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Lot 224: ISAIAH THOMAS

Est: $1,500 USD - $2,000 USDSold:
Alexander Historical Auctions LLCStamford, CT, USOctober 09, 2010

Item Overview

Description

ISAIAH THOMAS
(1749 - 1831) American printer and publisher of the Massachusetts Spy, printed the first American Bible in English, founded the American Antiquarian Society. Rare and fine printing content A.L.S. "I Thomas" 2pp. legal folio, Worcester, Aug. 28, 1800 to the booksellers, Thomas & Thomas in Walpole, [N.H.], writing, in full: "When you issue a Proposal for a book to be printed, or advertise one published by the Coy. in the Museum, why not mention who issue[d] the proposal, and who publish[ed] the book? In the Virginia Gaz[ette] I observe the spirit of the Museum has for its intended publisher Alexander Thomas, Junr. not T[homas] & T[homas] - every press but what I have sold is not in use, except a new Mahogany one, which will cost many dollars to fix it - besides I do not think it would pay the pay to transport a Press to Walpole and back again. Two presses can do a great deal of Work, and properly managed be more than sufficient for the hands Mr. C. Keeps. The indorsements on your note, I had from Wheeler amount to somewhat more than your Statement. - so says Mr. Brigham, who compared them. Merriam told me to Say, the Receipt on the other note is not found yet, and Wheeler tho' paid will not deliver it up till it is.-- I believe you have done as well as you could with Goldthwait, I always suspected we should be perplexed to get payment from him. If we could have our Espanaisse 2 or 3 months, I would endeavor to loan 3 or 4 pages more of Types. Have you written the Booksellers at the Southward, and have you Advertised that it is in the Press? We must not make the works too common - you are in too much haste to get rid of books you are concerned in publishing - they all get to the Market at once the public [will] blow upon them." With integral address leaf in Thomas' hand who adds "Free" and bears a black "Worcester Sept 1" postmark. On the side of the address panel, Thomas has added a short postscript: "Was Merriam to have Winchester in Sheets or bound? My agreement for binding?" The "Merriam" to whom Thomas refers is Ebenezer Merriam who was a former employee of Thomas. Later members of the Merriam family would establish the Springfield firm of G. & C. Merriam who upon the death of Noah Webster in 1843, acquired the rights to publish his dictionary. The printing firm of Thomas & Thomas was established in Walpole, N.H. in 1793 by Isaiah Thomas in partnership with David Carlisle, Jr. a former apprentice in his Worcester, Mass. shop and operated it as a printing house and bookstore. Thomas furnished the press, types and a large stock of books while Carlisle managed the day-to -day affairs. In the same year the press began publication of the New Hampshire Journal. Thomas retired from the firm in 1796, but Carlisle suffered a series of financial embarrassments that caused him to abandon the house and flee to Canada in 1797. The House again came into Thomas' possession and he ran it in conjunction with Alexander Thomas, who ran the day-to-day operations. (Source, Benjamin Thomas Hill, ed., The Diary of Isaiah Thomas, 1805-1828 (Worcester: American Antiquarian Society, 1909), pp. 7-8n.) Light toning at folds, light foxing, expected folds else very good to fine condition.

Artist or Maker

Payment & Shipping

Payment

Accepted forms of payment: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Shipment is sent USPS priority, USPS International Express (for most overseas) or UPS Ground at the auctioneer's option, signature required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling, shipping and insurance charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyer's should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. Customer's who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee.

Auction Details

Fall Historical Auction

by
Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
October 09, 2010, 11:00 AM EST

860 Canal St. 2nd Floor, Stamford, CT, 06902, US

Terms

Buyer's Premium

22.5%

Bidding Increments

From:To:Increment:
$0$99$10
$100$499$20
$500$999$50
$1,000$1,999$100
$2,000$4,999$250
$5,000$9,999$500
$10,000+$1,000

Terms and Conditions

This auction is conducted under the laws of the State of Connecticut.

There is an 22.5% Buyer's Premium charged on the final hammer price of each lot (includes Live Bidding Fee).

The Auctioneer reserves the right to reject any bid for any reason.

The Auctioneer reserves the right to withdraw any lot for any reason.

In the event of duplicate high bids, the earliest bid received will be the winner. (Please note absentee bids left with artfact.com do not reach the auctioneer until the lot opens during the live sale).

Some lots may carry a reserve beneath which the item will not be sold. Any reserve will always be at or below the low estimate.

Detailed descriptions of lots and photocopies are available upon request. Bidders are advised that we warrant ONLY printed descriptions and additional information set for in addenda and from the auction block.
Illustrations of lots in this catalog and our website may have had size and/or contrast modifications for display purposes.

Estimated selling prices are for your guidance only. Actual selling prices may be higher or lower than the estimate indicated, although our estimates tend to be generally accurate.

