 to
$500
 20. Henry
Knox (1750-1806) Knox took part in
most of the major battles of the
Revolutionary War, and became a close
friend and advisor to George Washington.
After the war, the Congress made Knox
Secretary of War. President George
Washington asked his friend Knox to
remain in this position throughout his
presidency. 6” x 2 ¾” check written and
signed, “Philadelphia, 18 Nov
1791…Pay to J. Pinkerton….” The
cancellation cuts touch the “K,”
double matted with a steel engraving to
14” x 11”.
$250 to
$500
 21. Oliver
Wolcott, Jr. (1760-1833) Politician.
Wolcott served as Secretary of the
Treasury from 1795 to 1800 and Governor
of Connecticut from 1817 to 1827. 7 ¾” x
4” document signed, Hartford, October 8,
1788, to John Lawrence. The pay order
directs payment be made to Andrew
Kingsbury and has been signed twice by
Wolcott.
$100 to
$200
 22. Bond
for Raising a Connecticut Company.
To protect the monies given to officers
during the process of funding the
formation of regiments in the
Continental Army, bonds were required
which obligated the officers for the
funding that was provided. This is a
bond that was issued one week before the
signing of the Declaration of
Independence. 8 ½” x 14” partially
printed document, County of Hartford,
Colony Connecticut, June 27, 1776,
signed by Hezekiah Parsons and
Hezekiah Spencer. “…whereas the
above bounded Hezekiah Parsons is
appointed Pay-Master to his own Company,
now to be raised, to join the
Continental Army in New York… Hezekiah
Parsons shall faithfully and justly
dispose of all the Monies he shall
receive out of the public Treasury for
the purpose of inlisting the Soldiers
in, and Paying said Company….” The
document is in excellent condition with
some toning in the folds and two small
pinholes at the corner of the folds.
Hezekiah Parson served in the 4th
CT line and had been at the Siege of
Boston.
$600
to $1,000
 23. Noah
Webster (1758-1843) Lexicographer.
Webster began writing dictionaries after
being a teacher, journalist and
political writer. In 1828 he
published “An American Dictionary of
the English Language”,
which immediately became a standard work.
7 ½” x 10” autograph letter signed,
New York, August 16, 1797, to William
Young. “…I can spare you one thousand
spelling books this season, if engaged
now….” Double matted with a printed
photograph and plaque to 15 ½” x 21”.
$1,700 to
$3,500
 24.
Hardenbergh Archive - Jacob Rutsen
Hardenbergh (1736-1790) Clergyman.
Hardenberg was a Dutch Reformed minister
and the first President of Queen’s
College (now Rutgers University) from
1785 to his death in 1790. Hardenbergh
was a member of a prominent
Dutch-speaking family who had settled in
“New Amsterdam” in the middle of the
seventeenth century. This is a
collection of twelve documents relating
to Jacob Hardenberg and members of his
family. The documents are mostly legal
and cover a period from 1747 through
1808. Some noteworthy examples are: 7 ½”
x 12 ¾” legal agreement dated June 8,
1747, 9 ¼” x 14 ½” promissory note,
August 16, 1772 signed by John
Hardenbergh, 8” x 12 ½” “Account
of articles left the widow Jane
Hardenbergh,” 14 ½” x 12” military
document signed by Abraham
Hardenbergh detailing the
“…names Grades and Rank of the officers
in the 92nd Regiment….”
Condition varies, but on balance very
good.
$1,200 to
$2,000
 25. Daniel
Tompkins (1774-1825) Politician.
Tompkins was Governor of New York from
1807 to 1817. Slavery was abolished in
the state during his administration. He
was elected Vice President in 1816 and
held office through both Monroe
administrations. 16” x 10” partially
printed document signed, Albany, New
York, May 21, 1811. The document is the
appointment of Richard W. Stockton as a
surgeon in the Delaware County Militia.
The appointment is also signed by
Elisha Jenkins (1769-1848) as
Secretary of State. Irregularly toned
from a previous framing with several
small breaks in the folds.
$200
to $300
 26.
Rembrandt Peale (1778-1860)
Painter. Peale was one of the most
prolific political painters of his era,
having completed over 600 paintings. He
received critical acclaim for his
portraits of presidents George
Washington and Thomas Jefferson. 7 ½” x
9 ½” autograph letter signed, Baltimore,
April 6, 1831, “Dear Sir.” “…I return
you, with many thanks your Portrait of
Rosalba which the copy of which my
daughter has finished without any
retouching of mine…I find that my note
to you will be due the 10th
of this month…if the Yellow Fever in
Philadelphia has not rendered my
exhibition there unproductive…I am
desirous of making up in Boston by
delaying the exhibition until the
spring…in order to insure the most
favorable reception of my pictures…It is
very unpleasant to me to be obliged to
make this apology, but I trust you will
consider the difficulties…and confide in
my disposition not to suffer the least
unnecessary delay in refunding the money
for which I am indebted to your
kindness….” Double matted with his
printed self-portrait and a descriptive
plaque to 15” x 18 ¼”.