The placing of a bid legally binds the bidder to purchase the lot at or below the bid placed, plus buyer's premium (see item 3). Bids may not be retracted without our approval: those doing so will be banned from future participation and will be reported to the trade. Please think before you bid! You are legally bound once you do so.

Absentee Bidding. All bidding is undertaken in a competitive manner. The winning bid will always be one bidding increment over the second highest bid. The minimum acceptable bid for any lot is one-half of the low estimate given in the item description. Bidders may call us at 203-276-1570 during office hours to check the status of their bids, or they may check bids anytime on our website. Absentee bids are accepted up to one hour before the start of the auction. Live bidding: Bids entered during the course of the sale by bidders on the floor, on the phone, or live on the internet will be taken at the amount bid.

Payment is expected immediately upon, (but not before) receipt of invoice. Payments may be made via mail, phone, fax, in person. We also accept PayPal payments, payable to sales@alexautographs.com. All accounts are payable to Alexander Autographs, Inc. Payment must be made in U.S. funds. Wire transfer details are available upon request. Please note that lots purchased are subject to sales taxes where applicable unless a resale number is filled with us prior to the auction. Invoices not paid within thirty days of the date of invoice will incur a 1.5% per month late payment fee.
Shipment is made via United Parcel Service unless otherwise instructed. Handling, shipping and insurance charges will be added to the invoice.

All autograph material in this sale is guaranteed genuine for the life of the original purchaser (unless otherwise stated or if contrary to other provisions of these terms). Any autograph item sold which is determined to be not authentic by two independent authenticators acceptable to both parties to the sale may be returned by the original buyer at any time for an immediate refund of the purchase price (only). Non-autograph items are guaranteed genuine for a period of twenty-one (21) days of receipt if determined to be not authentic by two independent authenticators acceptable to both parties to the sale.

Items may also be returned if the catalog description differs significantly from the item's actual state; such returns must be made within three (3) days of purchaser's receipt of the lot(s) with prior approval. All returned lots must be in the same condition as shipped. All items are in very good condition unless stated otherwise.

Any lot containing five or more items is not subject to return for any reason.

We do not examine the condition of items contained within frames beyond what is readily visible. Such defects may include, but may not be limited to: mounting, silking, marginal damage, closed tears, "mat burn", etc. That being the case, we are not responsible for such hidden damage. Bidders are further advised that we are selling the autograph, not the frame, and therefore the condition of the frame shall not be considered reason for return. Shipping costs for framed items may vary greatly depending on the size and/or weight of the frame, and at times these charges may be quite substantial. Customers may request us to remove an autograph from its frame to reduce shipping charges. We will accommodate customers in that respect for an additional charge of $10.00 per framed item, but such service will be undertaken at our sole discretion. Alexander Autographs will be responsible for any damage caused to the VISIBLE area of the item as it appears in the frame. We will in no way be responsible for any pre-existing hidden damage or defect, nor will we be responsible for any damage caused by us to any previously hidden portion of the autograph, its mount, or any material matted with the autograph during removal from the frame.

The placing of a bid shall constitute acceptance of the preceding terms and conditions of sale as well as the Bidding Procedure guidelines posted in this catalog.

Taxes

Sales tax will be charged for CT residents.

Contract Information

The placing of a bid shall constitute acceptance of the preceding terms and conditions of sale as well as the Bidding Procedure guidelines posted in this catalog.

Payment Information

Payment is expected immediately upon, (but not before) receipt of invoice. Payments may be made via mail, phone, fax, in person. All accounts are payable to Alexander Autographs, Inc. Payment must be made in U.S. funds. Wire transfer details are available upon request. Please note that lots purchased are subject to sales taxes where applicable unless a resale number is filled with us prior to the auction. Invoices not paid within thirty days of the date of invoice will incur a 1.5% per month late payment fee. We accept all major credit cards, money orders, personal checks, bank wires, and PayPal (sales@alexautographs.com).

Shipping Information

Shipment is sent USPS priority, USPS International Express (for most overseas) or UPS Ground at the auctioneer's option, signature required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling, shipping and insurance charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyer's should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. Customer's who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee.

Buyer's Premium

There is an 22.5% Buyer's Premium charged on the final hammer price of each lot (includes Live Bidding Fee).

Condition Statement

All autograph material in this sale is guaranteed genuine for the life of the original purchaser (unless otherwise stated or if contrary to other provisions of these terms). Any autograph item sold which is determined to be not authentic by two independent authenticators acceptable to both parties to the sale may be returned by the original buyer at any time for an immediate refund of the purchase price (only). Non-autograph items are guaranteed genuine for a period of twenty-one (21) days of receipt if determined to be not authentic by two independent authenticators acceptable to both parties to the sale. The condition of autograph material is generally described per standards suggested by the Manuscript Society.