$2,500 to
$4,000
 27. Nicholas
Biddle (1786-1844) Financier. Biddle
was the president of the Second Bank of
the United States. He developed the bank
into the first effective central bank,
sponsoring policies that curbed credit,
regulated the money supply, and
safeguarded government deposits. The
bank came under attack from President
Andrew Jackson, who managed to terminate
its national charter in 1836. 5” x 2 ¾”
autograph note signed, “N. Biddle,”
September 1, 1837. “…Do not fail to
come to dinner today at 3 o’clock….”
Mounted with considerable spotting.
$150
to $300
 28. Whaling.
After the end of the War of
1812, American shipping was free to
carry on and the whaling ports began to
grow. New Bedford, Massachusetts, in
particular built its whaling fleet from
10 vessels in 1815 to 36 vessels five
years later. In 1841 alone, 75
whalers sailed out of New Bedford and
the city was fast becoming one of the
wealthiest in the nation. The Civil War,
like the wars before, was very
bad for the whaling fleet. New Bedford
contributed 37 old whaling vessels to
the war effort in the form of the “Stone
Fleet”. These vessels were filled with
rocks and sunk at the mouths of Southern
harbors in an attempt to block shipping
in and out. After the war, two Arctic
disasters, one in 1871 and another in
1876, claimed 30 New Bedford vessels and
15 from other ports. Whaling ports lost
millions of dollars in these disasters
and as vessels were lost owners could
seldom afford to replace them as the
markets for whale products continued to
decline. Archive of twelve documents
mid-19th
century whaling ship documents
headed from New Bedford, Massachusetts,
for the Atlantic and Pacific.
Each document is folded for filing to 3
1/3” x 9”. Insurance Policies for ship
owners Gibbs & Jenney on sperm oil, at
$1.80 per gallon, on their vessels
from
Talcahuano (Chile) to New Bedford:
A.
Mutual
Marine Insurance Company of New Bedford,
one page, 9” x10 ¾”. New Bedford, June
13, 1855, $6000 insurance for the sperm
oil aboard their ship Zephyr.
B. Mutual
Marine Insurance Company of New Bedford,
one page, 9” x10 ¾”. New Bedford, June
13, 1855,
$5000
insurance, ship Barnstable.
C. The
Alliance Insurance Company, one page, 9”
x 11 “. Boston, June 20,
1855, $5000 insurance, Barnstable.
D. The
Commercial Mutual Marine Insurance
Company, one page, 9” x 11 “. Boston,
June 23, 1855, $5000 insurance,
Zephyr.
E.
Two partial 1853 balance sheets relating to whaling voyages, partially
separated at folds, one for the ship
Montreal, with debits including “Labor
Weighing Bone,” “Labor on
Oil & Bone,” “Whale foots in
Sperm Oil,” “Polar Whale Bone.”
Master’s Outward Foreign Manifests from
New Bedford, each 14” x 17”:
A.
Brig Tekon,
January 21, 1864. “Articles &
Utensils for a Whaling Voyage,”
valued at $4000, to be used on a
voyage
to the Atlantic Ocean.
B. Ship Herald, April 18, 1864. “Slats and Utensils for a whaling
voyage,”
valued at $10,000, to be used on a
voyage to the Atlantic Ocean. Three
Internal Revenue George
Washington dollar stamps affixed.
C. Ship
Young Phenix, May 14, 1864. “Articles
& Appurtenances for a whaling voyage
Stores” valued at $34,000 and “13
Cases Manufactured Tobacco 2,110 pounds”
valued at $1,266 to be used on a voyage
to the Pacific Ocean. One Internal
Revenue George Washington three dollar
stamp affixed.
D.
Ship Congress, May 30, 1864. “Provisions, Casks, Stores
& Appurtances for a whaling voyage”
to the Pacific Ocean. One Internal
Revenue George Washington three dollar
stamp affixed. Partially separated at
folds.
E.
Barque Stephanus, June 21,
1864. “Outfits for a Whaling Voyage”
to the Pacific Ocean valued at $30,000
and “Fifteen
Boxes Tobacco Twenty four hundred thirty
pounds” valued at $1,458. One
Internal Revenue George Washington three
dollar stamp affixed. Partially
separated at folds, slight tear.
F. Ship Wm & Henry, November 21, 1864. “Provisions, Stores and
Utensils for a Whaling Voyage” to
the Pacific
Ocean valued at $20,000. One Internal Revenue George Washington one dollar stamp
affixed.
The
American sperm whaling industry had its
greatest prosperity from 1820-1850. The
decline of American sperm whaling began
with the California Gold Rush of 1849
and the invention of the electric
lamp in 1879.
Many crew members of whaling ships bound
for the Pacific Ocean deserted to seek
their fortunes prospecting for gold. The
most severe blow to the whaling industry
was dealt during the Civil War, when
Confederate ships sank many United
States whaling vessels. The six
manifests in this lot were for vessels
that sailed during the Civil War.
$1,600
to $3,000
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